Nebulae

(It's the plural of Nebula.)

There are several types of nebulae:
Emission nebulae tend to be red in color when photographed. They are made of gas which has been heated by a nearby star.
Reflection nebulae are most often blue. They too are gas, but their starlight is reflected.
Planetary nebulae occur when stars shed their outer layer. They can occur in any color.
Supernova remnants are the remains of exploded stars.
Absorption nebulae are dark clouds of dust which obscure the area behind them.
Many nebulae are composed of more than one of the types described above.

Learn more about nebulae here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebula
http://www.space.com/nebulas/

Click on an image to enlarge.
Click on a constellation name to view a star chart (courtesy Starry Night Software).
If you download and process a raw file please send me your results. As soon as possible I will post your image.

Jump to:

Target
Raw Image
Processed Image
Exposure Data
Lens/Telescope & Camera Used
Download Raw File
NGC 1499, California Nebula
in Perseus.
Emission nebula.
About 1000 LY distant.
Size: 2.5 degrees.
Mag: 5. Very dim.

6 frames,
3 minutes each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D
No dark, flat or bias frames applied. LPR filter used.

Click to download archived ZIP
 

73 frames,
2 minutes each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frames applied. LPR filter used.
   

157 frames,
2 minutes each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frames applied. LPR filter used.

Click to download archived ZIP
 

33 frames,
2 minutes each.

228mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

Tamron 70-300mm zoom lens, Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frames applied. LPR filter used.
           
M1, The Crab Nebula
in Taurus.
Supernove remnant.
6300 LY distant.
Size: 6x3 arc min.
Mag: 8.4

10 frames,
3 minutes each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D
No dark, flat or bias frames applied. Drizzle processed.

Click to download archived ZIP
M1
The same set of images processed differently in Photoshop CS.
   
These frames were shot a year later with an XTI, some of them with a broadband light pollution filter (below).

37 frames at 60 seconds, 113 frames at 90 seconds each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frames applied.

LPR filter used on 90 second frames.

This shows the dramatic difference in contrast when using a light pollution filter. This exposure is 90 seconds compared to 60 seconds above.
       
           

M8 Lagoon Nebula in Sagittarius.
5200 LY distant.
Size: 90 x 45 arc min.
Mag: 6.0

51 frames,
30 seconds each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

No filtration.

Dark frame subtracted.
           
M16 Eagle Nebula in Serpens Cauda.
7000 LY distant.
Size: 7 arc min.
Mag: 6.4

64 frames,
30 seconds each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

No filtration.

Dark frame subtracted.
 

32 frames,
1 minute each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600

    
 

22 frames,
2 minutes each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600

    
           
M17 Omega Nebula in Sagittarius.
5000 LY distant.
Size: 11 arc min.
Mag: 6

39 frames,
1 minute each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frame subtracted.

No filtration.

The same target shot with a broadband LPR filter.

50 frames,
1 minute each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600

    
M17 with
open cluster M18.

72 frames,
30 seconds each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600

    
           
M20 Triffid Nebula in Sagittarius. With open cluster M21.
5200 LY distant.
Size: 28 arc min.
Mag: 9

50 frames,
30 seconds each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frame subtracted.

No filtration.
           
M27, The Dumbbell Nebula
in Vulpecula.
Planetary nebula.
1250 LY distant.
Size: 8x6 arc min.
Mag: 7.4

29 frames,
2 minutes each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 400

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted. Drizzle processed.

Click to download archived ZIP
 

24 frames,
1 minute each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
No dark, flat or bias frames applied. Drizzle processed.

Click to download archived ZIP
           
M45, The Pleiades in Taurus.
Reflection nebula.
440 LY distant.
Size: 2 degrees
Mag: 1.6

20 frames, exposures from 2 to 8 minutes.

200mm
f/5.6
ISO from 200 to 800

Canon 55-200mm zoom lens.
Canon 10D

Dark frame subtracted.

Click to download archived ZIP
Note the increased detail and resolution resulting from the use of larger optics and a better camera (Canon 400D).

20 frames,
90 seconds
each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frame subtracted.

Click to download archived ZIP
 
Adding more exposures to the stack increases detail even more.
194 frames,
90 seconds
and
120 seconds each
  

Dark frame subtracted.

Click to download archived ZIP

This image was made with a handmade 6 inch f/5 reflector.

See the Equipment page.

36 frames,
1 minute each.

750mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

6 inch f/5 reflector,
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
           
M42, The Great Nebula and M43, Mairan's Nebula
in Orion.
Emission / reflection nebula.
1600 LY distant.
Size: 1x1.5 degrees.
Mag: 4

Raw image unavailable.

This is one of my first astro images, taken 11.01.2000. Image manually guided by Danielle Guillory.

Due to this film's relative insensitivity to blue light, M43 doesn't show in this image.

1 frame,
7 minutes .

400mm
f/5. ISO 200,
push-processed
1 stop.

Orion ShortTube 80mm refractor.
Pentax K1000.
Kodak E200 slide film.
In this M42 image, M43 is visible at upper right in the processed image.

