LBN 406/413, MBM 41/42/43, The "Draco Cloud"

LBN 406/413, MBM 41/42/43, The "Draco Cloud"

MOUSE-OVER IMAGE FOR STARLESS VIEW

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VIEW (6002x4649)

Scope: FSQ-106N at f/5; Location: DAA Observatory, Shelter Valley, CA; Dates: 1, 3, 7, 8 May, 2024; Camera: ASI2600MM (Astronomik type 2c LRGB filters)

Exposure: Panel 1: Lum - 100 x 3.5 min (gain-101 1x1), RGB 40 x 2 min (each filter - gain-101 1x1).

Exposure: Panel 2: Lum - 100 x 3.5 min (gain-101 1x1), RGB 40 x 2 min (each filter - gain-101 1x1).

Processing: Data Collection - N.I.N.A. Sequencer (as FITs). Sub-frame calibration - Pixinsight (WBPP). Sub-frame registration and integration (Average combine - Linear clipping) - PixInsight (WBPP). Noise reduction - NoiseXTerminator - PixInsight. Non-linear stretching, normalization and gradient removal - PixInsight. Photometric RGB calibration (SPCC) - PixInsight. Deconvolution of Lum and RGB combine - BlurXTerminator. Generation of starless nebulosity Lum and RGB images for later processing - Star XTerminator. Curves, Levels, RGB combine - PixInsight. Lum Stars and Lum starless combine - PixInsight. Mosaic by Coordinates registration of each panel - PixInsight. Gradient Merge Mosaic of both panels - PixInsight. Final finishing - Affinity Photo. Annotation - PixInsight, Aladin (Simbad), and Affinity Photo. This image is a two panel mosaic, LRGB composition. Image processed at 6248x4276 resolution each panel. Final Image size is approximately 6002x4649.

North is up in this image. The MBM 41, 42, 43, 44 molecular clouds make up the "Draco Cloud" nebula. This image includes MBM 41, 42, 43 (not MBM 44) - these structures extend from the lower center to upper left of this image. They are high latitude structures above the Milky way plane. LBN 406 is a dominant structure and brightest area of this image. LBN 406 is sometimes referred to as the "Laughing Skull" nebula. Also in this image is LBN 413.

This image field is pretty busy in addition to the Draco Cloud - there are a number of galaxies and quasars (or quasar candidates). The quasars/candidates number 228 in this field. I limited the annotation image for quasars/candidates to those that are visible in the image and have redshift of 2.000 or greater - that came to 47 quasars/candidates. That redshift indicates a light travel time (Lookback) of greater than 10 billion years. There are a number of galaxies seen in this image. Notable galaxies are NGC6223 (260 mly), NGC6202 (255 mly), NGC6258 (139 mly). Two galaxies with interesting ring structures can also be seen - PGC59354 (277 mly) and PGC58928 (407 mly) along the lower edge , left and center. And there are many other galaxies that can be seen - some with their PGC designations. These smaller objects can be seen more easily in the mouse-over above or the full resolution image.

These objects and some of the brighter stars are identified in the full resolution annotated image. Horizontal FOV is approximately 3.26 degrees. Full size image scale is about 1.95 arcsec/pix.

Image center is approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 16h 47m 25s Dec: +60°44'32"

All images and content remain the property of Jim Thommes - copyright 2003 - 2025

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