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NGC 281



Object:

NGC 281: Pacman Nebula in Cassiopeia

RA = 0 hr 53 min; Dec = +56 deg 37 min

Date & Site:

Image completed on 12/30/15; Runningman Observatory, Carlsbad, CA

Clear; above average seeing and transparency; low temp: 45 deg

Equipment:

Telescope: Takahashi FSQ 106 Refractor (f/5 540mm)

Mount: Losmandy G-11 with Gemini
Camera: ST-10XME; CFW10 with 3 nm Astrodon filters

AT66ED refractor used to piggyback autoguide

 

Notes:

Exposures: 120 min of Ha; 150 min each OIII and SII (in 15 minute sub exposures) for a total of 7 hrs

Color mapped using the Hubble palette by assigning Ha to Green, OIII to blue, and SII to Red

FOV = 96 x 65 arc minutes

NGC 281 is an HII region that includes a young star cluster IC 1590. Surrounding gas is contributing to the formation of young, blue central stars. This process emits light in the hydrogen-alpha bandwidth abundant throughout this image.  This region has prominent Bok Globules in the central portion of this image.

Located 9,500 light years away

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