IC5146_Bi-Colour_Crop_3-11-2018

NOTE: I'VE REPROCESSED THIS IMAGE.

I've increased the Oiii but the only way I could do this was to remove the stars so I could stretch it further, I then use a big gaussian blur on it to remove the noise, I then add the stars back in from the original image. ( I also removed the stars from the Ha and the Ha luminance).

 

Yet again I was promised a clear night to get this image in one go but as is the norm in the UK I only managed to get 2h of Ha before the clouds rolled in. I manged to get 20 Oiii subs (1h 40min) the following night between 9 and 11:40 during the gaps in the clouds. I would have liked more Oiii but that's life.

 

Object Description:-

IC5146 (SH2-125) the Cocoon Nebula is a rich Ha emission Nebula and lies in the constellations of Cygnus. It is a stellar nursery where star formation is currently taking place and the cluster is enveloped in dark and bright nebula. The cluster is about 4,000 ly from earth and the bright central star is believed to have formed 100,000 years ago. It is a relatively small but bright object with a apparent mag of 7.2 but only an apparent diameter (visual) of 12'.

 

 

EQUIPMENT:-

Telescope Meade 6000 115mm and AZ-EQ6 GT

ZWO ASI1600mm-Cool cmos camera

Orion Mini Auto Guide

Astronomik 12nm Ha Filter

Astronomik 6nm Oiii Filter

Chip Temp Cooled to -20 degC

 

IMAGING DETAILS:-

IC5146 Cocoon Nebula (Cygnus)

Ha Gain 139 (Unit Gain)

Oiii Gain 200

24 Ha subs@300sec (2h)

20 Oiii subs@300sec (1h 40min)

Total imaging Time 3h 40min

Dithering

20 Darks

20 Flats

 

PROCESSING/GUIDING SOFTWARE:-

APT "Astro Photograph Tools"

DSS

PS CS2

Done