This data was obtained during the 2007 Texas Star Party. (click on image for larger size):
| Object | P Cygni was a nova in 1600. It is a variable star and is famous for the blueshifted absorption lines, which result from the expanding shell of gas surrounding the star. This blueshifting has been named a "P Cygni Profile" and is evident in many other stars with emission lines. The emission and absorption of P Cygni exhibit dynamic changes over relatively short time periods. |
| Telescope | 12" Meade LX200GPS at f/10 |
| Spectrograph / CCD | SBIG SGS, SBIG ST-7XME at -20C; Low Resolution = 150 lines/mm, high resolution = 600 lines/mm |
| Integration Details | Low Res, 10 x 90s, High Res, 12x180s, dark subtracted and median combined. |
| Date / Median Time (UTC) | 14-May-2007 Low Res 0810 UTC, High Res 1010 UTC |
| Moon Phase | 8% |
| Approximate Airmass | Low Res 1.8, High Res 1.2 |
| CCD Response Curve Source | Gamma Virginis |
| Wavelength Calibration | H and Ne lamps |
| Software Used | CCDSoft, CCDStack, Iris, vSpec, Excel, Adobe Photoshop |
| Comments | The data for the image and spectra was obtained
during the 2007 Texas Star Party, from the Upper Observing
Field. The image was taken at the same time as the spectra, using a 105mm apochromatic refractor at f/5.6, with an ST-10XME and an Astrodon LRGB and Ha filters. 9x60s Lum, 9x300s Red, Green, Blue, and Hydrogen Alpha. Cooled to -25C, dark subtracted, flat fielded, mean combined. Processing was applied to enhance the nebulosity, which is primarily caused by huge clouds of Hydrogen gas in the region. Note also the tiny red planetary nebula near the upper left. |