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View Full Version : Dark Nebula and Cluster NGC6820 and NGC 6823

Catanonia
28th of August 2009 (Fri), 10:52
Well i have been rather quiet for a while with my images, and that is because I set myself a target of imaging something that isn't imaged / posted much on this forum.

The target was NGC6823 Cluster and NGC 6820 Dark Nebula in the Vulpecula constellation. After doing much reading on it, it found it to be considered a difficult target due to the low nebulocity and the close bright cluster 6823 drowning out the light. Hence the term Dark Nebula.

This target has to be the most difficult I have tried, but really wanted to give it a shot.

Captured on my SkyWatcher EvoStar Pro ED120 900mm F7.5 with a Baader modded EOS 350D over 3 nights at ISO800.

In in all about 4.5 hours worth of subs with many darks / flats and dark flats applied.

It was so tempting to go overboard with the processing on this, but decided to keep the natural low red glow of the nebula.

http://extraview.dnsalias.com/temp/NGC6823%20Processed%20800px.jpg


A full sized image can be found here.

http://extraview.dnsalias.com/temp/NGC6823 Processed FULL.jpg (http://extraview.dnsalias.com/temp/NGC6823%20Processed%20FULL.jpg)



Some details on this target from Wiki

NGC 6820 is an emission nebula (http://stargazerslounge.com/wiki/Emission_nebula) that surrounds open cluster (http://stargazerslounge.com/wiki/Open_cluster) NGC 6823 in Vulpecula (http://stargazerslounge.com/wiki/Vulpecula_(constellation)), near M27 (http://stargazerslounge.com/wiki/Messier_27), the Dumbbell Nebula (http://stargazerslounge.com/wiki/Dumbbell_Nebula). The nebula NGC 6820 is also callled Sharpless catalog (http://stargazerslounge.com/wiki/Sharpless_catalog) Sh 2-86.
The most striking feature is the trunk-like pillar or dust and gas protruding from the east side of the nebula towards the open cluster, NGC 6823 (http://stargazerslounge.com/wiki/NGC_6823) in the west. The center of the open cluster is about two million years old and is predominantly represented by many young, bright blue stars. Outer parts of the cluster intimately involving pillars of emission nebula NGC 6820 (http://stargazerslounge.com/wiki/NGC_6820), contain even younger stars. The huge pillars of gas and dust are probably formed when surrounding gas and dust is pushed and eroded away by radiation from nearby stars. Remarkable dark globules (http://stargazerslounge.com/w/index.php?title=Dark_globules&action=edit&redlink=1) of gas and dust are also visible in the nebula, much as is seen in the better known Eagle Nebula (http://stargazerslounge.com/wiki/Eagle_Nebula) in Serpens (http://stargazerslounge.com/wiki/Serpens) or the Lagoon Nebula (http://stargazerslounge.com/wiki/Lagoon_Nebula) in Sagittarius (http://stargazerslounge.com/wiki/Sagittarius).
Open star cluster NGC 6823 is about 50 light years across and lies about 6000 light years away.


It was long, tiresome and darned frustrating at times getting this target with it being so dim, but I feel a sense of achivement now.

Definately going to re-visit this target next year to add to it.

Cat
Celestron
28th of August 2009 (Fri), 11:57
Jaw-Dropping , Awesome , Excellent work !! Are you sure your not a back-ground Astronomer :lol: ?? This is a perfect way to show images that are seldom if ever imaged . Your doing a fantastic job Cat , i look forward to others as well . BTW , my favorites are GCs' ..... :wink:
Catanonia
28th of August 2009 (Fri), 12:10
Jaw-Dropping , Awesome , Excellent work !! Are you sure your not a back-ground Astronomer :lol: ?? This is a perfect way to show images that are seldom if ever imaged . Your doing a fantastic job Cat , i look forward to others as well . BTW , my favorites are GCs' ..... :wink:

thanks dude :) What is a background Astronomer ? Lost me .....


I got bored of imaging all the 'normal' stuff that people always see and wanted something different to show. Now I know why they are not shown as they are blooming difficult to image :D:D
Celestron
28th of August 2009 (Fri), 13:22
thanks dude :) What is a background Astronomer ? Lost me .....




Meaning..... , sure your not a real Astronomer in hiding :lol::lol: ?? Just kidding...just that you have out done most everyone i have known over the last 10 years ! Your GOOD !!
BTW , check out my friend Bud Guinns' ASTRO GALLERY (http://www.budguinn.com/) . When i first started knowing him he pretty much did what your doing now of imaging different objects i haven't seen before and he's still GOOD !!
Catanonia
28th of August 2009 (Fri), 13:32
Meaning..... , sure your not a real Astronomer in hiding :lol::lol: ?? Just kidding...just that you have out done most everyone i have known over the last 10 years ! Your GOOD !!
BTW , check out my friend Bud Guinns' ASTRO GALLERY (http://www.budguinn.com/) . When i first started knowing him he pretty much did what your doing now of imaging different objects i haven't seen before and he's still GOOD !!

ah I get ya :D:D

Nah not in hiding mate, just take to hobbies quite quickly and normally to the annoyance of others :)

Many thanks for your kind comments, gives me the urge to get better.
DSLR AstroMod
29th of August 2009 (Sat), 13:57
Remarkable image Cat, very smooth and nicely processed..and yes you do seem to have picked up this imaging lark rather swiftly....much to your benefit and our viewing pleasure!

How long have you been imaging seriously for?
Catanonia
29th of August 2009 (Sat), 14:07
Remarkable image Cat, very smooth and nicely processed..and yes you do seem to have picked up this imaging lark rather swiftly....much to your benefit and our viewing pleasure!

How long have you been imaging seriously for?


Honestly.

I bought my 1st scope on May 25th 2009 and ED80. I think on the 20th May 2009 I tried some tripod shots with my dslr and they were bad.

I bought my mount and ED120 around mid June.

So I have been actually a complete newbie since well, June 2009 and started to image properly around mid June.

My website and the image messier / ngc section shows a history in order of my pictures.

I am quite amazed how quickly I picked it up, love the hobby, combines Astrophysics and computers, two things I like.

Thanks for all the nice comments, it is comments like this that make me realise I am going in the right direction.

Cat
Celestron
29th of August 2009 (Sat), 18:44
Honestly.

I bought my 1st scope on May 25th 2009 and ED80. I think on the 20th May 2009 I tried some tripod shots with my dslr and they were bad.

I bought my mount and ED120 around mid June.

So I have been actually a complete newbie since well, June 2009 and started to image properly around mid June.

My website and the image messier / ngc section shows a history in order of my pictures.

I am quite amazed how quickly I picked it up, love the hobby, combines Astrophysics and computers, two things I like.

Thanks for all the nice comments, it is comments like this that make me realise I am going in the right direction.

Cat



I can vouch for her !! Most of us here that have been here since the start of this section know her to be the fastest learner we know !
DSLR AstroMod
31st of August 2009 (Mon), 05:57
I can vouch for her !! Most of us here that have been here since the start of this section know her to be the fastest learner we know !

Her??!!

Wow you go girl!:D
Adrena1in
1st of September 2009 (Tue), 05:27
... just take to hobbies quite quickly and normally to the annoyance of others :)

In my case it's envy. :p

Partly because you seem to have a limitless supply of money! ;)
Partly because you seem to be able to get out nearly every night and take great shots.
Mainly because you really are the quickest "learner" I've seen on here. I've said before, in months you've gone from a complete beginner to putting out some of the best images on here.

You may have a little way to go before you're bettering the likes of Nighthound and Stargazr, but for sheer quantity I think you're streaks ahead! ;)