Seagull Nebula (IC 2177)

Seagull Nebula (IC 2177)

 

A broad expanse of glowing gas and dust presents a bird-like visage to astronomers from planet Earth, suggesting its popular moniker - The Seagull Nebula. This portrait of the cosmic bird covers a 1.6 degree wide swath across the plane of the Milky Way, near the direction of Sirius, alpha star of the constellation Canis Major. Of course, the region includes objects with other catalog designations: notably NGC 2327, a compact, dusty emission region with an embedded massive star that forms the bird's head (aka the Parrot Nebula). Dominated by the reddish glow of atomic hydrogen, the complex of gas and dust clouds with bright young stars spans over 100 light-years at an estimated 3,800 light-year distance.

-------------------------------------------------------

Location: Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark, Amboy, California, USA (Bortle 2)

Date: March 5, 2022

Moon: Waning Crescent (12%)

Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro

Telescope: William Optics ZenithStar 61II APO f/5.9

Flattener/Reducer: William Optics FLAT61A Field Flattener

Filter: Antlia ALP-T

Focuser: ZWO EAF

Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro

Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini

Guide Scope: William Optics UniGuide 32 f/3.75

Controller: ZWO ASIAIR Pro

Battery: Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300

Camera Settings: Gain 100 | f/5.9 | 300 sec

Acquisition: 23 x 5 min Lights | 30 Darks | 30 Bias

Integration Time: 1 hrs 55 min

Software: PixInsight, Topaz Labs Denoise AI, Adobe Lightroom Classic

-------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2022 Steven K. Wu Photography. All Rights Reserved.

Done