The Parrot Nebula (Gum 1, RCW 2) (January 2014)

Full resolution image here.

The Parrot Nebula is the "head" of what is also known as the Seagull Nebula.  It is item 1 in the catalog compiled by Colin Gum in the 1950s.  The coolest thing about the nebula is the dark cloud that lies in front of it and becomes the parrot's open mouth.

Part of this image was taken from the Houston Astronomical Society dark sky site under a waning but nearly-full moon.  The rest was taken from the backyard.

Telescope: Astro-Tech AT111EDT and William Optics AFR-IV (eff. at f/5.6)
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9 (Ha+NII:24x1200"), Alnitak Flat-man flats
Filter: Astronomik Ha+NII
Guiding: SX Lodestar and SX OAG
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, Maxim DL, Photoshop CS3
Location: HAS dark sky site near Columbus, TX; The Woodlands, TX