4 frames at 4 minutes for dim detail, 2 frames at 1 minute for bright detail.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 400

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D
This is a composite image made exposures of 5 different lengths.
192 frames of 1 minute.
16 frames each of
30, 15, 7 and 4 seconds.
Each set of exposures was stacked, those stacks were combined in Photoshop CS using "Blend If" layering. Note extra detail in the Trapezium, the bright core in the center of the nebula.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
  
The Trapezium in M42. These are the 4 bright stars in the center of the nebula. These frames were used in the composite image above.

16 frames of 4 seconds each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
           
NGC 2024, The Flame
Nebula in Orion,
and B33, The Horsehead Nebula.
Emission nebula.
This view covers
about 2 degrees.

5 frames,
2 minutes each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D
No dark, flat or bias frames applied. LPR filter used.

Click to download archived ZIP
 
Different processing on the same stack, using Noel Carboni's
Photoshop Action Set.
     
A much better image. More exposure time and the increased resolution of the XTI.

10 frames of 2 minutes and 131 frames of 90 seconds.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)

Dark frame subtracted. LPR filter used.

Click to download archived ZIP
 
The same stack, processed more carefully,produced a smoother image with more detail in the dim areas.
     
 
One of the frames from the image above caught a meteor streak.
     
This image was made with Black Betty, a handmade 6 inch f/5 reflector. See the Equipment page.

203 frames of
1 minute each.

750mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

6 inch f/5 reflector,
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
This is a shot of the Orion Nebula group taken with an ordinary zoom lens.

45 frames of
3 minutes each.

150mm,
f/4.5
ISO 1600
Tamron 70-300mm zoom lens, Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frames applied. LPR filter used.

M78 emission nebula in Orion. A starforming nebula.
1600 LY distant.
Mag: 8.3
Size: 8x6 arc min.

264 frames of
90 seconds each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
   
103 frames of
90 seconds each.
    
           
M57 planetary nebula in Lyra.
Distance: 2300 LY
Size: 1.4 arc min
Mag: 8.8

35 frames of 30 seconds each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
           
NGC 281, The Pacman Nebula in Cassiopeia.
Size: 35 arc min
Mag: 7

38 exposures at 2 minutes each, 64 exposures at 90 seconds each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.

Click to download archived ZIP
 

134 frames at 2 minutes each,
64 frames at 90 seconds each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.

Click to download archived ZIP
 
       
NGC 7635, The Bubble Nebula in Cassiopeia.
Size: 15 arc min
Mag: ?

140 exposures of 2 minutes each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.
Adding 29 more frames brings out more detail.
  
169 exposures of 2 minutes each.
  
Click to download archived ZIP
           

Sharpless-2-155,
The Cave Nebula in Cepheus.
Emission nebula.
Size: 50 x 10 arc min.
2800 LY distant.

131 exposures of 2 minutes each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.
 
Adding more frames, and using more careful processing techniques yields a superior finished image.
241 exposures of 2 minutes each.
  
Click to download archived ZIP
           
NGC 2264, The Christmas Tree Cluster and Nebula in Monoceros.
Mag. (cluster) 3.4
Size: 20 arc min.
2500 LY distant.

77 frames,
2 minutes each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.
 
The same stack processed differently. It has more depth, but the stars are larger.
     
           

C31, The Flaming Star Nebula in Auriga.
Mag. 9.2
Size: 37x19 arc min.
1600 LY distant.

123 frames,
2 minutes each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.
   
161 frames,
2 minutes each.
 

Click to download archived ZIP

This image stack is used in a processing tutorial.
           
NGC 1491, a small emission nebula in Perseus.
Size: 21 arc min.

40 frames,
2 minutes each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.
           

IC 1396, The Elephant Trunk Nebula in Cepheus. A Reflection/absorption nebula.
Size: 3 degrees
Mag: ?

100 exposures of 2 minutes each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.
 
A second attempt at processing the image above produced a smoother background with subdued stars.
     
The same area shot wide-field with an ordinary zoom lens.

73 exposures of 2.5 minutes each.

228mm,
f/5
ISO 1600
Tamron 70-300mm zoom lens, Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.
           

IC 1805 Heart Nebula and
IC 1848 Soul Nebula in Cassiopeia. Emission nebulae.

Both are shown photographed in detail below.

113 exposures of 2.5 minutes each.
Tamron 70-300mm zoom lens, Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted, flat frames applied.
LPR filter used.
 
The same stack processed more carefully, and with gradient removal applied.
     
IC 1848, The Soul Nebula in Cassiopeia.
An emission nebula.
Also called the Baby Nebula because of its fetus-like shape.
Size: 1 degree.
Mag: 6.5

129 exposures of 2 minutes each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frame subtracted.
Flat frames applied.
LPR filter used.
 

Here I attempted star reduction on the same stack. It worked, the stars are smaller, but the image lacks sharpness.

     
 
A third attempt gave me this result. I recorded the processing steps and made a tutorial.
   
