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Heart Nebula, SH2-190 approximately 7500 light-years away, an emission nebula located in the constellation of Cassiopeia.
Fish Head Nebula, IC1795, approximately 6000 light-years away, an emission nebula located in the constellation of Cassiopeia.
Image taken from Raheny, Dublin , April 5, 2025
Bortle 7
Also known as the Northern Bear Nebula and as NGC 896.
Seestar capture, 417 frames stacked and edited.
760 10-sec exposures. Durham, NC. Pixinsight and Photoshop.
I have photographed the Heart Nebula before, and was always curious and interested in the little appendix in the corner. It can easily be overlooked when looking at the much larger and impressive details of the Heart Nebula (see flic.kr/p/2qgwVE8). This time, I decided to spend some quality time imaging NGC896; I love the intricate patterns of dark dust clouds interspersed with brighter regions full of young stars.
In total, I've managed to acquire 27 hours of narrowband data, with both the Optolong L-Ultimate (3nm Ha & Oiii) and with the Antlia ALP-T 5nm Ha & Oiii filters. I used the ZWO ASI2600MC Pro camera, on an AM5 mount with ASIAir Plus. Processed with PixInsight + Affinity Photo 2.
This is the Starless SHO palette colours. Please see the HOO with stars here: flic.kr/p/2qg6dbf
More acquisition details in Astrobin: astrob.in/cf11hv/D/
I hope you like it and perhaps be inspired to spend some time imaging and/or admiring this somewhat overlooked but beautiful nebula.
Thanks for looking.
Clear Skies
Eduardo
===== From Wikipedia ====
The Fish Head Nebula, or the Northern Bear Nebula, is part of a large star forming system of gas and dust located along the Perseus spiral arm of the Milky Way. The nebula is located in the Constellation Cassiopeia, approximately 6,000 light-years from Earth and is adjacent to the much larger Heart Nebula. The brighter region of the nebula is designated NGC 896 and is the home to many young and large stars. These stars radiate high amounts of ultraviolet light. This UV radiation excites the surrounding gas and causes it to shine at a high brightness.
I have photographed the Heart Nebula before, and was always curious and interested in the little appendix in the corner. It can easily be overlooked when looking at the much larger and impressive details of the Heart Nebula (See flic.kr/p/2qgwVE8). This time, I decided to spend some quality time imaging NGC896; I love the intricate patterns of dark dust clouds interspersed with brighter regions full of young stars.
In total, I've managed to acquire 27 hours of narrowband data, with both the Optolong L-Ultimate (3nm Ha & Oiii) and with the Antlia ALP-T 5nm Ha & Oiii filters.
I used my William Optics FLT 132 with the Flat8 0.72x reducer, the ZWO ASI2600MC Pro camera, on an AM5 mount with ASIAir Plus. Processed with PixInsight + Affinity Photo 2.
Please see the starless / SHO palette here: flic.kr/p/2qg7Hpe
More acquisition details in Astrobin: astrob.in/cf11hv/0/
I hope you like it and perhaps be inspired to spend some time imaging this somewhat overlooked but beautiful nebula.
Thanks for looking.
Clear Skies
Eduardo
===== From Wikipedia ====
The Fish Head Nebula, or the Northern Bear Nebula, is part of a large star forming system of gas and dust located along the Perseus spiral arm of the Milky Way. The nebula is located in the Constellation Cassiopeia, approximately 6,000 light-years from Earth and is adjacent to the much larger Heart Nebula. The brighter region of the nebula is designated NGC 896 and is the home to many young and large stars. These stars radiate high amounts of ultraviolet light. This UV radiation excites the surrounding gas and causes it to shine at a high brightness.
The Heart and Fish Head Nebulas (IC 1805 and IC 1795) in the constellation Cassiopeia imaged by a Vaonis Vespera (Classic) smart telescope using a dual band H-alpha and O-III filter in a Bortle 7 zone, 759 exposures in a composite mosaic of 590 frames, post processing in CS5 and Luminar Neo with noise reduction using Topaz Denoise AI.
