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IC 410 (Tadpole Nebula)
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| Mouse-over to see annotations. (Requires Javascript) Click to see high-res version. |
Image Details:
- Camera: SBIG ST-2000XM
- Mount: Astro-Physics 1200GTO
- Scope: TMB 152/1200 APO Refractor
- Configuration: Prime Focus
- Additional Optics: n/a (Prime)
- Filter: Astrodon SII, Hα, OIII 6nm Filters
- Effective Focal Length: 1200mm
- Effective Focal Ratio: f/7.9
- Exposure: {3 SII, 3 Hα, 2 OIII} × 32min @ -30°C
- Total Exposure: 4hrs, 16min
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- Date: 2/4/2008 8:41 PM PST (Start)
- Location: Saratoga, CA, USA
- Acquisition: CCD Commander
- Focus: FocusMax
- Dithering: CCD Commander
- Guiding: Self Guided
Processing:
- IRIS: Registration
- JimP: Dark subtraction, Flat field, Kappa-Sigma Stacking, White balance, ASINH stretching
- Photoshop: Neil's Trick, JPG conversion
- Neat Image: Noise reduction
Image Description:
This is IC 410, aka, the “Tadpole Nebula”, an emission nebula and open cluster (NGC 1893) in the constellation of Auriga. This is my first attempt at automation with CCD Commander. I made a bunch of newbie mistakes, but eventually got it up and running.
Mousing off the image reveals a “Hubble Palette” narrowband image, with
R:G:B = SII:Hα:OIII . Mouse-over the image to see a pseudo-“True Color” image, in which those narrowband emission lines are mapped to their approximate color as seen by human vision. Specifically, the red SII and Hα wavelengths are mapped to red, and the aqua (blue-green) OIII wavelength is mapped to both green and blue. Also, a smidge of Hα is added into blue to simulate the Hβ wavelength.I'm still fighting some star trailing/smearing in my images with the new camera/scope/mount, as yet undiagnosed. Thanks much to Neil Flemming's Trick, I was able to reduce that smearing. A higher resolution image is also available. North is up.