SH2-173 (Phantom of the Opera)
Above image awarded APOD by Astronomomia.c0m on 28 August 2022
Sh2-173 (also known as Mayer 1) is an emission nebula in the constellation of Cassiopeia. The red nebulosity is so faint that even an extended exposure through standard filters does not reveal it, but a hydrogen alpha filter will bring it out. Physically this is a H II region with a diameter of 77 light years, located at a distance of about 8800 light years. Sh2-173 is also known by a common nickname, “Phantom of the Opera”.
There is little or no evidence of the nebula in the RGB image - only the Ha filter brings out the shape. (See below).
Imaging telescope: Takahashi FSQ106ED
Imaging camera: ASI 2600MM
Mount: Takahashi EM 400 Temma 2M
Guiding telescope: Takahashi FS60CB
Guiding camera: QHY CCD QHY 5 II
Focal Extender / Reducer: None
Capture Software: Sequence Generator Pro, PHD 2
Processing Software: Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight, Topaz DeNoise, Photoshop
Filters (50mm): Astrodon Ha (3nm) & Astrodon RGB
Accessories: ATIK EFW3, SeleTEK2 controlling Robofocus Focuser.
Original Image : 4200 x 2800
This Image (Max) : 2700 x 1800
Dates: 23rd - 24th Aug 2022
Frames:
Astrodon Ha 18 x 10'
Astrodon RGB 3 x 30 x 2'
Total integration = 6 Hours
Center (RA, Dec): (5.618, 61.735)
Center (RA, hms): 00h 22m 28.378s
Center (Dec, dms): +61° 44' 05.540"
Size: 1.71 x 1.14 deg
Radius: 1.025 deg
Pixel scale: 1.46 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: Up is 90.8 degrees E of N
There is little or no evidence of the nebula in the RGB image - only the Ha filter brings out the shape. (See below).
Imaging telescope: Takahashi FSQ106ED
Imaging camera: ASI 2600MM
Mount: Takahashi EM 400 Temma 2M
Guiding telescope: Takahashi FS60CB
Guiding camera: QHY CCD QHY 5 II
Focal Extender / Reducer: None
Capture Software: Sequence Generator Pro, PHD 2
Processing Software: Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight, Topaz DeNoise, Photoshop
Filters (50mm): Astrodon Ha (3nm) & Astrodon RGB
Accessories: ATIK EFW3, SeleTEK2 controlling Robofocus Focuser.
Original Image : 4200 x 2800
This Image (Max) : 2700 x 1800
Dates: 23rd - 24th Aug 2022
Frames:
Astrodon Ha 18 x 10'
Astrodon RGB 3 x 30 x 2'
Total integration = 6 Hours
Center (RA, Dec): (5.618, 61.735)
Center (RA, hms): 00h 22m 28.378s
Center (Dec, dms): +61° 44' 05.540"
Size: 1.71 x 1.14 deg
Radius: 1.025 deg
Pixel scale: 1.46 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: Up is 90.8 degrees E of N
Ha & RGB in the Image
Sky Map & Finder Chart
Annotated Image