IC1805 (590 exp) img-0759-output V3
This is a view of IC 1795 - The Fish Head Nebula, and is part of a huge star forming system of gas and dust located along the Perseus spiral arm of our Milky Way galaxy. The nebula is located in the constellation Cassiopeia approximately 6000 light-years from the Earth and is adjacent to the much larger Heart Nebula. This image was designed around the Hubble Palette of colors, splitting my image into artificial Sulfur II, Hydrogen Alpha, and Oxygen III channels. The image was then reassembled giving these hues that are typical of images from the HST.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC + Optolong L-eXtreme glass filter, running at 0F, 41 x 300 second exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in PixInsight. Image Date: September 16, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).
The supernova remnant HB3 (SNR G132.7+1.3) in the constellation Cassiopeia is one of the largest galactic SNRs currently known. Its physical size is reported to be about 60×80 pc, based on an assumed distance of 2 kpc.
In the sky HB3 extends to about 1°.5 × 2.0°, its age is given as about 30 000 years. In my image, the object appears as a shell-like structure with finely differentiated segments of energized Ha, SII and OIII.
The SNR is located directly northwest of the structure of the Fish Head Nebula IC 1795, i.e. in a frequently photographed region of the sky. In the image, approximately in the direction of 1 o'clock, the 1.0' small PN A66 can also be found. Furthermore, inside the SNR, at about 10 o'clock, the 0.5' small PN G132.8+02.0 shines.
The image is a composite of Ha, SII and OIII data for the background and RGB for the stars. As a photographic target, HB3 is quite challenging as it is very faint. I would have liked to invest a multiple of the shooting time, but the weather in western Germany in fall/winter 2023 is so bad that I gave up after half of the originally planned shooting time and started image processing. There was sometimes very poor transparency during the shooting nights and it was often very windy. A lot of data had to be discarded. I therefore needed 7 nights for the approximately 15 hours of total exposure time that remained.
NGC 896, IC 1795, Fishhead Nebula, Lynds Catalogue LBN 645. L(Ha)SHO narrow band composite, Foraxx Palette
Image is NGC 896, the Fishhead Nebula in L(Ha)SHO narrow band. Image and an annotated version. The image is rendered with the Foraxx Palette Utility script in PixInsight. Apart from a little cosmetic tweaking at the end, the product is all Foraxx.
NGC 896 is an emission nebula of glowing gas and darker dust lanes situated in the Perseus Arm in the northern sky. It forms a small part of the larger Heart nebula (which is several degrees square).
Details:
Fishhead Nebula, NGC 896, IC 1795, LBN 645
Distance: 6,000 lyrs
Diameter: 70 lyrs
Angle subtended: 40'x15'
Constellation: Cassiopeia
Data taken in Astronomik narrowband filters: Ha (656nm), Sii (672nm) and Oiii (501nm). Total exposure time 15 hrs.
Ha 1x1 bin - 22x 600s = 3.7hrs, 03-04 September, seeing 2.6", scope West side, prime focus
Sii 1x1 bin - 33x 600s = 5.5hrs, 04-05 September, seeing 1.8", scope West side, prime focus
Oiii 1x1 bin - 35x 600s = 5.8 hrs, 05-06 September, seeing 1.2", scope West side, prime focus
Master lights:
FWHM (pxl)pre BXTpost BXT
Ha2.4401.476
Sii2.9421.666
Oiii3.1632.524
-----
Plate solver:
Resolution ............... 1.247 arcsec/px
Focal distance ........... 750.71 mm
Pixel size ............... 4.54 um
Field of view ............ 56' 1.8" x 43' 58.3"
Image center ............. RA: 2 28 13.183 Dec: +62 01 33.70
Image bounds:
top-left .............. RA: 2 24 25.590 Dec: +62 25 19.95
top-right ............. RA: 2 32 27.835 Dec: +62 21 12.52
bottom-left ........... RA: 2 24 04.018 Dec: +61 41 26.22
bottom-right .......... RA: 2 31 54.880 Dec: +61 37 24.65
-----
Rig:
Imaging scope: SW Startravel 150mm F5 Refractor, Baader Diamond Track, (2.5x Celestron Luminos 2inch imaging barlow), Atik 460EX mono
Guide scope: SW Evostar 90mm F10, with guiding XY stage, ZWO 120MM camera
Guiding: 2 stage PHD: high frequency guide scope (mount tracking) and low frequency OAG image train guiding (guidescope flex)
Mount: Home made German Equatorial pillow block mount, permanently rooftop mounted. Spring loaded DEC axis gearing.
