Hind's Variable Nebula Area (NGC 1554/1555 and vdB 28)

 

clic for 30% size 1195 x 794 (371 kB)

clic here for 50% size 1992 x 1323 (892 kB)

 

 

About this Image

The orange star in this telescopic view (centered in lower image in 80% size) is T Tauri, prototype of the class of T Tauri variable stars.
Nearby it is a dusty yellow cosmic cloud historically known as Hind's Variable Nebula (NGC 1555/1554). The edge of a molecular cloud, both star and nebula are seen to vary significantly in brightness but not necessarily at the same time, adding to the mystery of the intriguing region.
The surrounding of Hind's nebula is embedded in layers of obscuring dust and gas.
The distance to this area is estimated at 400 light years. North is up.

References:
Find a deep close-up of this area by Don Goldman here: 1.
Find some information on T-Tauri stars here: 2.

 


Technical Details
Optics

16" cassegrain in corrected primary focus at f/3

Mount MK-100 GEM
Camera SBIG STL-11000M at -30C, internal filter wheel
Filters Astronomik LRGB
Date Dec 12, 2007 - Jan 08, 2008.
Location Wildon/Austria
Sky Conditions mag 5-5.5 sky, seeing 2-3" FWHM
Exposure L:R:G:B = 80:70:60:70 (10 min sub-exposures),
Processing Image aquisition in Maxim 4.5; Calibration and preprocessing in CCDStack;
Other processing in Photoshop;