This intriguing object features both emission nebula (red) and reflection nebula (blue or gray-brown). The cluster of stars in the nebula is very young, and is just pushing the gas away from itself with ultraviolet light. The blue-white stars' light is also reflected on the gas, but you may have to turn out the lights to see it. The reflection nebula here is close in color to the light pollution near my house, and in order to control the light pollution I had to tone down the blue. Most estimates put the Cocoon Nebula at about 4,000 light years.
Telescope: Stellarvue 80ED NHNG f/7 w/WO ff/fr 0.8 II (so effectively at f/5.6)
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9C, 56x8'
Filter: IDAS-LPS2
Guiding: Borg 50mm, Meade DSI Pro, PHD
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, Maxim DL, Photoshop CS3
Location: The Woodlands, TX
2 comments:
You've been really busy lately! You've been doing some really great imaging! This Cocoon has really nice color and detail. We need to get some imaging done at the observatory some day soon!
Thanks, Rory! And collaborate on another image, I hope!
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