Omega Nebula, also known as Messier 17 (M17) is a very large star-forming HII region in Sagittarius Constellation.
Between 5,000 and 6,000 light-years away from Earth, the Omega Nebula has a diameter of about 15 light-years. This nebula is a portion of an interstellar cloud with a diameter of around 40 light-years and a mass of 30,000 solar masses. 800 solar masses are thought to make up the Omega Nebula's whole mass. |
Omega Nebulas location - although I feel it is closer to Scutum Constellation over Sagittarius Constellation (but that's just me) - Zotti, G., Hoffmann, S. M., Wolf, A., Chéreau, F., & Chéreau, G. (2021). The Simulated Sky: Stellarium for Cultural Astronomy Research. Journal of Skyscape Archaeology, 6(2), 221–258. https://doi.org/10.1558/jsa.17822
It is regarded as one of the galaxy's brightest and largest star-forming regions. Its local geometry resembles that of the Orion Nebula; however, it is seen from the edge rather than the face.
The gas in the nebula shines because of radiation from the hot, young stars in the open cluster NGC 6618, which is embedded in the nebulosity. However, the nebula actually contains up to 800 stars, 100 of which have spectral types earlier than B9, 9 of which have spectral types O, as well as over a thousand stars that are still forming in its outer regions. With a mere 1 million years old, it is also one of the newest clusters ever discovered.
This target was taken in one night but due to the limiting time frame (I finished work at 11 and it was behind the trees by 2 am) I only got a selected amount of data on this target. I will revisit this in the coming months when I have more time, to add more data.
The gas in the nebula shines because of radiation from the hot, young stars in the open cluster NGC 6618, which is embedded in the nebulosity. However, the nebula actually contains up to 800 stars, 100 of which have spectral types earlier than B9, 9 of which have spectral types O, as well as over a thousand stars that are still forming in its outer regions. With a mere 1 million years old, it is also one of the newest clusters ever discovered.
This target was taken in one night but due to the limiting time frame (I finished work at 11 and it was behind the trees by 2 am) I only got a selected amount of data on this target. I will revisit this in the coming months when I have more time, to add more data.
Total exposure of 1 hour 40 mins exposure with 90-second individual exposures. I never dithered in this target (which, TBH, I should have as there is a few hot pixels in the picture when you zoom in)
Calibration frames are 25 darks, 60 Bias and 60 Flats. My equipment is as follows.
Scope – Celestron RASA 8
Mount - Skywatcher EQ6 R Pro
Guide scope – ZWO 30mm
Guide Camera – ZWO ASI 120mm mini
Main Camera – ZWO ASI 533mc Pro
Control box – ZWO ASIAIR Pro
Filter – IDAS NBZ Nebula Booster
Starizona Filter drawer next to the camera sensor
Fox Halo 96k power bank
I’m very surprised with the outcome of this picture due to the full moon which was nearby but the post-processing removed all light pollution. I also had to mask the central part of the nebula due to the bright core and process the core and outer edges separately and then gently using curves bring them both up together to give my final result. (Which was all done in Pixinsight)
Calibration frames are 25 darks, 60 Bias and 60 Flats. My equipment is as follows.
Scope – Celestron RASA 8
Mount - Skywatcher EQ6 R Pro
Guide scope – ZWO 30mm
Guide Camera – ZWO ASI 120mm mini
Main Camera – ZWO ASI 533mc Pro
Control box – ZWO ASIAIR Pro
Filter – IDAS NBZ Nebula Booster
Starizona Filter drawer next to the camera sensor
Fox Halo 96k power bank
I’m very surprised with the outcome of this picture due to the full moon which was nearby but the post-processing removed all light pollution. I also had to mask the central part of the nebula due to the bright core and process the core and outer edges separately and then gently using curves bring them both up together to give my final result. (Which was all done in Pixinsight)