Click to download archived ZIP
           
IC 1805, The Heart Nebula in Cassiopeia.
An emission nebula.
Size: 1 degree.
Mag: 6.5

123 exposures of 2 minutes each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frame subtracted.
Flat frames applied.
LPR filter used.

Click to download archived ZIP
 
The same stack, processed more carefully, produces much better results.
     
 
Yet another processing of the same stack. Practice doesn't always make perfect, but it certainly makes for improvement.
     
           

The Cygnus Nebula Complex
 The constellation Cygnus is rich in emission nebulae, including the North America Nebula (NGC7000), The Pelican Nebula, and Veil Nebulae. This area is used as an example for shooting at different focal lengths, see the Taking Pictures page.

Nebulae surrounding the stars Deneb and Gamma Cygni
in Cygnus.
This is one of my first astro images, Summer of 2000.
Raw image unavailable.
Exposure information unknown.
Zoom lens,
Pentax K1000,
Kodak E200 slide film.
The same area, photographed with better equipment and processing techniques.
July 2007.

39 frames,
2 minutes each.

60mm,
f/4.5
ISO 1600
Sigma 28-80mm zoom lens,
Canon 400D (XTi).

Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.

Click to download archived ZIP
 

A second attempt at processing the same stack produced superior results.

     
NGC 7000 and
The Pelican Nebula.
July 20, 2007.

10 frames,
5 minutes each.

176mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

Tamron 70-300mm zoom lens,
Canon 400D (XTi)

 
NGC 7000 and
The Pelican Nebula.
July 21, 2007.

30 frames,
3 minutes each.

192mm,
f/4.5
ISO 1600
Tamron 70-300mm zoom lens,
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.
Manually average-stacked in Photoshop

Click to download archived ZIP

NGC 7000 , The North America Nebula in Cygnus.
1600 LY distant.
Size: 2 degrees.

Over four nights in May I shot almost 200 frames using the same setup. Here are 3 images composed from increasing numbers of those frames.

64 frames,
1 minute each.

500mm, f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

No dark frames subtracted.
LPR filter was used.

Click to download archived ZIP
104 frames,
1 minute each.
  

Dark frames subtracted.
LPR filter was used.

Click to download archived ZIP
155 frames,
1 minute each.
  

Dark frames subtracted.
LPR filter was used.

Click to download archived ZIP
The Pelican Nebula in Cygnus. Emission Nebula.
Size: 2 degrees
Mag: 7

115 frames,
2 minutes each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frames subtracted.
LPR filter was used.

Click to download archived ZIP
 
Another attempt at processing the same image produced smoother results and less garish color.
     
The Eastern Veil Nebula in Cygnus.
Supernova remnant,
Emission nebula.
Size: 3 degrees.
Mag: 7

24 frames,
75 seconds each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frame subtracted. LPR filter used.

Click to download archived ZIP
 
Again, more exposure time gives more detail.

62 frames,
2 minutes each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frame subtracted. LPR filter used.

Click to download archived ZIP
The Western Veil Nebula in Cygnus.
Supernova remnant,
Reflection nebula.

15 frames,
2 minutes each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

No dark frames subtracted.

Click to download archived ZIP
           
The Rosette Nebula in Monoceros.
Emission nebula.
5500 LY distant.
Size: 2 degrees.

62 frames,
150 seconds each.

228mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

Tamron 70-300mm zoom lens,
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.

Click to download archived ZIP
 
A second processing of the same stack produced this image.
     
 

108 frames,
90 seconds each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)

Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.

Click to download archived ZIP
This image was taken with a Canon 10D. Note the amp glow on the right edge of the raw frame.

10 frames, 5 minutes each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.

Click to download archived ZIP
 
The same get of images processed differently.
     
This widefield image, taken with a zoom lens, shows the Rosette and its neighbor the Christmas Tree Nebula.

40 frames,
2 minutes each.

130mm, f/4.5
ISO 1600.

Tamron 70-300mm zoom, Canona 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
LPR filter used.
           
M97, The Owl Nebula in Ursa Major. A planetary nebula.
2600 LY distant.
Size: 3.5 arc min.
Mag: 9.9

29 frames,
1 minute each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D
Dark frame subtracted.
NGC 7293,
The Helix Nebula in Aquarius . A planetary nebula.
About 450 LY distant.
Size: 16 arc min.
Mag: 7.3

33 frames,
1 minute each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
 
The image above, with more frames of longer exposure added, resulting in more color saturation and detail.
33 frames,
1 minute and
18 frames, 90 seconds.
  

Dark frame subtracted.

Click to download archived ZIP
           
NGC 7538 emission nebula in Cepheus.
Size: 10 arc min.

40 frames of 2 minutes each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
           
Caldwell 4 reflection nebula in Cepheus.
Distance: unknown
Size: 18 arc min
Mag: unknown

80 frames of 2 minutes each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

LPR filter used.

Dark frame subtracted.
           

Caldwell 6 planetary nebula in Draco.
Distance: 3600 LY
Size: 5.8 arc min
Mag: 8.1

25 frames of 30 seconds each.

500mm,
f/5
ISO 200
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
  

 

 

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Photos and text ©2008 Eric A. Jacob