SH2-115 & Abell 71
A closer look at SH2-115 - Dec. 2022
Sharpless 115 stands just north and west of Deneb, the alpha star of the constellation Cygnus, the Swan. Noted in the 1959 catalog by astronomer Stewart Sharpless (as Sh2-115) the emission nebula lies along the edge of one of the outer Milky Way's giant molecular clouds, about 7,500 light-years away. Hot stars in star cluster Berkeley 90 power the nebular glow. The cluster stars are likely only 100 million years old or so and are still embedded in Sharpless 115.
The small blueish circular object, is Abell 71. The nebula is also catalogued as PK 085+04.1, PN G084.9+04.4 and Sh 2-116. Initially catalogued as a planetary nebula, the object is now recognized as a small patch of HII emission.
Imaging telescope: Takahashi FSQ106ED
Imaging camera: QSI 6120i
Mount: Takahashi EM 400 Temma 2M
Guiding telescope: QHY Mini Guide Scope
Guiding camera: QHY CCD QHY 5L II
Focal Extender / Reducer: 0.73X
Capture Software: Sequence Generator Pro, PHD 2
Processing Software: Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight, Topaz DeNoise, Photoshop
Filters (1.25"): Astrodon SII 5nm, Ha 5nm & OIII 5nm
Accessories: ATIK EFW2, SeleTEK2 controlling Robofocus Focuser.
Original Image : 4200 x 2800
This Image (Max) : 2700 x 1800
Dates: 7th July - 10th July 2022
Frames:
Astrodon SII 20 x 15'
Astrodon Ha 20 x 15'
Astrodon OIII 20 x 15'
Total integration = 15 Hours
Center (RA, Dec): (308.815, 47.448)
Center (RA, hms): 20h 35m 15.650s
Center (Dec, dms): +47° 26' 52.921"
Size: 1.92 x 1.28 deg
Radius: 1.151 deg
Pixel scale: 1.64 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: Up is 267 degrees E of N
The small blueish circular object, is Abell 71. The nebula is also catalogued as PK 085+04.1, PN G084.9+04.4 and Sh 2-116. Initially catalogued as a planetary nebula, the object is now recognized as a small patch of HII emission.
Imaging telescope: Takahashi FSQ106ED
Imaging camera: QSI 6120i
Mount: Takahashi EM 400 Temma 2M
Guiding telescope: QHY Mini Guide Scope
Guiding camera: QHY CCD QHY 5L II
Focal Extender / Reducer: 0.73X
Capture Software: Sequence Generator Pro, PHD 2
Processing Software: Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight, Topaz DeNoise, Photoshop
Filters (1.25"): Astrodon SII 5nm, Ha 5nm & OIII 5nm
Accessories: ATIK EFW2, SeleTEK2 controlling Robofocus Focuser.
Original Image : 4200 x 2800
This Image (Max) : 2700 x 1800
Dates: 7th July - 10th July 2022
Frames:
Astrodon SII 20 x 15'
Astrodon Ha 20 x 15'
Astrodon OIII 20 x 15'
Total integration = 15 Hours
Center (RA, Dec): (308.815, 47.448)
Center (RA, hms): 20h 35m 15.650s
Center (Dec, dms): +47° 26' 52.921"
Size: 1.92 x 1.28 deg
Radius: 1.151 deg
Pixel scale: 1.64 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: Up is 267 degrees E of N
Just for fun - more for those that don't do astrophotography: (A starless Image - click to enlarge)
Sky Map and Finder Chart
SII, Ha & OIII in the image
Annotated Image
