Observation by Kevin Gurney: Flying bat and squid nebulae

Uploaded by

Kevin Gurney

Observer

Kevin Gurney

Observed

2023 Aug 28 - 22:14

Uploaded

2024 Feb 08 - 22:42

Objects

The Flying Bat Nebula (Sharpless 129)

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Constellation

Cepheus

Field centre

RA: 21^h11^m
Dec: +59°57'
Position angle: +173°24'

Field size

2°35' × 1°52'

Equipment

Fornax 102 mount
William Optics Star 71
ZWO ASI 1600MM
Atik EFW
Baader filters Ha, OIII
Starkeeper Voyager, Pixinsight, PhD2, XnView

Exposure

55x300s Ha, 49x300s OIII (total 8rs 40min)

Location

Charente, France

Target name

Sh2-129 and OU4 ('Objects' disallows OU4)

Title

Flying bat and squid nebulae

About this image

This was an ambitious attempt to capture the very faint 'squid nebula'. Surprisingly, this is a recent discovery by an amateur astrophotographer Nicolas Outters in 2011. Apparently it was his 4th nebula discovery (!) hence the 'OU4' designation. The squid nebula is set against the somewhat brighter Ha-emission region - the 'Flying Bat nebula' (Sh2-129). The 'squid' has signal in OIII, but in my 4 hrs of data with this narrowband filter, it was barely visible. I struggled to get rid of small gradients and noise, and used the new PI tool - NBColourMapper - to mix it with the Ha. I think it's just about there, but I think it will be worth revisiting with one or more of bigger aperture, longer integration, or increased camera gain.

Captued over three sessions from 25th August to 6th September 2023.

Files associated with this observation

proc3cropb_BAA.jpg (1.3 MB)

Like this image

Simon Paul Davis, Callum Potter, Gerard Cauchi, Andy Wilson

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