IC1396_BiColour_2022-08-20

Well this is my first image since January this year and to get my Mojo back (could be a expensive way of doing it) I’m trying a new telescope with focal reducer to get over 2° field of view. This scope is a new/refurbished “Explore Scientific 102mm F7 APO Carbon” kindly on loan/test from Kerin at Telescope house with option to buy. I hope I’ve done the Telescope justice with my image.

 

Note:

I plan to be at the Herstmonceux astronomy festival between the 2nd & 4th Sep 2022 and can be found hanging around the Telescope House stand or the beer tent later in the day.

 

IC 1396A also commonly known as the “Elephant’s Trunk Nebula” is a star forming region some 2,400 Light Years from earth. The bright rim is the surface of the dense cloud that is being illuminated and ionized by a bright, massive star. The Nebula is now thought to containing several very young stars less than 100,000 yr old.

 

EQUIPMENT:-

Explore Scientific 102mm F7 APO Carbon

Explore Scientific 0.7 Focal Reducer

Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 GT

ZWO ASI1600mm-Cool cmos camera

Orion Mini Auto Guide

Astronomik 6nm Ha Filter

Astronomik 6nm Oiii Filter

Chip Temp Cooled to -20 degC

 

IMAGING DETAILS:-

IC1396A Elephant's Trunk Nebula (Cepheus)

Gain 139 (Unit Gain)

Dithering

36 Ha subs@240sec (2h 24min)

30 Oiii subs@240sec (2h 00min)

Total imaging Time 4h 24min

20 Darks

25 Flats

 

PROCESSING/GUIDING SOFTWARE:-

APT "Astro Photograph Tools"

DSS

PS CS2

Done