Sharpless 142, the Wizard Nebula |
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Sharpless 142, or SH2-142, is an emission nebula in the
constellation Cepheus. It is often referred to as NGC 7380,
though that designation actually refers to an open cluster of
stars embedded within the nebula. This is yet another star
forming region within the Milky Way lying around 7,000
light-years away. Radiation from young, energetic stars born
within the nebula is causing the gas to glow like a neon sign.
Intense stellar winds are also shaping the nebula, giving it an
interesting shape that has been dubbed the Wizard Nebula.
So where’s the Wizard? He’s facing right, and a spell is blowing
out from his mouth like a bubble. The dark dust lanes above the
bubble form his pointed hat, and the flowing clouds of gas and
dust below form his robe and his gesturing arms.
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Constellation: Cepheus |
When Visible: August - January |
Distance:
7,000 Light-years |
Date Imaged: September 2010 |
Location: West Chester, Ohio |
Exposure Details:
Ha: 6 x 20 Minutes Binned 1x1
SII: 6 x 20 Minutes Binned 1x1
OIII: 6 x 20 Minutes Binned 1x1
Colors mapped using the "Hubble Palette": SII data mapped to
Red, H-alpha data to Green, and OIII to Blue. |
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Equipment Used:
Takahashi TOA-130F on an Astro-Physics AP1200GTO mount. SBIG ST-10XME
camera with CF-8 (5-position) filter wheel and Astrodon
Narrowband filters. |
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Acquisition Software :
MaximDL 5, TheSky6, CCDAutopilot 3, FocusMax |
Processing Software:
MaximDL, Photoshop CS, Carboni Actions, Croman
GradientXterminator, IrFanView |
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