IC63 The Ghost of Cassiopeia + Luca Dinoi + Optolong LRGB HA3nm OIII3nm

IC63 The Ghost of Cassiopeia + Luca Dinoi + Optolong LRGB HA3nm OIII3nm

Credit: Luca Dinoi (Italy)

 

Sh2-185 is an emission and reflection nebula, visible in the constellation Cassiopeia; it consists of two distinct nebulous regions with different characteristics. Its position is easily identified thanks to the fact that it surrounds the brilliant star γ Cassiopeiae, a Be star well known for being the prototype of the variable γ Cassiopeiae, belonging to a class of young and very hot stars; the bright nebula part can be identified in particular in a north-east direction with respect to the star, where there are two nebulous gatherings known as IC 59 and IC 63. In the photographs the reddish color of the ionized gas is clearly evident mixed with the bluish color of the dust which shines by reflection of the blue star light. Its observation is possible especially from the regions of the northern hemisphere, due to the high northern declination; in the evening sky it reaches its peak in the autumn months, between October and December. From the southern hemisphere it is possible to observe it only starting from the subtropical regions, up to the equator. Sh2-185 consists of a partly well-lit cloud system, located at the same distance as γ Cassiopeiae; the brightest sections are made up of the two nebulae cataloged in the Index Catalogue: IC 63, the southernmost, shows an evident structure of gas filaments, with optical emissions dominated by the red color, while IC 59, to the north, appears as a cloud with a partly bluish color and no organized structure. In particular, IC 63 consists of a region of ionized hydrogen and shows evident signs of photolysis. This phenomenon is very evident especially in IC 59, while in IC 63 the presence of strong ultraviolet radiation suggests the formation of a neutral hydrogen zone through the dissociation of molecular hydrogen.

 

Pose:
Optolong Blue 2": 29×240″(1h 56′)
Optolong Green 2": 29×240″(1h 56′)
Optolong H-Alpha 3nm 2": 17×900″(4h 15′)
Optolong Luminance 2": 15×300″(1h 15′)
Optolong OIII 3nm 2": 19×900″(4h 45′)
Optolong Red 2": 29×240″(1h 56′)

 

#sky #deepsky #astrophotography #universe #space #astronomy #astrophoto #nebula

Enjoy~