Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex - Gérgal - June 2021

Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex - Gérgal - June 2021

 

Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex is an amazing collection of dark gas and dust illuminated by blue star forming regions and the bright yellow star of Antares. To the right of Antares is M4, a globular cluster of stars. The distance from Earth is approximately 460 light-years making it one of the closest star forming regions to our Solar System.

 

This is a wide angle view of the sky using a lens of only 150mm. It is relatively low in the sky at a maximum elevation of 30 degrees above the horizon from my location in Southern Spain.

 

Camera: Nikon D850 (Stock) DX Crop

Telescope: Tamron 150mm - 600mm telephoto at 150mm f/8

Mount: iOptron SmartEQ Pro

Guide camera: ZWO ASI120MM-S

Guide telescope: ZWO 30mm f/4 focal length 120mm

 

Location: Gérgal, Almeria, Spain.

Elevation: 720 mtrs above sea level

Bortle : 4

Imaging period: 9 sessions between the 1st and 13 of June 2021

Total integration: 27.75 hours

721 x 90s ISO 3200

78 x 180s ISO 3200

350 x 60s ISO 16000

 

Capture Software: N.I.N.A

Guiding Software: PHD2

Processed with: PixInsight and Adobe Lightroom Classic.

#astrophotography #rhoophiuchi #IC4603 #antares #nikon #tamron

Done