CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VIEW (2400x1800)
Scope: FSQ-106N at f/5, Location: Blair Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, CA 16 June 2012 Camera: ST8300M
Exposure: 16 x 8 min (1x1 bin) exposure with UV/IR block, 8 x 4 min (2x2 bin) RGB exposures.
Processing: Data Collection - CCDSoft (as FITs). Calibrated, stacked (Sigma Combine), LRGB channel registration, central gradient removal, and color equalization - Astroart. Curves, Levels, LRGB combine and finishing - Photoshop. This image is a straightforward LRGB combine with Luminance layering. eXcalibrator was used to refine color balance. Final Image size is approximately 2400x1800.
North is up in this image. IC 4603 is the blue nebulosity near the lower edge in this image with IC 4604 being the upper nebulosity surrounding three bright stars. The brightest of these stars is Rho Ophiuchi. There are several Dark Nebulas in this field. Barnard 42 just to the right of IC 4604 and Lynd's Dark Nebula 1681 to the left of IC4603 are the most prominent. The bright stars illuminating the IC 4603 and IC 4604 reflection nebulae are about 400 to 440 light years distant from Earth. This image replaces an earlier image in the Archives here. Horizontal FOV is about 120'
Image center is approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 16h 25m 05s Dec: -23°56'22"