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NGC 1499 Central Region

 

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VIEW (3801x2864)

Scope: FSQ-106N at f/5, Location: DAA Observatory, Shelter Valley, CA,   11, 15 November 2020  Camera: ASI1600M (Astronomik Gen 2  Ha OIII RGB Filters)

Exposure:  32 x 8 min (1x1 bin, gain 179) Ha exposures, 32 x  8 min (1x1 bin, gain 240) OIII exposures , 16 x 4 min (1x1 bin, gain 139) each - RGB exposures.

Processing: Data Collection - Sequence Generator Pro (as FITs). Sub frame calibration - Pixinsight. Sub frame registration and integration (Average combine - Winsorized Sigma Clipping) - PixInsight. Non-linear stretching, normalization and gradient removal - PixInsight.  Generation of starless nebulosity images (OIII and Ha) - starnet++. RGB combine, Luminance layering (stars) - PixInsight. Stars and Starless  combine - PixInsight. Final finishing - Affinity Photo. RGB photometric calibration (RGB stars) - PixInsight.  Annotation - PixInsight, Aladin (Simbad and NED), and Affinity Photo. This image is an modified HOO process treatment with starless Ha and OII combined in pixel math. The starless mix  was then combined with an RGB stars-only with pixel math. Images processed at 4656 x 3520 resolution. Final Image size is approximately 3801x2864.

North is up in this image. This field is central core area of the well known California Nebula (NGC 1499, LBN 756, Sh2-220). The Ha and OIII emission is energized by the star, Menkhib (Xi Persei) that is just outside the image to the lower right. Menkhib distance (by parallax) is  377 light years  - NGC 1499 will be in the same neighborhood. In addition to the major emission line nebulosity of Ha and OIII, there are also some dark nebulae (LDN 1462, 1463, 1464) . Interestingly there is a galaxy group (HDC 259) that is visible through the emission glow of NGC 1499. The group has three members - one of which is IC 2005. The three member range in distance from 261 to 269 million light years. These objects and some of the brighter stars are identified in the annotated image. Horizontal FOV is about 115.  Full size image scale is  about 1.82 arcsec/pix. 

Image center is approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 03h 59m 57s Dec: 36° 34' 13" 

 

All images and content remain the property of Jim Thommes - copyright 2003 - 2021

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