IC443 and IC444 wide field

clic for 36% size 1253 x 912 (423 kB)

Clic here for 60% size 2088x1520 (865 kB)

 


About this Image

At the feet of the constellation of Gemini there are the 2 yellow stars Eta and Mu Geminorum, between them there span the faint but spectacular IC443 (Jellyfish Nebula) to the right and the even fainter IC444 to the left.
IC443 is a supernova remnant with very apparent 3-D structure. Above the center there is a blue reflection nebula, North is up.

7 hours of total exposure were processed for these elusive objects. IC444 was pronounced compared to IC443 to show more details.

This image was APOD on April 08, 2004
Below there is a contrast enhanced b/w version of the image

clic for 36% size 1253 x 912 (366 kB)

 


Technical Details
Optics

105mm TMB refractor with flattener at f/6.5

Mount MK-100 GEM
Camera SBIG STL-11000M at -30C, internal filter wheel
Filters Astronomik LRGB + H-alpha
Date 16-18 Mar 2004.
Location Wildon/Austria
Sky Conditions mag 5.5, high transparency, temperature 0 C
Exposure Ha:L:R:G:B = 270:50:50:30:50 minutes (10-minute sub-exposures), all 1x1.
Processing Image calibration, aligning, weighted median stacking, color synthesis, DDP in ImagesPlus; H-alpha added to red channel, luminance from Ha and L; color balance, curves in Photoshop; size 21/36/60%;
north is up;