Cocoon Nebula Close-up
This image shows the Cocoon Nebula, IC5146, in Cygnus. The blue reflection nebula on the lower right is Van den Bergh 147. The Cocoon is another very dim, challenging object to shoot with a DSLR. It's one of those objects that doesn't even show on a 4 minute exposure without processing! See below for more info
This wider view shows the dark nebula Barnard 168. Note that the Cocoon nebula is also categorized as Sh2-165. For more info: Jay McNeil has an outstanding 3 hour CCD camera shot of this area with a great write-up here.
Images above composed of 25 x 4 = 100 minutes total exposure captured 10/8/2007 from the Davis Mountains. Canon EOS 20Da (unmodified), ISO 1600, Takahashi TOA 130 (a 5" APO refractor) with flattener, and Astro-Physics AP 900GTO mount. I used my Current DSLR Workflow including the Lab technique to accentuate the colors and GradientXterminator.
Other Pictures from the Davis Mountains are here
Messier Pictures, Images by Dick Locke
Dick Locke's Astrophoto Gateway page....
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