ASTRO: NGC 654 vdB 4 and LDN 1332

NGC 654 is an open cluster about in Cassiopeia about 6650 light years
distant per WEBDA though I've seen a lot of undocumented estimates of
7800 to 7900 light-years away and one that put it only 5200 light-years
away. The large dark nebula to the upper left is LDN 1337. The smaller
one at the top just right of center is LDN 1332. The blue reflection
nebula around the star BD+61 315 at the southwest corner of the cluster
is vdB 4 aka GN 01.40.6.

I was quite surprised how many images of this cluster I found on the net
that didn't show either the reflection nebula nor the dark nebula except
very faintly. Most showed the cluster against a dark background rather
the dust field it is in. One of the few that does show these features
and very well is Tom Davis' wide field image. In fact I think it is
what caused me to put this one on my to-do list or at least move it to
the front of the list.
http://tvdavisastropics.com/astroimages-1_000094.htm.

There is a spear of blue light coming in from the top right of center.
That's a reflection from a bright star hitting the edge of something
(chip?) in the camera and is not a real feature. A fainter one is at
the top left of center. I need to track down the source of these and
get some flat black paint on it.

14" LX200R @ f/10, L=4x10' RGB=2x10'x3, STL-11000XM, Paramount ME

Rick

--
Correct domain name is arvig and it is net not com. Prefix is correct.
Third character is a zero rather than a capital "Oh".

Great image Rick. Having both a bright and a dark nebula together with the
open cluster is quite a treat.

Stefan

"Rick Johnson" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
.com...
NGC 654 is an open cluster about in Cassiopeia about 6650 light years
distant per WEBDA though I've seen a lot of undocumented estimates of
7800 to 7900 light-years away and one that put it only 5200 light-years
away. The large dark nebula to the upper left is LDN 1337. The smaller
one at the top just right of center is LDN 1332. The blue reflection
nebula around the star BD+61 315 at the southwest corner of the cluster
is vdB 4 aka GN 01.40.6.

I was quite surprised how many images of this cluster I found on the net
that didn't show either the reflection nebula nor the dark nebula except
very faintly. Most showed the cluster against a dark background rather
the dust field it is in. One of the few that does show these features
and very well is Tom Davis' wide field image. In fact I think it is
what caused me to put this one on my to-do list or at least move it to
the front of the list.
http://tvdavisastropics.com/astroimages-1_000094.htm.

There is a spear of blue light coming in from the top right of center.
That's a reflection from a bright star hitting the edge of something
(chip?) in the camera and is not a real feature. A fainter one is at
the top left of center. I need to track down the source of these and
get some flat black paint on it.

14" LX200R @ f/10, L=4x10' RGB=2x10'x3, STL-11000XM, Paramount ME

Rick

--
Correct domain name is arvig and it is net not com. Prefix is correct.
Third character is a zero rather than a capital "Oh".

Two errors crept in. The reflection nebula is vdB 6 NOT 4 as I typed.
The GN number is correct. I was looking at my data for vdB4 when I
typed this. Somehow the number stuck. Also the exposure time for the
color frames was only 1 ten minute frame per color

On 12/28/2011 2:43 AM, Rick Johnson wrote:
NGC 654 is an open cluster about in Cassiopeia about 6650 light years
distant per WEBDA though I've seen a lot of undocumented estimates of
7800 to 7900 light-years away and one that put it only 5200 light-years
away. The large dark nebula to the upper left is LDN 1337. The smaller
one at the top just right of center is LDN 1332. The blue reflection
nebula around the star BD+61 315 at the southwest corner of the cluster
is vdB 4 SB vdB 6 aka GN 01.40.6.

I was quite surprised how many images of this cluster I found on the net
that didn't show either the reflection nebula nor the dark nebula except
very faintly. Most showed the cluster against a dark background rather
the dust field it is in. One of the few that does show these features
and very well is Tom Davis' wide field image. In fact I think it is what
caused me to put this one on my to-do list or at least move it to the
front of the list. http://tvdavisastropics.com/astroimages-1_000094.htm.

There is a spear of blue light coming in from the top right of center.
That's a reflection from a bright star hitting the edge of something
(chip?) in the camera and is not a real feature. A fainter one is at the
top left of center. I need to track down the source of these and get
some flat black paint on it.

14" LX200R @ f/10, L=4x10' RGB=2x10'x3, SB RGB=1x10'x3 STL-11000XM, Paramount ME

Rick



--
Correct domain name is arvig and it is net not com. Prefix is correct.
Third character is a zero rather than a capital "Oh".

"Rick Johnson" wrote in message
.com...

NGC 654 is an open cluster about in Cassiopeia about 6650 light years
distant

snip

Very nice, Rick. I'll have to put that one on my list.

George