NGC 7023 Iris Reflection Nebula [Robotic GMO 1]

A bright star within clouds of dust and cold gas shines intensely scattering light through the nebula. Red is preferentially absorbed by the dust and blue is preferentially scattered. The central star is catalogued as SAO 19158. It weighs in at 10 solar masses and is a pre-main sequence B3 class star.

 

It is a Herbig Be star which is just settling down into the Main Sequence. (Essentially a larger version of the more familiar T Tauri type star). Surface temperature is 17000k compared with 5700k for our Sun. Rather amazingly, all that heat and light comes from gravitational contraction rather than nuclear fusion.

 

As it spins down to a mature star (that fuses), it produces two outflow jets along its poles which correspond to the two triangular zones (like a bow tie) seen spreading out on either side of the star.

 

As all this happens in a dusty environment with lots of hard UV from the star so various shock waves and compression fronts can be seen.

 

The appearance is said to resemble an Iris flower - others have compared it with a blue butterfly..

 

Robotically acquired from Grand Mesa Observatory system 1 scope.

 

Tricky to process as it contains both a bright reflection nebula and dark clouds. I used a lot of selective masking.

 

Id like to try for this target with my home scope.

Finally did: flic.kr/p/2p9VPMa

Done