Sh2-142 - Wizard Nebula (2025)

This is my latest image of the colorful emission nebula Sh2-142, nicknamed the Wizard Nebula, located 8,500 light-years away in the constellation of Cepheus. The region also contains dark dust clouds, a Planetary Nebula (PK107-00.1), and a young open cluster (4 to 12 million years) designated as NGC 7380 which was discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1787. It is the hot young stars in NGC 7380 that are responsible for ionizing the surrounding gases in the nebula. Chief among the ionizing stars are DH Cephei (HD 215835), a close binary system consisting of two massive blue giants (O-type stars). The bright blue star located in the center of the image is DH Cephei.

This is a very popular object for astrophotographers, however, for some reason I have only imaged this once before and that was over seven years ago so it was time for an update. The nebulosity in this region is quite impressive and I love how the stellar winds sculpt the gas and dust giving a 3D look.

Higher Quality:
https://app.astrobin.com/u/kurtzepp?collection=712&i=46s5uj#collections

Sh2-142 - Wizard Nebula (2025)
Dates: 10-16-25, 10-17, 10-18, 10-22, 10-23, 10-24
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 149 x 300, OIII 139 x 300, SII 148 x 300 R 53 x 90, G 55 x 90, B 52 x 90 (40h 20m)
Gain: 139
Offset 20
Sensor Temp: -10 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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