The Blue Horsehead (IC4592) by Michael Sidonio
The main part of the above imaged molecular cloud complex is a reflection nebula cataloged as IC 4592. Reflection nebulas are actually made up of very fine dust that normally appears dark but can look quite blue when reflecting the light of energetic nearby stars.
In this case, the source of much of the reflected light is a star at the eye of the horse. That star is part of Nu Scorpii, one of the brighter star systems toward the constellation of the Scorpion Scorpius. A second reflection nebula dubbed IC 4601 is visible surrounding two stars on in the horses neck region lower right of centre.
Photo details & setup
Data collected over 2 nights 10 and 11 June 2018, variable seeing no Moon
- Takahashi FSQ106EDX4
- FLI Proline 16803, CFW-5-7, Robofocus
- LRGB = 260 100 100 100min = 9.4 hrs total exposure (bin 1X1)
- New Deep-Sky RGB Astronomik filters
- -30C chip temp, dark frames and flats (using Aurora Flat Field Panel) applied
- Focal length 530mm, FOV = 4deg X 4deg
- Image scale 3.5"/pix
- Guide Camera: Starlight Xpress Lodestar
Michael Sidonio, also known as "Strongmanmike," is a well-known Australian amateur astronomer and astrophotographer with a background in strength athletics. He studied astronomy at Dickson College and worked at the Canberra Observatory for over a decade. After retiring from strongman competitions in 2005, Michael focused on astronomy and astrophotography. His work has been featured in various exhibitions worldwide and has won numerous awards.
Michael has made significant contributions to astronomy research, including discovering a galaxy 11 million light-years away. His astrophotography is displayed at Australia's National Science and Technology Centre in Canberra. Michael recently completed the construction of the highest astronomical observatory in Australia, located in the Tinderry Mountains.
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