A Helping Hand

[Allinthehead]

This is the Helping Hand Nebula in Cassiopeia.

The blue reflection is as a result of the cepheid variable star SU Cassiopeia. Vdb 7,8 and 9 are present in this image as well as Ldn 1353, 1355 and 1358.

Extremely feint nebula with loads of stars in the field made this a challenging target, gathering lots of data was the only option. I think this might be the longest I stayed on a single panel target.

12 hrs in 120 second subs at gain 100 with the Asi 2600mc through a Takahashi Epsilon 160ed. Data acquired over 4 nights.

Mounted on an AzEq6

Stacked in APP

Processed in APP, PI and PS

 Hope you enjoy,

Richard.

[AbsolutelyN]

Just saw this on astrobin too - it's an absolutely stunning and inspirational image Richard.  

[Allinthehead]

33 minutes ago, AbsolutelyN said:

Just saw this on astrobin too - it's an absolutely stunning and inspirational image Richard.  

😀 Well that's a lovely comment to read, thank you very much.

[Mr Thingy]

Really nice image. So interesting and very well taken.

[Xiga]

Beautiful work, as always Richard. Has an almost ethereal look about it. 

I don't recall ever seeing an image of this before, so always nice to see something new as well. 

[AL1]

Beautiful image.

[scotty38]

A wonderful image!

[Padraic M]

Beautiful image Richard. I saw and enjoyed the early draft version but the extra data does make a difference. A friendly subject nicely presented, and good choice of composition too!

[GalaxyGael]

Beautiful Richard, another interesting region high in the sky. Longer integration time was the key you think?

[Paul1]

👍👍👍

[mackiedlm]

That's a wonderful image. I've never seen that target before. Stunning.

 

[Allinthehead]

18 hours ago, Mr Thingy said:

Really nice image. So interesting and very well taken.

Thanks, glad you found it interesting.

 

14 hours ago, Xiga said:

Beautiful work, as always Richard. Has an almost ethereal look about it. 

I don't recall ever seeing an image of this before, so always nice to see something new as well. 

Thanks Ciarán, happy to show you something new.

 

14 hours ago, AL1 said:

Beautiful image.

👍

 

14 hours ago, scotty38 said:

A wonderful image!

Thank you Scotty

[Allinthehead]

13 hours ago, Padraic M said:

Beautiful image Richard. I saw and enjoyed the early draft version but the extra data does make a difference. A friendly subject nicely presented, and good choice of composition too!

Thanks Padraic, much appreciated.

 

5 hours ago, GalaxyGael said:

Beautiful Richard, another interesting region high in the sky. Longer integration time was the key you think?

Thanks, yes I would usually be between 5-9 hrs but this definitely needed the extra few.

 

5 hours ago, Paul1 said:

👍👍👍

👍

 

3 hours ago, mackiedlm said:

That's a wonderful image. I've never seen that target before. Stunning.

 

Thank you, I'm surprised so many have not seen this before, always nice to see something new.

[MarsG76]

What an awesome image and object... well done.

[ItsmeMaw]

Excellent image! This is another object I would have never even knew existed if it wasnt for the members of this great forum!

Thanks!

[Allinthehead]

6 hours ago, MarsG76 said:

What an awesome image and object... well done.

Thanks Mars. 

5 hours ago, ItsmeMaw said:

Excellent image! This is another object I would have never even knew existed if it wasnt for the members of this great forum!

Thanks!

👍

[Rodd]

Wow.  This is stunning. I have never seen this one.  In Cassiopeia too. I guess wide field is the way to go. I’ll have to wait until I get my refractors on the mount

[Allinthehead]

19 hours ago, Rodd said:

Wow.  This is stunning. I have never seen this one.  In Cassiopeia too. I guess wide field is the way to go. I’ll have to wait until I get my refractors on the mount

Thanks Rodd, It's well worth the effort.

[Rodd]

7 minutes ago, Allinthehead said:

Thanks Rodd, It's well worth the effort.

Thinking of the C11Edge but I think the image would lose alot without the surrounding context

[Allinthehead]

Would work well at a longer focal length too.

https://www.astrobin.com/full/wejwlj/0/

[peter shah]

that is just outstanding...I love this object 

[Tim]

Wow, that is stunning!  Can I ask, what were your skies like for this image?

Tim

[Knight of Clear Skies]

Great image, and not a target I was familiar with.

[Allinthehead]

8 hours ago, peter shah said:

that is just outstanding...I love this object 

Thanks Peter, it's a great target.

 

5 hours ago, Tim said:

Wow, that is stunning!  Can I ask, what were your skies like for this image?

Tim

Thank you Tim. Sky is bortle 4 according to Clearoutside.

 

5 hours ago, Knight of Clear Skies said:

Great image, and not a target I was familiar with.

Thanks very much👍

[carastro]

Excellent result Richard, 

Now where can I find some dark skies to do this target.  🤣

Carole