Select an image size for a larger view: 800 x 600 1200 x 800 1600 x 1200 Please Note: Because of the extreme star density, I could not shrink the JPG files as much without significant quality loss, so be patient!

 

            
 This truly spectacular region of
            the sky contains open clusters, emission nebula, reflection nebula
            and countless stars. In this deep single exposure most of the
            image is covered by a single huge nebula, Sharpless 2-273. The
            blazing 4.7 magnitude star dead center is 15 Monoceros surrounded
            by the sparse cluster NGC2264.

            
At about 11:00 from this
            star about halfway to the top is Hubbles Variable nebula, small
            and comet shaped. The blue reflection object to the left is IC2169,
            and there is a very strange orange orange cloud of stars in between
            it and 15 Monoceros. I really dont know what it is.

            
See the dark nebula in
            the lower left corner? Thats Barnard 38 and 37. 

            
Processing: 

            
A single image was scanned,
            and using PixInsight I opened the curves and histogram graphs
            at the same time. By toggleing between them, I slowly shaped
            the dark low contrast image with a DDP like curve, but done in
            about 4 progressive steps. I was very careful not to over saturate
            the reds in this image.

Instrument:  8" f/1.5 Celestron Schmidt Camera
Platform:  Homemade GEM
Film:  Kodak Supra 400
CCD Autoguider: ST4
Exposure:  8mins
Filters:  NONE
Location:  Happy Jack, Arizona
Elevation:  6800 ft.
Sky:  Seeing 8/10, Transparency 10/10
Outside Temperature:  5 C
Processing: Photoshop, PixInsight Pro.
HOME  SCHMIDT  GALAXIES     EMISSION NEBS     REFLECTION NEBS   COMETS  
   GLOBULARS     OPEN CLUST     PLANETARIES     LINKS