Image awarded APOD GrAG on 21Oct25
Above is a 2nd rendition and slightly trimmed version of the original below.
Bubble & Lobster Claw
.....and a closer look at The Bubble: ( I altered the colour from the original - for better effect).
Image awarded APOD GrAG on 28Nov25
NGC 7635, also known as the Bubble Nebula, Sharpless 162, or Caldwell 11, is an H II region emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia. It lies close to the open cluster Messier 52. The "bubble" is created by the stellar wind from a massive hot, 8.7 magnitude young central star, SAO 20575 (BD+60°2522). The nebula is near a giant molecular cloud which contains the expansion of the bubble nebula while itself being excited by the hot central star, causing it to glow. It was discovered in November 1787 by William Herschel.
LBN 540 is an emission nebula located in the constellation Cassiopeia, approximately 11,000 light-years from Earth. Also called the Lobster Claw It gets its name from its distinctive shape. The nebula is characterized by bright, glowing gas and dust, sculpted by the powerful stellar winds of massive, young stars within it.
There are several small star clusters in the image – I like the common name given to the largest of them (M52) – to the left of the Bubble Nebula in this image. (See the annotated image).
Imaging telescope: Takahashi FSQ130ED
Imaging camera: ASI 2600MM
Mount: JTW Trident P75
Guiding telescope: Takahashi FS60CB
Guiding camera: QHY 5L II M
Focal Extender / Reducer: 0.73X
Software: Sequence Generator Pro SGP (for capture) PHD 2 (guiding), Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight.
Filters: Astrodon Ha (3nm), Astrodon SII (3nm), Astrodon OIII (3nm), Astrodon RGB.
Accessories: Robofocus Focuser controlled by Lunatico Armadillo, ATIK EFW 3, RB Focus Gaius, RB Focus Excalibur.
Dates: 25th Sep. - 2nd Oct. 2025
Frames: (Total)
Astrodon Ha 30 x 600"
Astrodon SII 30 x 600"
Astrodon OIII 30 x 600"
Astrodon RGB 3 x 60 x 60"
Total integration = 18 Hours .
Center (RA, Dec): (349.187, 60.957)
Center (RA, hms): 23h 16m 44.792s
Center (Dec, dms): +60° 57' 23.946"
Size: 2.76 x 1.82 deg
Radius: 1.652 deg
Pixel scale: 1.63 arcsec/pixel.
LBN 540 is an emission nebula located in the constellation Cassiopeia, approximately 11,000 light-years from Earth. Also called the Lobster Claw It gets its name from its distinctive shape. The nebula is characterized by bright, glowing gas and dust, sculpted by the powerful stellar winds of massive, young stars within it.
There are several small star clusters in the image – I like the common name given to the largest of them (M52) – to the left of the Bubble Nebula in this image. (See the annotated image).
Imaging telescope: Takahashi FSQ130ED
Imaging camera: ASI 2600MM
Mount: JTW Trident P75
Guiding telescope: Takahashi FS60CB
Guiding camera: QHY 5L II M
Focal Extender / Reducer: 0.73X
Software: Sequence Generator Pro SGP (for capture) PHD 2 (guiding), Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight.
Filters: Astrodon Ha (3nm), Astrodon SII (3nm), Astrodon OIII (3nm), Astrodon RGB.
Accessories: Robofocus Focuser controlled by Lunatico Armadillo, ATIK EFW 3, RB Focus Gaius, RB Focus Excalibur.
Dates: 25th Sep. - 2nd Oct. 2025
Frames: (Total)
Astrodon Ha 30 x 600"
Astrodon SII 30 x 600"
Astrodon OIII 30 x 600"
Astrodon RGB 3 x 60 x 60"
Total integration = 18 Hours .
Center (RA, Dec): (349.187, 60.957)
Center (RA, hms): 23h 16m 44.792s
Center (Dec, dms): +60° 57' 23.946"
Size: 2.76 x 1.82 deg
Radius: 1.652 deg
Pixel scale: 1.63 arcsec/pixel.
It is easier to make a more eye-catching image when one omits the stars; although interesting this should not be on top of the page!
Sky map & Finding Chart:
Ha, SII, OIII & RGB in the image: (Click on image to enlarge)
Annotated Image: (Click on image to enlarge)
