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NGC 7497 and MBM54

 

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VIEW (2200x1650)

Scope: Celestron 9.25 Edge 235 mm at f/7, Location: Blair Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, CA   18 September 2015  Camera: ST8300M (Baader LRGB filters)

Exposure: Exposure: 10 x 12 min (1x1 bin) and 12 x 8 min  (2x2 bin) IR/UV block exposures;  8 x 4.5 min (3x3 bin) RGB exposures.

Processing: Data Collection -  Sequence Generator Pro (as FITs).  Calibrated, stacked (Sigma Kappa Combine) in Deep Sky Stacker, L - RGB channel registration, equalization, central gradient removal - Astroart.  Curves, Levels, and Luminance development, RGB combine - Images Plus. Finishing  - Photoshop. Color calibration with eXcalibrator. This image uses UV/IR Block for the Luminance channel and then a LRGB combine with Luminance layering.  Saturation in LAB color.   Final Image size processed at approximately 3352x2532 cropped and resized to 2200x1650.

North is up in this image.  This field  is in the constellation of Pegasus. The galaxy NGC 7497, a nearly edge on galaxy,  is approximately central in this image. Diagonally from lower left to upper right is a band of faint nebulosity which is "galactic cirrus" or also known as IFN (Integrated Flux Nebula). This structure consists of molecular gas and other material that is above the galactic plane and reflects light from our Milky Way galaxy back to observers on Earth (within the galactic plane). This nebulosity is part of a larger structure, about 10 times larger than this image field, known as MBM 54 (galactic cirrus molecular clouds studied by Magnani , Blitz and Mundy - 1985). This IFN is relatively close - only 900 to 1,000 light years distant while the galaxy NGC 7497 is some 44 to 78 million light years distant.  Other background galaxies  can be seen in this image as well. These background galaxies as well as NGC 7498 and some of the brighter stars  are identified  and highlighted in the annotated image. Two quite distinctive background galaxies could not be identified using the databases I am familiar with (NED and Simbad). This doesn't seem to be a well studied field  - possibly because of IFN interfering with the light from more distant objects. The Horizontal FOV is 38'

Image center is approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 23h 09m 15s Dec: +18°13'21"

 

All images and content remain the property of Jim Thommes - copyright 2003 - 2015 copyright 2003 - 2012

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