An emission nebula IC 410 lies about 12,000 light-years away in the constellation Auriga. The cloud of glowing hydrogen gas is over 100 light-years across, sculpted by stellar winds and radiation from embedded open star cluster NGC 1893. Formed in the interstellar cloud a mere 4 million years ago, the bright cluster stars are seen just below the prominent dark dust cloud near picture center. Notable near the 7 o’clock position in this wide, detailed view are two relatively dense streamers of material trailing away from the nebula’s central regions. Potentially sites of ongoing star formation, these cosmic tadpole shapes are about 10 light-years long.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Orion Optics UK CT8
Imaging cameras: SBIG ST-8300M
Mounts: Losmandy G11
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Orion Optics UK CT8
Guiding cameras: Starlight Xpress Lodestar guide camera
Focal reducers: Baader Planetarium RCC
Software: Maxim DL, photoshop
Filters: Baader Planetarium SII 8nm, Baader Planetarium OIII 8.5nm, Baader Planetarium 7nm H-Alpha
Accessories: Celestron Radial Guider
Dates: Dec. 27, 2013, Dec. 30, 2013, Jan. 3, 2014
Frames:
Baader Planetarium 7nm H-Alpha: 28×900″ bin 1×1
Baader Planetarium OIII 8.5nm: 27×900″ bin 2×2
Baader Planetarium SII 8nm: 15×900″ bin 2×2
Integration: 17.5 hours

Author: Jacek Bobowik
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 24 June 2014