The Iris Nebula

[crimbfighter]

The Iris Nebula! Imaged from the back yard on 5/25, this is a reflection nebula located in the constellation Cepheus. The center of the nebula is illuminated by a very bright star. The nebula is approximately 3 light years across and sits 1300 light years from Earth.

Hardware:
-Celestron AVX mount
-Scope: Astro-Tech AT130EDT 130mm f/7 refractor, 910mm focal length
-Explore Scientific field flattener
-Guide scope: Orion 60mm guide scope w/ Orion Starshoot autoguider
-Pegasus Astro mini powerbox
-Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
-Optolong L-Pro light polution filter
-ZWO EAF autofocuser
-Controlled via MeLe Quieter3Q mini PC running Windows

Software:
-Sequence Generator Pro for acquisition
-PHD2 for guiding
-PixInsight and Photoshop for processing

Image:
-80 subrames at 180 seconds each
-gain 100, offset 50, at -10 C
-Calibration frames: 15 flats, 15 dark flats, 20 darks
Total exposure time: 4 hours

The imaging setup

 

[terri]

Another amazing shot! This one is beautiful in color - love the blue. I'm guessing the color helped give it the name?

Wonderful work!

 

[Jeff15]

You do get some amazing shots of the night sky...

 

[slat]

Great image.

 

[crimbfighter]

Another amazing shot! This one is beautiful in color - love the blue. I'm guessing the color helped give it the name?

Wonderful work!

I actually have no idea on the history of the name. I always thought it was because it looked like the iris of an eye, but I'm really not sure.

 

[terri]

I always thought it was because it looked like the iris of an eye, but I'm really not sure.

That works, too! I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately, so everything has a floral reference for me.

 

[crimbfighter]

You do get some amazing shots of the night sky...

Thank you!

Great image.

Thanks!

 

[NancyMoranG]

Wow.
I commented a few years ago on your set up...amazing.
And it reminds me to thank nurses as the only other people who could understand all these connections
N

 

[crimbfighter]

Wow.
I commented a few years ago on your set up...amazing.
And it reminds me to thank nurses as the only other people who could understand all these connections
N

Thanks! There is the occasional meltdown when I have to trace all the wires to figure out what I forgot to plug in...

 

[jeffashman]

Wonderful! A cover for Sky & Telescope!