Other gadgets: ST4 based anti vibration shutter, ST4 based PEC
-----
Processing Lights:
PixInsight: Lights, Darks, Flats, Biases: master dark/dark library-> masterbias-> superbias-> calibrated flats-> master flat-> calibrated lights-> cosmetic correction-> aligned lights-> master light-> BXT
PixInsight: Master BXT lights-> crop-> linfit-> final master lights
PixInsight: final master lights->StarNet2 starless-> LRGB Channel Combination (Ha, SHO)-> export xisf starless master.
GradXpert Gradient removal:->import starless xisf-> GXPT(20pc,3sg)-> export xisf, fits
Affinity Photo 32 bit image processing:-> import LSHO gxpt starless fits-> accept default stretch-> curves-> lvl(master)-> Topaz Denoise(LL, 22, 31)-> Tpzdn(ST,15,13)-> export tiff 16 bit
PixInsight: import tiff16-> channel separation-> Foraxx Palette Utility Script-> export Foraxx tiff 16
Affinity Photo final tart ups:-> import Foraxx tiff 16-> cvs-> scol (50%blend)-> 2x clarity, B&C tweaks->Tpzdn(LL,3,0)-> paste in star mask layer, blend mode 'screen', B&C, White Balance adjust.
-----
Processing Star Mask:
PixInsight: final master lights-> RGB Channel Combination (SHO)-> export xisf
GradXpert Gradient removal:->import xisf-> GXPT(20pc,3sg)-> export xisf
PixInsight: import SHO gxpt master-> StarNet2 star mask-> SCNR(Mg, 0.57)-> export fits starmask
Affinity Photo 32 bit image processing:-> import SHO gxpt starmask fits-> accept default stretch-> vibrance-> Sii master light star mask overlay (B&C adj, blend mode 'luminosity')-> paste Star Mask layer on top of starless final (blend mode 'screen').
-----
NGC 896, IC 1795, Fishhead Nebula, Lynds Catalogue LBN 645. L(Ha)SHO narrow band composite, Foraxx Palette
Image is NGC 896, the Fishhead Nebula in L(Ha)SHO narrow band. Image and an annotated version. The image is rendered with the Foraxx Palette Utility script in PixInsight. Apart from a little cosmetic tweaking at the end, the product is all Foraxx.
NGC 896 is an emission nebula of glowing gas and darker dust lanes situated in the Perseus Arm in the northern sky. It forms a small part of the larger Heart nebula (which is several degrees square).
Details:
Fishhead Nebula, NGC 896, IC 1795, LBN 645
Distance: 6,000 lyrs
Diameter: 70 lyrs
Angle subtended: 40'x15'
Constellation: Cassiopeia
Data taken in Astronomik narrowband filters: Ha (656nm), Sii (672nm) and Oiii (501nm). Total exposure time 15 hrs.
