M20_2008-07-08

Nebulae - M20

R.A.: 18h 02m 23s
Dec.: -23° 01' 48"
Mag.: 6.3

The Trifid Nebula (catalogued as Messier 20 or M20 and as NGC 6514) is an H II region located in Sagittarius. Its name means 'divided into three lobes'. The object is an unusual combination of an open cluster of stars, an emission nebula (the lower, red portion), a reflection nebula (the upper, blue portion) and a dark nebula (the apparent 'gaps' within the emission nebula that cause the trifid appearance; these are also designated Barnard 85). Viewed through a small telescope, the Trifid Nebula is a bright and colorful object, and is thus a perennial favorite of amateur astronomers.

© Wikipedia

M 20 - The Triffid Nebula

Date/time: 09.07.2008 01:10 to 09.07.2008 01:56
Ambient conditions: 20°C, clouds
Location: Salvador, Brazil

Equipment:
Telescope: C 11 with f/6.3 reducer
Mount: Skywatcher Eq 6 PRO
Guiding: Selfguiding with ST-4000XCM
Camera: ST-4000XCM

Acquisition:
Software: CCDSoft V5
FOV, Image scale: 29.6 x 29.6 arcmin, 0.87 arcs/pixel
Sub-exposures: 18 min (3 x 5min + 1 x 3min) light frames @-5°C
26 darks, 5 flats

Processing:
Calibration, stacking and DDP in Images Plus 3.0,
curves and levels adjustments in CS3, noise reduction with Carbonis Actions,
color enhancement using Gabany method under CS3,

Comments:
This was a test shot between persistent clouds. Focus not perfect and telescope
not perfectly collimated.

Add your comment

yvComment v.1.19.2

Your name:
Comment: