Pickering's Triangle and NGC 6974 in Cygnus

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VIEW (2400 x 1800)

Scope: MN152 "Levy" Mak-Newt 152 mm at f/4.8,  Laguna Mountains, CA   20 July 2012, Camera: ST8300M

Exposure: 16 x 10 minutes H-Alpha (1x1 bin),  8 x 4 minutes RGB Exposures (2x2 bin) 

Processing: Data Collection -  CCDSoft (as FITs).  Calibrated, stacked (Sigma Combine), LRGB channel registration, central gradient removal, and color equalization - Astroart.  Curves, Levels, HaRGB combine and finishing  - Photoshop. This image is a HaRGB combine with Luminance channel and total RGB signal level matched to minimize color shift.  Luminance construction was Ha with a selective blue data lighten blend. Selective sharpening was applied to nebula features.   Final Image size is approximately 2400 x 1800.

North is to the left in this image. NGC 6974 is the emission nebula in the lower left corner. Pickering's triangle is the main object in this image.   This region is part of the Cygnus Loop - a larger complex that is really a super nova remnant - the supernova event took place 5,000 to 10,000 years ago..  Distance estimates vary but the approximate distance from Earth is about 1,500 light years.  This image replaces an earlier image that can be seen in the Archives here.  The Horizontal FOV is 88'.

Image center is located approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 20h 48m 53s Dec: +31°27'37"

All images and content remain the property of Jim Thommes - copyright 2003 - 2012

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