Ha 1x1 bin - 22x 600s = 3.7hrs, 03-04 September, seeing 2.6", scope West side, prime focus
Sii 1x1 bin - 33x 600s = 5.5hrs, 04-05 September, seeing 1.8", scope West side, prime focus
Oiii 1x1 bin - 35x 600s = 5.8 hrs, 05-06 September, seeing 1.2", scope West side, prime focus
Master lights:
FWHM (pxl)pre BXTpost BXT
Ha2.4401.476
Sii2.9421.666
Oiii3.1632.524
-----
Plate solver:
Resolution ............... 1.247 arcsec/px
Focal distance ........... 750.71 mm
Pixel size ............... 4.54 um
Field of view ............ 56' 1.8" x 43' 58.3"
Image center ............. RA: 2 28 13.183 Dec: +62 01 33.70
Image bounds:
top-left .............. RA: 2 24 25.590 Dec: +62 25 19.95
top-right ............. RA: 2 32 27.835 Dec: +62 21 12.52
bottom-left ........... RA: 2 24 04.018 Dec: +61 41 26.22
bottom-right .......... RA: 2 31 54.880 Dec: +61 37 24.65
-----
Rig:
Imaging scope: SW Startravel 150mm F5 Refractor, Baader Diamond Track, (2.5x Celestron Luminos 2inch imaging barlow), Atik 460EX mono
Guide scope: SW Evostar 90mm F10, with guiding XY stage, ZWO 120MM camera
Guiding: 2 stage PHD: high frequency guide scope (mount tracking) and low frequency OAG image train guiding (guidescope flex)
Mount: Home made German Equatorial pillow block mount, permanently rooftop mounted. Spring loaded DEC axis gearing.
Other gadgets: ST4 based anti vibration shutter, ST4 based PEC
-----
Processing Lights:
PixInsight: Lights, Darks, Flats, Biases: master dark/dark library-> masterbias-> superbias-> calibrated flats-> master flat-> calibrated lights-> cosmetic correction-> aligned lights-> master light-> BXT
PixInsight: Master BXT lights-> crop-> linfit-> final master lights
PixInsight: final master lights->StarNet2 starless-> LRGB Channel Combination (Ha, SHO)-> export xisf starless master.
GradXpert Gradient removal:->import starless xisf-> GXPT(20pc,3sg)-> export xisf, fits
Affinity Photo 32 bit image processing:-> import LSHO gxpt starless fits-> accept default stretch-> curves-> lvl(master)-> Topaz Denoise(LL, 22, 31)-> Tpzdn(ST,15,13)-> export tiff 16 bit
PixInsight: import tiff16-> channel separation-> Foraxx Palette Utility Script-> export Foraxx tiff 16
Affinity Photo final tart ups:-> import Foraxx tiff 16-> cvs-> scol (50%blend)-> 2x clarity, B&C tweaks->Tpzdn(LL,3,0)-> paste in star mask layer, blend mode 'screen', B&C, White Balance adjust.
-----
Processing Star Mask:
PixInsight: final master lights-> RGB Channel Combination (SHO)-> export xisf
GradXpert Gradient removal:->import xisf-> GXPT(20pc,3sg)-> export xisf
PixInsight: import SHO gxpt master-> StarNet2 star mask-> SCNR(Mg, 0.57)-> export fits starmask
Affinity Photo 32 bit image processing:-> import SHO gxpt starmask fits-> accept default stretch-> vibrance-> Sii master light star mask overlay (B&C adj, blend mode 'luminosity')-> paste Star Mask layer on top of starless final (blend mode 'screen').
-----
心臟星雲
IC 1805
Heart Nebula
靈魂星雲
IC 1848
Soul Nebula
魚頭星雲
IC 1795
Fish Head Nebula
IC 1831
IC 1871
NGC 896
NGC 1027
這次上山再挑戰一次
1*2的馬賽克拼貼
心臟靈魂
同一晚同一地點
天氣狀況也非常好
冷到靠北
但這次的仰角...
差多了
特別是後拍的上幅
受到地面光害的干擾
邊界有點明顯
希望以後有付費軟體
可以改善這個問題
我盡力了...
