Barnard 3 is significant as a stellar nursery. The dense molecular clouds within it provide the material for new stars to form. As parts of the cloud collapse under gravity, they can ignite nuclear fusion, giving birth to new stars. Studying Barnard 3 is challenging because it doesn’t emit light like other nebulae. Infrared and radio wavelengths are used to peer through the dust, revealing hidden structures and young stars forming within.
E. E. Barnard’s catalog of dark nebulae, including B3, was groundbreaking. His early 20th-century surveys of the Milky Way provided deep insights into the galaxy’s structure and the nature of these dark clouds.
Adding H-alpha to this image has been particularly fascinating, revealing many details that were not easily visible in the RGB shot.
I am thrilled to see the entire clear nebula surrounding the right side of B3, which has never been shown so clearly in any previous image.
I do not know its name and have been unable to find it in any catalogue (please leave any clue on the comments )
Equipment
Imaging Telescopes Or Lenses
Takahashi Epsilon-160ED
Imaging Cameras
QHYCCD QHY294M Pro
Mounts
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Filters
Baader Blue (CMOS-Optimized) 36 mm · Baader Green (CMOS-Optimized) 36 mm · Baader H-alpha 6.5nm (CMOS-Optimized) 36 mm · Baader O-III 6.5nm (CMOS-Optimized) 36 mm · Baader Red (CMOS-Optimized) 36 mm · Baader S-II 6.5nm (CMOS-Optimized) 36 mm · Baader UV/IR CUT Luminance (CMOS Optimized) 36 mm
Accessories
Pegasus Astro FocusCube2 · Pegasus Astro Powerbox Advance Gen2 · QHYCCD QHYCFW3-M-US · TS-Optics Off-axis guider 9mm (TSOAG9G2) ×
Software
Starkeeper Voyager Custom Array
Guiding Cameras
ZWO ASI290MM Mini
Acquisition details
Dates:
Oct. 10, 2023
Oct. 12, 2023
Nov. 7 – 8, 2023
Nov. 14, 2023
Nov. 16, 2023
Frames:
Baader Blue (CMOS-Optimized) 36 mm: 120×60″(2h)
Baader Green (CMOS-Optimized) 36 mm: 120×60″(2h)
Baader H-alpha 6.5nm (CMOS-Optimized) 36 mm: 180×600″(30h)
Baader O-III 6.5nm (CMOS-Optimized) 36 mm: 50×600″(8h 20′)
Baader Red (CMOS-Optimized) 36 mm: 120×60″(2h)
Baader UV/IR CUT Luminance (CMOS Optimized) 36 mm: 200×60″(3h 20′)
Integration:
47h 40′
Avg. Moon age:
17.73 days
Avg. Moon phase:
14.28%
RA center: 03h40m01s.49
DEC center: +31°58′00″.9
Pixel scale: 2.694 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: -4.320 degrees
Field radius: 1.239 degrees
WCS transformation: thin plate spline
Resolution: 2748×1845
File size: 5.7 MB
Locations: AAS Montsec, Àger, Lleida, Spain
Data source: Own remote observatory
Remote source: Non-commercial independent facility
via Flickr https://flic.kr/p/2pWM8eB