Flaming star nebula (IC405)

[alan4908]

The wandering blue star AE Auriga is the power house of the Flaming Star Nebula (IC405). Ultraviolet radiation emitted by the star causes nearby hydrogen gas to emit red visible light, closer to the star, dust reflects starlight creating a blue reflection nebula.  2m years ago the star was within the Orion Nebula but gravitational interactions with nearby stars resulted in the star being ejected and so it now wanders the skies. 

For the image capture, I decided on a LRGB approach with a Ha blend into the red channel to improve the visibility of the surrounding hydrogen gas.  

The image below was taken with my Esprit 150 and represents 11 hours integration time.

Alan

LIGHTS: L:5, R:11, G:10, B:7 x 600s; Ha:11 x 1800s.

[Sterrenland]

Stunning image...the colours are amazing. Exactly why I'd love a bigger scope!

[Catanonia]

Really nice to see a close up of this rather than the usual wide fields.

Stunning work

[juno16]

Absolutely beautiful!

Coloration is spot on to my liking. AE Auriga Is perfect and the blue reflection nebulae is very prominent.

Excellent capture and processing!

[alan4908]

On 23/03/2022 at 20:26, Sterrenland said:

Stunning image...the colours are amazing. Exactly why I'd love a bigger scope!

Thanks ! -  on the bigger scope front , I do really like my Esprit 150 

On 23/03/2022 at 22:19, Catanonia said:

Really nice to see a close up of this rather than the usual wide fields.

Stunning work

Thanks ! 

On 24/03/2022 at 10:10, juno16 said:

Absolutely beautiful!

Coloration is spot on to my liking. AE Auriga Is perfect and the blue reflection nebulae is very prominent.

Excellent capture and processing!

Thanks - it look me a few attempts at trying to get the blue reflection nebula to something that I liked. 

Alan