沒有靈魂的心
就像是
魚沒有水一般
如同你我
缺一不可
2-Frame Mosaic
4.1 x 5.01 deg
Date：2022/12/24-25
Weather：Clear
Location：Dasyueshan, Heping ,Taichung, Taiwan
Camera：Canon 6D(mod)
Lens/Telescope：
William Optics ZenitherStar 81+
Flat 6A III
Mount：iOptron CEM40
Guiding：
William Optics Uniguide+ZWO ASI120MM mini+PHD2
Parameter： ISO1600
Exposure time：3min*44, 3min *38
Dark, Flat, Bias
Software：DSS+Image Composite Editor+PS+Starnet++
心臟星雲
IC 1805
Heart Nebula
魚頭星雲
IC 1795
Fish Head Nebula
IC 1831
NGC 896
NGC 1027
歷經五上大科的摧殘後
發現自己啥都記不起來
連觀測和操作都忘了大半
再加上天氣非常冷
拍得十分掙扎
光是三星就弄了好久...
原本還想測測看Flat 6A3最好的精後距
結果發現不管怎麼轉都很爛
實在是...
看起來好是要買有附修正鏡的鏡子比較好
這種一體適用的
就怕一體全都不適用==
有點糟糕==
無人知曉
沒有靈魂的心朝向何方
更不瞭解
捉摸不定的妳
所做的選擇
Date：2022/12/24
Weather：Clear
Location：Dasyueshan, Heping ,Taichung, Taiwan
Camera：Canon 6D(mod)
Lens/Telescope：
William Optics ZenitherStar 81+
Flat 6A III
Mount：iOptron CEM40
Guiding：
William Optics Uniguide+ZWO ASI120MM mini+PHD2
Parameter： ISO1600
Exposure time：3min*44
Dark, Flat, Bias
Software：DSS+PS+Starnet++
The Fishhead Nebula (NGC 896) resides just north of an extension of the Heart Nebula (IC 1805). Above the Fishhead Nebula is the Emission Nebula IC 1795. The Open Cluster labeled “Melotte 15 (Mel 15}” is embedded within the Heart Nebula.
Heart Nebula (IC 1805/Sh2-190), Fishhead Nebula (IC 1795), and Soul Nebula (IC 1848)
2 panel mosaic of the Heart Nebula, Fishhead Nebula, and Soul Nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia.
-------------------------------------------------------
Location: Montclair, California, USA (Bortle 8)
Date: January 2, 2022 & January 4-5, 2022
Moon: New Moon - Waxing Crescent (14%)
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Telescope: William Optics ZenithStar 61II APO f/5.9
Flattener/Reducer: William Optics FLAT61A Field Flattener
Filter: Optolong L-eXtreme 2”
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini
Guide Scope: William Optics UniGuide 32 f/3.75
Camera Settings: Gain 100 | f/5.9 | 5 min
Acquisition: 37 x 5 min Lights for Heart & Fishhead Nebula, 53 x 5 min Lights for Soul Nebula | 50 Darks | 100 Bias
Integration Time: 7 hrs 30 min
Software: ZWO ASIAIR PRO, PixInsight, PTGui Pro, Topaz Labs Denoise AI, Adobe Lightroom Classic
-------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2022 Steven K. Wu Photography. All Rights Reserved.
Heart Nebula (IC 1805/Sh2-190) and Fishhead Nebula (IC 1795)
The Heart Nebula and Fishhead Nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia.
-------------------------------------------------------
Location: Montclair, California, USA (Bortle 8)
Date: January 2, 2022
Moon: New Moon
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Telescope: William Optics ZenithStar 61II APO f/5.9
Flattener/Reducer: William Optics FLAT61A Field Flattener
Filter: Optolong L-eXtreme 2”
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini
Guide Scope: William Optics UniGuide 32 f/3.75
Camera Settings: Gain 100 | f/5.9 | 5 min
Acquisition: 37 x 5 min Lights | 50 Darks | 100 Bias
Integration Time: 3 hrs 5 min
Software: ZWO ASIAIR PRO, PixInsight, Adobe Lightroom Classic
-------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2022 Steven K. Wu Photography. All Rights Reserved.
