NGC 2170
NGC 2170 is a reflection nebula in the constellation Monoceros. It was discovered on October 16, 1784 by William Herschel. NGC 2170, is also known as the Angel Nebula and lies to the right side of the image.
NGC 2170 is a dusty reflection nebula and stellar nursery that formed about 6 to 10 million years ago, located at the edge of the elliptically shaped, giant star-forming molecular cloud Monoceros R2 (Mon R2), some 2,700 light-years away in the constellation of Monoceros.
In fact, the name NGC 2170 is only given to the bright nebula to the right, while overall the image shows a mix of nebula types.
The bluish areas are reflection nebulae, so-named because they reflect the light of nearby hot stars. The dust particle size in these areas preferentially reflects blue light, similar to cigarette and other kinds of smoke. The red areas are emission nebulae, and shine because ultraviolet light from nearby stars excites hydrogen and other gas atoms in the nebula, which then emit light of their own in specific colours. Finally, what looks a bit like black ink spilled across the image are dark absorption nebulae, and are only seen because of the light that they block. In other words, the dark nebula is seen in silhouette.
There are tell-tale signs of ongoing star formation and massive young stars mostly hidden behind the thick interstellar dust, which strongly absorbs ultraviolet and visible light. Energetic winds and intense radiation from these hot young stars reshape their natal interstellar clouds.
Imaging telescope: Takahashi FSQ130ED
Imaging camera: ASI 2600mm
Mount: JTW Trident P75
Guiding telescope: Takahashi FS60CB
Guiding camera: QHY 5 II
Focal Extender / Reducer: None
Software: Sequence Generator Pro SGP (for capture) PHD 2 (guiding), Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight.
Filters: Astrodon Ha (3nm), Astrodon Lum & Astrodon RGB.
Accessories: Robofocus Focuser controlled by Lunatico Armadillo, ATIK EFW 3, RB Focus Gaius, RB Focus Excalibur.
Dates: 21st. Dec 2023 - 7th Jan 2024
Frames:
Astrodon Ha 18 x 600'
Astrodon RGB 3 x 60 x 2'
Astrodon Lum 60 x 1'
Total integration = 10 Hours.
Center (RA, Dec): (92.399, -6.483)
Center (RA, hms): 06h 09m 35.704s
Center (Dec, dms): -06° 28' 57.266"
Size: 89.7 x 59.8 arcmin
Radius: 0.899 deg
Pixel scale: 1.2 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: Up is 359.1 degrees E of N
NGC 2170 is a dusty reflection nebula and stellar nursery that formed about 6 to 10 million years ago, located at the edge of the elliptically shaped, giant star-forming molecular cloud Monoceros R2 (Mon R2), some 2,700 light-years away in the constellation of Monoceros.
In fact, the name NGC 2170 is only given to the bright nebula to the right, while overall the image shows a mix of nebula types.
The bluish areas are reflection nebulae, so-named because they reflect the light of nearby hot stars. The dust particle size in these areas preferentially reflects blue light, similar to cigarette and other kinds of smoke. The red areas are emission nebulae, and shine because ultraviolet light from nearby stars excites hydrogen and other gas atoms in the nebula, which then emit light of their own in specific colours. Finally, what looks a bit like black ink spilled across the image are dark absorption nebulae, and are only seen because of the light that they block. In other words, the dark nebula is seen in silhouette.
There are tell-tale signs of ongoing star formation and massive young stars mostly hidden behind the thick interstellar dust, which strongly absorbs ultraviolet and visible light. Energetic winds and intense radiation from these hot young stars reshape their natal interstellar clouds.
Imaging telescope: Takahashi FSQ130ED
Imaging camera: ASI 2600mm
Mount: JTW Trident P75
Guiding telescope: Takahashi FS60CB
Guiding camera: QHY 5 II
Focal Extender / Reducer: None
Software: Sequence Generator Pro SGP (for capture) PHD 2 (guiding), Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight.
Filters: Astrodon Ha (3nm), Astrodon Lum & Astrodon RGB.
Accessories: Robofocus Focuser controlled by Lunatico Armadillo, ATIK EFW 3, RB Focus Gaius, RB Focus Excalibur.
Dates: 21st. Dec 2023 - 7th Jan 2024
Frames:
Astrodon Ha 18 x 600'
Astrodon RGB 3 x 60 x 2'
Astrodon Lum 60 x 1'
Total integration = 10 Hours.
Center (RA, Dec): (92.399, -6.483)
Center (RA, hms): 06h 09m 35.704s
Center (Dec, dms): -06° 28' 57.266"
Size: 89.7 x 59.8 arcmin
Radius: 0.899 deg
Pixel scale: 1.2 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: Up is 359.1 degrees E of N
Sky map & Finding chart
Ha & LRGB in the image:
Annotated Image
