The Cygnus Loop, also known as the Veil Nebula, is a large supernova remnant located in the constellation Cygnus, the Swan.
It is a stunning and expansive structure resulting from the explosion of a massive star that occurred thousands of years ago. The remnant is situated approximately 1,500 light-years away from Earth.The explosion of the massive star created shock waves that expanded into space, giving rise to the intricate and filamentary patterns observed in the Cygnus Loop.
These intricate filaments are composed of ionized gas and dust, and they glow in various colors when observed in different wavelengths of light.
The Cygnus Loop, also known as Sharpless 103 has an apparent size that spans about three degrees across the night sky. To put its size into perspective, the apparent diameter of the Moon in the night sky is about half a degree. In comparison, the Cygnus Loop covers a much larger portion of the celestial sphere, making it several times larger in apparent size than the Moon.
The Cygnus Loop is a captivating celestial object that showcases the dynamic and transformative nature of the universe, serving as a testament to the powerful forces at play in the life cycle of stars. Astronomers study the Cygnus Loop to gain insights into the processes of stellar evolution and the impact of supernova explosions on the surrounding interstellar medium.
The intricate nature of the process was compounded by the elevated star density, making it challenging even with reduction techniques. Despite efforts to diminish their prominence, the presence of stars remained crucial. I opted to retain this presence. Please review the next version without stars.
Additionally, LDN846 is discernible at the center-right bottom of the image—a seldom-seen expansive nebula that is not frequently showcased.
Equipment
Imaging Telescopes Or Lenses
Sigma 135mm F1.8 DG HSM (Art)
Imaging Cameras
ZWO ASI294MM Pro
Mounts
ZWO AM5
Filters
Astronomik Deep-Sky Blue 36mm · Astronomik Deep-Sky Green 36mm · Astronomik Deep-Sky Red 36mm · Astronomik H-alpha CCD MaxFR 6nm 36 mm · Astronomik L-2 Luminance UV/IR Block 36mm · Astronomik OIII CCD MaxFR 6nm 36 mm
Accessories
Pegasus Astro USB Control Hub · Talon 6 · ZWO EAF · ZWO EFW 7 x 36mm
Software
Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight · Starkeeper Voyager Custom Array
Guiding Telescopes Or Lenses
ZWO 30mm Mini Guider Scope
Guiding Cameras
ZWO ASI290MM Mini
Acquisition details
Dates:
Aug. 11 – 12, 2023
Aug. 18 – 19, 2023
Oct. 12, 2023
Frames:
Astronomik Deep-Sky Blue 36mm: 75×60″(1h 15′)
Astronomik Deep-Sky Green 36mm: 75×60″(1h 15′)
Astronomik Deep-Sky Red 36mm: 75×60″(1h 15′)
Astronomik H-alpha CCD MaxFR 6nm 36 mm: 150×600″(25h)
Astronomik OIII CCD MaxFR 6nm 36 mm: 150×600″(25h)
Integration:
53h 45′
Avg. Moon age:
16.64 days
Avg. Moon phase:
10.26%
RA center: 20h51m03s.3
DEC center: +30°29′20″
Pixel scale: 10.852 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: 1.236 degrees
Field radius: 4.650 degrees
WCS transformation: thin plate spline
Resolution: 1755×2538
File size: 8.8 MB
Locations: AAS Montsec, Àger, Lleida, Spain
Data source: Own remote observatory
Remote source: Non-commercial independent facility
via Flickr https://flic.kr/p/2prF4To