Pacman Nebula (NGC281)


(Updated Dec. 2017)

As is often the case, the name of this nebula is more sensible when seen with the eye through a telescope than in a photograph that includes colors we can’t see when this faint. But if you imagine the shape of the famous video game character I think you might see how this object got its name.

The previous version of this target used only H-a and O-3 data.  Adding S-2 (and quite a bit more exposure time) really added a lot of detail and color.

Scope: AT111EDT at f/5.7
Mount: AP Mach1
Camera: QSI 683 at –20C

Exposure: 7 x 1800s H-a, 4 x 1800s O-3, 6 X 1800s S-s  (8.5 hrs total)

About Greg Marshall

I am a retired electronics engineer and after a few months of enjoying my leisure I began to miss doing product development. My astronomy hobby always needed new solutions to unique problems, so I decided that whenever I came up with a good solution I would try to make it available to others.

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