NGC 7822 Emission Nebula in Cepheus

Object: NGC 7822 is a young star-forming complex in the constellation of Cepheus.

The complex encompasses the emission region designated Sharpless 171, and the young cluster of stars named Berkeley 59. The complex is believed to be some 2900 light-years distant, with the younger components aged no more than a few million years. The complex also includes one of the hottest stars discovered within 1 kpc of the Sun, namely BD+66 1673, which is an eclipsing binary system consisting of an O5V that exhibits a surface temperature of nearly 45,000 K and a luminosity about 100,000 times that of the Sun. The star is one of the primary sources illuminating the nebula and shaping the complex’s famed pillars of creation-type formations, the elephant trunks.

Taken: October 4, 2024

Telescope: Skywatcher Esprit 80 ED Triplet APO Refractor

Mount: Paramount ME II

Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM-Pro (cooled to 0C; Gain 100) Bin 1×1.

Guiding: Unguided

Focuser: Starizona Micro Touch Autofocuser

Rotator: Optec Pixys LE camera field rotator

Filters used: Chroma Ha, OIII and SII with a ZWO 7-position Electronic Filter Wheel for 2" Filters

Exposures: 100×90 seconds Ha, 92×90 seconds OIII, and 80×90 seconds SII for a total exposure time of 6.8 hours; calibrated with 40 dark frames, 40 flat frames with 40 dark-flats.

Seeing Conditions:    Average. Bortle 5 region.

Image capture and telescope control: Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy (N.I.N.A.) and TheSkyX Pro with a SkyShed POD MAX observatory.

Processed with PixInsight, Photoshop CC 2024

Astrobin