The Iris nebula is a bright reflection nebula in the constellation Cepheus. Dark skies are required to capture this object in its full glory, including the surrounding dust. This one also is one of the largest projects of the 2015 season. It is sort of a benchmark object, as I have made it a goal to image it every few years at least, beginning back in 2006. I will post my "Iris nebula style evolution project" at some point, but for now I will just say that not one image of the Iris throught this time has looked the same. I have imaged it wide-field, higher resolution, from the city, from a rural area, using different camera/telescope combo's. But this one, I dare say is my favorite. As was the last one, and the one before that at the time. A perfect example why astrophotography is so. Darn. Addicting.
NGC7023 - Iris nebula
Imaging telescope: Vixen VC200L astrograph f/9 Imaging camera: QHY9M CCD Filters: Orion 2'' RGB Mount: Astro-Physics AP900 GTO Other: Meade DSI guider, Robofocus Software: CCD Commander, Maxim DL, Photoshop CC 2014, Pixinsight 1.8, Adobe Lightroom 5, eXcalibrator 4.3
Date: August 14,15,16,17 September 7,8 October 4,5 2015 Exposure: L:450' RGB:6x900'' each, bin2 Total integration: 12 hours Location: Asteria observatory, Hocking Hills, Ohio, US
