NGC 7380 (Sharpless 2-142), THE WIZARD NEBULA

This image also includes Sharpless 2-143 and Dark Nebula LDN 1199

HaRGB VERSION: Red enhanced by addition of about 25% Hydrogren alpha data.

(click on image for larger size & full resolution - >3Mb):

NARROWBAND VERSION:  Hubble Pallet (SII=Red, Ha=Green, OIII=Blue).

(click on image for larger size & full resolution - >3Mb):

 

Image acquisition and processing details:

Telescope: Takahashi Epsilon 180, f/2.8.
Mount: Astro-Physics AP1200 German Equatorial Mount.
Camera: SBIG ST-10XME cooled to -20C, internal guiding.  All images binned 1x1.
Filters, Exposure Times: HaRGB image total = 20hr 15min; HaOIIISII image total = 21hr.  AstroDon Red 240 min (48x5min), Green 210 min (42x5min), Blue 125 min (25x5min).  Also 3nm narrowband filters:  Ha 640 min (64x10 min), OIII 330 min (33x10min), SII 290 min (29x10min).  Additional data was obtained but discarded.
Dates: Various 11/30/08-12/05/08 and 8/9/09-8/27/09.
Moon Phase: Various new through full.
Location: Xanadu West Backyard Observatory.
Software: CCD Commander, MaximDL, TheSky, FocusMax, CCDInspector, CCDStack, Adobe Photoshop, Astronomy Tools.
Notes: The dark nebula came as a surprise when I began to image this object.  Hydrogen alpha really dominates this region so a bit of stretching was necessary to bring out the other colors in the RGB version, and the OIII in the narrowband version.