| Designation |
NGC 281 - The
Pac Man Nebula (IC 1590)
|
| Type | Emission Nebula & Open cluster |
| Constellation | Cassiopeia |
| Coordinates | Telescope centered at RA '00 52 51' Dec ' +56 36 07' |
| Magnitude | 7.4 |
| Size | 44 x 37 Light Years |
| Distance | 5,500 - 7,000 light years from Earth |
| Dimensions | 40 x 35 arcminutes |
| Image Field | 90.6 x 131.3 arcminutes |
|
Notes:
|
NGC 281 is believed to be an active star forming region. The imbedded star cluster (IC 1590) was probably formed in the last few million years. These stars ionize the hydrogen gas in NGC 281 causing it to flouresce. |
| The dark part of the nebula (and Bok Globules) are very large dust clouds likely to be the next areas to produce new (proto)stars. | |
|
|
| Telescope | Takahashi FS60C f/5.9 on Losmandy G-11 with Gemini L4 |
| Focal Length | 264 mm @ f/4.4 with Takahashi focal reducer |
| Guiding | SXV guidehead through 10" SCT @ f/3.3 |
| Telescope Control | Maxim DL (V4.3) |
| CCD Camera |
Starlight Xpress SXV-H9 - USB 2 ExView progressive
scan
1392 x 1040 (6.45 uM) pixel array (8.98 x 6.71 active area)
|
| Image Scale | 5.23 arcsec/pixel |
| Filters |
1.25" Astronomik Type II Dichroic
IR blocking filters in True Tech filter wheel - Clear, Red,
Green, Blue, Ha, SII, OIII
|
| Exposures |
Total exposure time (RGB):
130 minutes -Luminance 50 (10x5) minutes unbinned, RGB & Ha 20
(4 x 5) minutes each binned 2x2.
Total exposure time (SII, Ha, OIII)
- 70, 60, 70 (5 minute sub-exposures)
|
| Calibration | None |
| Processing Software | Maxim DL, Photoshop CS2 |
| Location | Chiefland Astronomy Village, FL - 29.393 N , - 82.863 W |
| Date/Time | 05/22/04 / '07:52' - '09:38' UT' & 09/25/06 |
