The Elephant’s Trunk (IC 1396)
Image Details:
This nebula is circumpolar in some latitudes of the Northern hemisphere, meaning it never sets below the horizon. As such, it can be shot nearly any time of year at least some point during the night. This is an emission region, or an area of ionized gas illuminated and ionized by a central star, all at a distance of around 2,400 light years - meaning the light captured to create this photo was emitted by this nebula around the time humanity invented the catapult.
Equipment:
TS Optics 86mm Petzval (460mm Focal Length F/5.4)
ZWO ASI6200MM-P, Antlia Filters
Astrophysics Mach2GTO Mount
Autoguiding: Orion 50mm Guidescope + ZWO ASI178MM
Exposures:
Red, Green, Blue: 129, 128, 129x 300” (Total: 32h 20m)
Hydrogen-Alpha 3nm: 114 x 300” (Total: 9h 30m)
Oxygen-III 3nm: 189 x 300” (Total: 15h 45m)
Hydrogen-Beta 8.5nm: 91x 300” (Total: 7h 35m)
Misc Details:
Capture Software: N.I.N.A., PHD2 (guiding)
Processing Software: PixInsight
Taken from: Starfront Observatories, TX
Capture Dates: 11-14, 18-21, 23-24, 30-31 January, 1-5, 6, 12-12-13, 16 February, 3-5, 12-13, 16, 21-22 April, 17, 19-25 June