The Flaming Star
Image Details:
This nebula is located in Auriga, or near the Orion constellation and is best seen in late Autumn. This nebula is often photographed alongside its neighbors, the Tadpole, Spider & Fly nebulae, and the few star clusters dotting the area. This project was in fact part of a mosaic of the area, but my a relative lack of available clear nights prevented me from completing the project.
The Flaming Star is roughly 1,500 light years distant and this area is illuminated in part by the bright blue star AE Auriga seen near image center. This star was ejected from the center of the famous Orion Nebula through gravitational interactions with other stars some 2 million years ago. Other stars in this area of sky have been observed with similar trajectories heading away from the same nebula. As such, this star is passing through this region at a relatively high velocity to the local nebula, which will slowly fade into darkness after AE Auriga leaves the area.
Equipment:
Astrotech AT72ED & 0.8X Reducer/Flattener (344mm Focal Length, F/4.8)
Astromodified Canon T3i
Celestron CG5-GT
Autoguiding: Orion 50mm Guidescope + ZWO ASI224MC
Exposures:
One-Shot Color with CLS-CCD LP Filter: 40 x 600” (Total: 6h 40m)
Hydrogen-Alpha 12nm: 35 x 600” (Total: 5h 50m)
Misc Details:
Capture Software: AstrophotographyTool, PHD2 (guiding), Pegasus Powerbox (dew heater control, power management)
Processing Software: PixInsight
Taken from: Wichita, KS, Bortle 4
Capture Dates: 8 November, 13 December, 2017
