NGC 6726 and 6723 in Corona Australis

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR LARGE VIEW (1800x1361) or FULL SIZE VIEW (2800x2117)

Scope: FSQ-106N 106 mm refractor at f/5, Location: Laguna Mountains, CA  3  August 2013  Camera: ST8300M

Exposure: 13 x 10 min  (1x1 bin) exposure with UV/IR block, 8 x 3 min (2x2 bin) RGB exposures.

Processing: Data Collection -  CCDSoft (as FITs).  Calibrated, stacked (Sigma Combine), LRGB channel registration, central gradient removal, and color equalization - Astroart.  Luminance subs required individual co-registration prior to stacking due to the distortion between subs caused by atmospheric refraction. Curves, Levels, LRGB combine and finishing  - Photoshop.  Color calibration using eXcalibrator. This image is a LRGB combine with Luminance layering -   Final Image size is approximately 2800x2117

North is up in this image.  This image field is the "head " of a dusty region known as the Corona Australis molecular cloud and is on the border of constellations Sagittarius and Corona Australis. In this image  are the dominant blue reflection nebulae NGC 6726 (6727, 6729) upper and IC 4812 lower. In the upper right is the globular cluster NGC 6723. This  area near the blue reflection nebulae is a star forming region. The small, "comma" shaped object just below the top blue reflection nebula is  a young proto star in its formation stage. The reflection nebulae and molecular clod are about 500 light years distant from Earth. The globular NGC 6723 is about 30,000 light years distant. Horizontal FOV is about 120'

 Image center is approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 19h 02m 01s Dec: -37°07'43"

All images and content remain the property of Jim Thommes - copyright 2003 - 2013

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