NGC 1893 and Sim 129 & 130 (Nov. 2020)

The very young open cluster NGC 1893 sports five O-type stars (the five brightest stars across the center of the cluster in front of the nebula).  The cluster also produced a number of hot B-type stars.  Together, these stars (especially the O-type stars) power the glowing gas behind them.  See especially this study: https://arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/0703706.pdf 

Infrared and X-ray images of the area show more stars behind the the dark clouds of gas and dust that cross the face of the nebula.  https://arxiv.org/pdf/0807.0116.pdf  Studies also strongly suggest that NGC 1893 harbors many pre-main-sequence stars and some protostars, https://arxiv.org/pdf/0707.0269.pdf, and young stellar objects, https://arxiv.org/pdf/1207.5632.pdf.  The cluster is probably 4-5 million years old, though star formation is probably ongoing.

The two cometary globules (or tadpole nebulae) are from left to right Simeis 129 and 130.  The nebula behind the cluster is called IC 410.

This image is 63x15" (15.75 hours) with the 203mm f/4.95 Synta-ONTC Newtonian, an Astronomik CLS filter, and Atik 460 EXC camera.

Tadpoles and a Double Star in a Tadpole in IC410 (Oct. 2016)

This is a closeup of a famous nebular formation in IC410 in the constellation Auriga.  The whole area is filled with glowing hydrogen, but the two brightest parts of the area are shown here, the two tadpoles.  These are caused by energy rushing up against clumps of gas; the collision makes the gas glow.  This is the highest resolution image of the area I've ever taken.  Specifically, I never saw that the second (lower) star of the two in the hood on the right is actually a double star.  Probably most telescopes would show it visually at high magnification, but in a long exposure, only a very long focal length and quite good seeing would show the star's double nature.  I was happy to see it.  This is just 5x600" with the CFF290 Classical Cassegrain through the SXVF-H9 at f/7.93.

IC 410 and NGC 1893 (Fall 2014)

Telescope: Astro-Tech AT111EDT and William Optics AFR-IV (eff. at f/5.6)
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9 (Ha- 14x1200" (6nm) and 7x900" (12nm), SII- 22x900", OIII- 31x900" (total 19 hours 40 minutes)), Alnitak Flat-man flats
Filter(s): Astronomik NB Filters
Guiding: SX Lodestar and SX OAG
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, PHD, Maxim DL, Registar, Photoshop CS3 (and one Carboni action)
Location: The Woodlands, TX

IC 410 in Ha (October 15, 2014)

Lying in the plane of the Milky Way, in the constellation Auriga, nebula IC 410 provided raw material for the star cluster (NGC 1893) in the center of this frame.  The light of the cluster's stars now makes the remaining gas glow.

Telescope: Astro-Tech AT111EDT and William Optics AFR-IV (eff. at f/5.6)
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9 14x1200", Alnitak Flat-man flats
Filter: Astronomik 6nm Ha
Guiding: SX Lodestar and SX OAG
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, Maxim DL, Photoshop CS3
Location: The Woodlands, TX

IC 410 (Jan. 6, 2013)

Link to the full resolution image.

This just 6x20'.  I was waiting for something else to come up over the trees.  I have to admit I do like this nebula and cluster, though.  The cluster's stars appear in loops or banks of stars moving away from a roughly central point.  I'd bet this is a leftover from some facet of the cluster's formation.  I also like the tadpoles, of course.  And I enjoy thinking how much hydrogen (and nitrogen, perhaps) is glowing here, certainly more than I can frame with this system.

Telescope: Astro-Tech AT111EDT and William Optics P-FLAT4 (eff. at f/5.6)
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9C (6x1200"), Alnitak Flat-man flats
Filter: Astronomik 12nm Ha [+NII]
Guiding: SX Lodestar and SX OAG
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, Maxim DL, Photoshop CS3
Location: The Woodlands, TX

IC 410 & NGC 1893 (Oct. 2, 2011)

This nebulous cloud of gas (IC 410) and embedded cluster of stars (NGC 1893) are found in the constellation Auriga.  They are perhaps 12,000 light years away.  As an image, the scene presents wonderful contrasts: the bright red, hydrogen emission tadpoles in the lower left; the purplish glow of ionized hydrogen and oxygen in the larger nebula; the light-deprived dust clouds in the upper part of the image; and, spread out across the scene, are the stars that have formed from the very gas in this cloud on this side facing earth---a brilliant spread of jewels on purple velvet.

This is my third observation of IC 410 and NGC 1893.  The first is here, just an h-alpha take with a smaller scope.  The second is here, a close-up on the tadpoles. 

Telescope: Orion 10" f/4.7 Newtonian and Baader RCC1
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9C, 20x10'
Filter: IDAS-LPS2
Guiding: SX Lodestar and SX OAG
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, Maxim DL, Photoshop CS3
Location: The Woodlands, TX

IC 410 Tadpoles & Part of NGC 1893

These tadpole-like structures are part of a cloud of hydrogen and other gases and dust in the constellation Auriga. A cluster of stars, dubbed NGC 1893, has formed from the cloud. Those stars can be found throughout the image but are centered in the upper right, where the brightest of them are found. The brightest stars of NGC 1893 radiate energy which is pushing the cloud of gas and dust away. But some of the cloud is thicker and may hide stars in formation whose gravity counteracts the radiation from the bright stars. Where this occurs, the gas and dust remains, and a shock front forms where the radiation meets the stubborn part of the nebula. Behind the edges of the shock front and trailing away, is the gas and dust pushed around and away, like a tail, from the stubborn gas and dust remaining in the head, giving the tadpole-like appearance.

This image is 32x4' with the Atik 16 through the AT8RC and an IDAS LPS-P2 filter. The 67% moon rose during the final sub-exposures. The stars here are slightly out of round. I believe it is the way the camera is attached to the focuser. Honestly, I wish focusers had T-threads. It'd be so much easier.