NGC7023 - Iris Nebula

The Iris Nebula, also NGC 7023 and Caldwell 4, is a bright reflection nebula and Caldwell object in the constellation Cepheus. NGC 7023 is actually the cluster within the nebula, LBN 487, and the nebula is lit by a magnitude +7 star, SAO 19158.[1] It shines at magnitude +6.8. It is located near the Mira-type variable star T Cephei, and near the bright magnitude +3.23 variable star Beta Cephei (Alphirk). It lies 1,300 light-years away and is six light-years across

 

This is the very first time I have imaged this object, and it is the first object ot be imaged with my new Skywatcher Quattro 8-CF F4 telescope, I am extremely happy with the results

 

The image consists of the following:

 

Luminance: 19x300S

Red: 13x300S

Green: 13x300S

Blue: 13x300S

 

All frames have 25 darks and 25 flats applied also

 

Gear Used

Mount: Skywatcher EQ8 Pro

Imaging Scope: Skywatcher Quattro 8-CF F4 Newtonian

Guide Scope: Celestron C80ED

Imaging Camera: Atik 383L+ Mono CCD Cooled to -20C

Filter Wheel: StarlightXpress 7x36mm USB Filterwheel

Guide Camera: QHYCCD 5L-II

 

Software Used

Image Acquisition: Sequence Generator Pro

Guiding: PHD2

Telescope Control: EQMOD

 

Image Processing:

Pre-Processing: Nebulosity 3

Stacking: Maxim-DL

Post Processing: Photoshop, HLVG and GradientXterminator

 

Done