Space Monkey (NGC 2174)

[Nighthound]

This is another from the Thanksgiving holiday that I finally finished processing.

NGC 2174, a.k.a The Monkey Head Nebula.

Takahashi Sky 90 II(f/4.5, 407mm FL) • Losmandy G-11 w/Gemini • Canon 20D(unmod) • 20 x 240 sec. subexposures combined @ ISO 1600 • All exposures unguided, no dark or flat frames applied • Noel's Astro Tools

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Astrophotography/monkeyheadneb2.jpg

Crop
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Astrophotography/monkeyheadcropped.jpg

[markjpcs]

Very nice Steve.

It reminds me of the Pacman Nebula

[TheHoff]

Nicely done! Interesting how wired our brains are for facial recognition... any type of primate face, it seems.

[Nighthound]

Thanks very much Mark and Hoff.

[PJ1958]

Beautiful colors in that nebula which is an old favorite of mine. I hope it's ok to post an old Kodak Hypersensitized Tech Pan film image. It's about 100 minutes in exposure time manually guided with my old 10" f/6 Newtonian back in the early 90's. Imaging has come a looooong way since :cool:

[Celestron]

Great shot Steve !

[Nighthound]

Thanks Preston and Ron, I do appreciate it.

Preston, really a great shot. Wow, hypersenstized film AND manually guided, and people think I have patience. I am humbled.