Wednesday, Nov 6, 2024

VdB 152, LDN 1221, LBN 534, and LBN 538 belong to a complex region in the constellation of Cepheus, rich with a variety of astrophysical phenomena. VdB 152 is a faint reflection nebula at the edge of a dark molecular cloud, Barnard 175, where the light from a nearby star is reflected by surrounding dust. However, the dust is so dense that it blocks much of the starlight, resulting in a striking contrast between illuminated and dark regions. LDN 1221 is the dark nebula on the top left area of the image. This nebula that obscures background starlight, appearing as a void in the sky. Despite its dark appearance in visible light, LDN 1221 is actively forming stars within its dense core. Infrared and radio observations have revealed outflows from young stars, indicating al least three new protostars are forming inside the nebula. More information here: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/702/1/340/pdf LBN 534 and LBN 538 are emission nebulae located in the same region. Adding to the complexity and beauty of the scene is the H-alpha emission in the background, dominated by the supernova remnant G 110.3 + 11.3. This supernova remnant stretches across the image, with its H-alpha emission creating a vibrant red glow that enhances the dynamic range of the composition. From a processing perspective, the diversity of objects—reflection nebulae, dark nebulae, emission nebulae, and supernova remnants, have presented a significant challenge. Each type of object has unique characteristics, requiring careful attention to balance the dynamic range. The image has been taken in several imaging sessions between the 3 of August 2024 and the 29 of September 2024 from my Curiosity Observatory located in Àger, Catalonia, under a B3 sky. Capture data: Antlia EDGE H-alpha 4.5nm 36 mm: 267×300,″(22h 15′) Baader Blue (CMOS-Optimized) 36 mm: 90×60,″(1h 30′) Baader Green (CMOS Optimized) 36 mm: 90×60,″(1h 30′) Baader Red (CMOS-Optimized) 36 mm: 90×60,″(1h 30′) Baader UV/IR Cut / Luminance 36 mm: 184×300,″(15h 20′) Total integration time: 42h 5′ ZWO AM5 Mount TS Optics 94 EDPH ASI 2600MM Pro Pegasus Powerbox v3 Focuser Myrddin RBFocus Rotator Camelot RBFocus FlatPanel xCalibur RBFocus Captured with NINA Processed with Pixinsight