IC1318 - The Butterfly Nebula Mosaic


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By
Catalog
Obj Type
Location
Date Taken:
Smoot & Garrett
IC 1318
Nebula
Mayhill, NM
09-07-2010
Description

IC1318 is also known as the Butterfly nebula or the Gamma Cygni nebula.  This is a large area of nebulosity around the star SADR in the middle of Cygnus (SADR is out of the frame to the lower right in this image).  This nebula has many bright portions and is being illuminated by a hidden bright star.  This nebulosity lies at a distance of around 5000 light years.

This image is a three frame HaRGB mosaic of the upper portion of the butterfly nebula (i.e., a portion of one wing).  The dark nebula at the bottom of this is a portion of LDN889. 

Technical Details
Exposure Time:
32 hours
Camera:
SBIG STL-11000M
Telescope:
RCOS 16 inch f/8.7 Ritchey-Chretien
Mount:
Software Bisque Paramount ME
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Used with permission, No reproduction of these images are permitted without written approval from Smoot & Garrett.