240809 - C4 "Iris" nebula
|
click image to enlarge
|
ASTRO:
type=reflection nebula mag=6.8 const=Cepheus dist=1300 ly size=7 ly IMAGE: location=Utah Desert Remote Observatories (SW Utah) BrtlCls=1 exposure=CMOS Mono; 39x300s (3.3h), G100 EQUIPMENT: camera=ZWO ASI6200MM-Pro optics=16" Dream Astrograph newtonian, FL=1500mm, f/3.75 filters=Chroma L, R, G & B mount=Software Bisque Paramount ME guiding=(none) SOFTWARE: acquisition=Voyager processing=PixInsight (RCAstro), Photoshop, LrC |
|
Like delicate cosmic flower petals, these clouds of interstellar dust and gas have blossomed in the fertile star fields of the constellation Cepheus. The Iris Nebula (also known as Caldwell 4 and NGC 7023) is a bright reflection nebula. The designation NGC 7023 refers to the open star cluster within the larger reflection nebula designated LBN 487. The nebula shines at magnitude +6.8, and is illuminated by a magnitude +7.4 star designated SAO 19158. It lies appx 1,300 light-years away from Earth. As shown here, the Iris Nebula spans about 7 light-years across.
This is not the only nebula in the sky to evoke the imagery of flowers. Still, digital images often show off the nebula's range of colors and symmetries. Within the Iris, dusty nebular material surrounds a massive, hot, young star in its formative years. Central filaments of cosmic dust glow with photoluminesence as some dust grains effectively convert the star's invisible ultraviolet radiation to visible light. The dominant color of the nebula is blue, characteristic of dust grains reflecting starlight. Dark, obscuring clouds of dust and cold molecular gas are also present and can lead the eye to see other convoluted and fantastic shapes.
Infrared observations indicate that this nebula may contain complex carbon molecules known as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (or PAH's) which are common on Earth due to the burning of fossil fuels, and because they are present in many nebulae, are believed to be evidence of active star formation.
Because this object's outer lying dark and dusty clouds are challenging to photograph, aspiring astrophotographers often seek this object to develop and perfect their skills at capturing them.
This is not the only nebula in the sky to evoke the imagery of flowers. Still, digital images often show off the nebula's range of colors and symmetries. Within the Iris, dusty nebular material surrounds a massive, hot, young star in its formative years. Central filaments of cosmic dust glow with photoluminesence as some dust grains effectively convert the star's invisible ultraviolet radiation to visible light. The dominant color of the nebula is blue, characteristic of dust grains reflecting starlight. Dark, obscuring clouds of dust and cold molecular gas are also present and can lead the eye to see other convoluted and fantastic shapes.
Infrared observations indicate that this nebula may contain complex carbon molecules known as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (or PAH's) which are common on Earth due to the burning of fossil fuels, and because they are present in many nebulae, are believed to be evidence of active star formation.
Because this object's outer lying dark and dusty clouds are challenging to photograph, aspiring astrophotographers often seek this object to develop and perfect their skills at capturing them.