Exposures: 2 hrs of Ha (6 nm) and 30 min each RGB for a total of 3.5 hours.
FOV = 35 x 52 arc minutes
This is a bright emission nebula in Auriga that resembles a spider. I chose this object as first light for a new OTA to image from the backyard as a test to see if the mount can handle the additional weight and external guider. Both tests passed.
The hydrogen within this nebula is ionized by stars in the open cluster Stock 8. The two bright stars to the right are Phi Aur (mag 5.2) and TYC 02411-0684 1 (mag 5.9).
IC 417 is approximately 10,000 light years away
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