Sh2-157 (2025)

This is my latest image of the bright emission nebula, Sh2-157. It is located 8000 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia and very large at over 200 light-years across. Many nebulae have idiodic nicknames and I avoid using them but this one does bear some resemblance to a Lobster Claw which is what it is also known as. Several smaller portions on this large complex have their own designation. The small, bright, dense portion in the center is known as Sh2-157a. Other nebular regions within this cloud are LBN 533, LBN 536, LBN 537, LBN 540, and LBN 544. The open cluster NGC 7510 is located on the upper left side of my image while another open cluster, Markarian 50, is found in the lower left portion of the image just above a blue oxygen rich strand. I did do some star reduction on this object but not too much as I like rich colorful starfields. 

Higher Quality:
https://www.astrobin.com/k51hb2/?nc=collection&nce=712

Sh2-157 (2025)
Dates: 8-21-25, 8-22, 8-23, 8-25, 8-27, 9-3
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm (644mm w/ FR)
f/7 (f/5.6)
Focal Reducer: 0.8x AstroTech Field Flatterner/Focal Reducer
Mount: Orion Sirius
Filter Wheel: ZWO
EFW 8 x 1.25"
Filter: Antlia Ha, OIII, SII; ZWO R, G, B
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: ASI120 Mini attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope/ZWO 60mm Guidescope
Exposure: Ha 114 x 300, OIII 112 x 300, SII 114 x 300 R 45 x 90, G 52 x 90, B 51 x 90 (32h 02m)
Gain: 139
Offset 20
Sensor Temp: 0 C
Processing: NINA, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXTerminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GraXpert, Bill Blanshan Star Reduction, Bill Blanshan Color Masks, Bill Blanshan Stretching, Topaz Denoise.

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Waning Crescent Moon & Venus & Regulus

The Waning Crescent Moon, 5.6% illumination, looked awesome rising over the beach between Wildwood and Cape May, New Jersey. Making it look even better was Venus and Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo!

High Quality:
https://www.astrobin.com/q7yr1r/?nc=collection&nce=712

Widefield - Moon & Venus  
Date: 9-19-25, 06:14

Camera: iPhone11
Telescope: iPhone 11 back dual wide camera 4.25mm
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 4.25mm
f/1.8 

ISO: 500
Focal Reducer: none
Mount: Tripod
Filter Wheel: none
EFW: none
Filter: none
Focuser: none
Autoguiding: none

Exposure: 1/30 sec
Gain: none
Offset none 
Processing: Photoshop

Moon & Venus & Regulus 
Date: 9-19-25, 06:05

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Telescope: Canon EF200mm f2.8L USM
Tele Extender: Canon 1.4x
Focal Length: 200mm (280mm with extender)
f/5.6 

ISO: 400
Focal Reducer: none
Mount: Tripod
Filter Wheel: none
EFW: none
Filter: none
Focuser: none
Autoguiding: none

Exposure: 2 sec
Gain: none
Offset none 
Processing: Photoshop

Moon & Venus  
Date: 9-19-25, 06:01

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Telescope: Canon EF200mm f2.8L USM
Tele Extender: Canon 1.4x
Focal Length: 200mm (280mm with extender)
f/5.6 

ISO: 400
Focal Reducer: none
Mount: Tripod
Filter Wheel: none
EFW: none
Filter: none
Focuser: none
Autoguiding: none

Exposure: 1/250 sec
Gain: none
Offset none 
Processing: Photoshop

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IC 1311 (2025)

This is my latest, it features an open cluster, IC 1311, in a sea of hydrogen gas. IC 1311 is an open cluster with hundreds of stars approximately 4000 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus. In addition to the emission nebula which it resides in, a dark nebula, LDN 885, and a planetary nebula, PN G077.6+04.3 (DSH J2009.6+4114) below and to the right of the cluster, are also found in this rich background. I really like the color and swirling structure of the emission nebula, especially in the upper portion of the image. I like to say I found this on my own, but credit goes to Robert Eder for showcasing this object a few months ago with a larger focal length setup. These clusters embedded in nebulae are becoming my favorite objects to image!

Higher Quality:
https://www.astrobin.com/21jd6d/?nc=collection&nce=712

IC 1311 (2025)
Dates: 8-3-25, 8-12, 8-14
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm (644mm w/ FR)
f/7 (f/5.6)
Focal Reducer: 0.8x AstroTech Field Flatterner/Focal Reducer
Mount: Orion Sirius
Filter Wheel: ZWO
EFW 8 x 1.25"
Filter: Antlia Ha; ZWO R, G, B
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: ASI120 Mini attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope/ZWO 60mm Guidescope
Exposure: Ha 76 x 300, R 59 x 90, G 54 x 90, B 55 x 90 (10h 32m)
Gain: 139
Offset 20
Sensor Temp: 0 C
Processing: NINA, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXTerminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GraXpert, Bill Blanshan Color Masks, Bill Blanshan Stretching, Topaz Denoise.

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http://astroquest1.blogspot.com/
https://www.astrobin.com/users/kurtzepp/collections/
http://youtube.com/AstroQuest1