About image
NGC 281 (Sh2-184) is a bright emission nebula in Cassiopeia, also known as the Pacman Nebula for its resemblance to the famous video game character.
This nebula has a dimension of 20x30 arcmin and is associated with open cluster IC 1590 (not so much striking), several Bok globules and the multiple star HD 5005 (the brightest star inside the nebula).
The estimated distance of this nebula is 9200 light years.
The image was obtained from my home terrace in severe conditions due to light pollution and sky “foggy” for high humidity, so long total integration was needed.
Technical data
Optic Tecnosky Apo refractor LT 130-910 with Riccardi reducer 0.75x (focal lenght 692mm, f/5.3)
Mount Skywatcher EQ8
Camera Atik 4000 with Starlight Xpress external filter
wheel 5 positions
Filters Baader 50mm
unmounted RGB , Ha 7nm, OIII 8,5nm
Guiding system Artesky Ultraguide 70mm
Exposure details R 29x300" bin1 -20C
G 29x300" bin1 -20C
B 29x300" bin1 -20C
Ha 19x900" bin1 -20 + 8x900" bin1 -25C
OIII 9x900" bin1 -20C + 16x900" bin1 -25C
Total integration 20h15'
Acquisition Voyager, PHD2
Processing Pixinsight 1.8,
Photoshop CS5, StarXTerminator, Topaz Denoise
SQM-L 18.3
Location Rescaldina (Italy), home terrace
Date 10/13/14 October, 4/5/6 November, 11 December 2021