The Cygnus Loop (2023)
Mark Turner
The Cygnus Loop is a large emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus and is the remnant of a supernova about 20,000 years ago, some 2400 lightyears distant from Earth. The arcs of the loop, approximately 120 lightyears across, are also collectively known as the Veil Nebula. This image is a combination of Hydrogen-alpha, Oxygen iii and Sulphur ii narrowband emissions for the nebulosity, along with broadband red, green and blue light for the stars.
Bio: Interested in astronomy, and an amateur photographer. Inspired by a talk during Space Week 2022, and helped by Cork Astronomy Club, I realised it might be possible to get reasonable images from my back garden in Carrigaline!
Detail: Approximately 10 hours integration time (120 x 5 minutes) for each of the narrowband data, i.e. H-alpha, Oiii and Sii, and 50 minutes (25 * 2 minutes) integration time for each of the broadband data, i.e. red, green and blue. Captured using a 135mm prime lens with a cooled astronomy camera, on a guided mount, over many nights! Taken in Bortle 5 skies, in Carrigaline Middle.