Ou4 and SH2-129
Image awarded APOD BRASIL on 10Jun25
The Squid Nebula is formed from the outflow of gas from the bright star at the centre of the image. The star is a binary, which is probably what caused the nebula to form this unusual shape. The Squid is very large for this type of object, about 50 light years long. The bubble glows in the blue-green OIII light of ionized oxygen, which makes a nice colour contrast to the background red Hydrogen-α nebula Sh2-129.
The Squid (Ou4) is very faint, and was only discovered in 2011 by French astro-imager Nicolas Outters, even though the red nebula in the background, SH2-129, was catalogued in the 1950's, and probably known before that.
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 OIII (3nm), Astrodon RGB.
Accessories: Robofocus Focuser controlled by Lunatico Armadillo, ATIK EFW 3, RB Focus Gaius, RB Focus Excalibur.
Dates: 7th May - 29th May 2025
Frames: (Total)
Astrodon Ha 78 x 600"
Astrodon OIII 206 x 600"
Astrodon RGB 3 x 50 x 60"
Total integration = 49 Hours 50 Mins.
Center (RA, Dec):(318.010, 60.009)
Center (RA, hms):21h 12m 02.514s
Center (Dec, dms):+60° 00' 32.673"
Size:1.63 x 1.36 deg
Radius:1.062 deg
Pixel scale:1.63 arcsec/pixel
The Squid (Ou4) is very faint, and was only discovered in 2011 by French astro-imager Nicolas Outters, even though the red nebula in the background, SH2-129, was catalogued in the 1950's, and probably known before that.
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 OIII (3nm), Astrodon RGB.
Accessories: Robofocus Focuser controlled by Lunatico Armadillo, ATIK EFW 3, RB Focus Gaius, RB Focus Excalibur.
Dates: 7th May - 29th May 2025
Frames: (Total)
Astrodon Ha 78 x 600"
Astrodon OIII 206 x 600"
Astrodon RGB 3 x 50 x 60"
Total integration = 49 Hours 50 Mins.
Center (RA, Dec):(318.010, 60.009)
Center (RA, hms):21h 12m 02.514s
Center (Dec, dms):+60° 00' 32.673"
Size:1.63 x 1.36 deg
Radius:1.062 deg
Pixel scale:1.63 arcsec/pixel
Sky Map & Finding Chart
Ha, OIII & RGB in the image:
Annotated Image
