LDN 1357 - Helping Hand Nebula

So this is my version of LDN 1357, nicknamed the Helping Hand Nebula, in the constellation Cassiopeia. However, there are numerous other areas of interest in this dusty region such as dark nebulae, reflection nebulae, and colorful stars. Near the hand (center left) is the Yellow giant star SU Cassiopeiae, a Cepheid variable star 19 times larger than our sun 1289 light-years away. Blue reflection nebula VdB 9 (LBN 643) surrounds SU Cas for which it owes its brightness. Unfortunately, big stars is the one thing that my old trusty ASI1600 workhorse camera does not do well as it produces those geometric reflections - oh well (newer ZWO cameras do not have this issue).

Another very cool star is in the lower right, RZ Cassiopeiae. This star is also a variable star which is much closer at 219 light-years away and is also surrounded by a blue nebula designated as VdB 7. Although RZ Cas appears to be the source for the nebulosity around VdB 7, research indicates that it is actually a smaller nearby star.

Several dark nebulae are located in the center of dense dusty regions going through the image like a lightning bolt. LDN 1357 is the dark area located on the left most portion while LDN 1355 is the dark area on what appears to be the palm just above SU Cas. The center top houses another dark area known as LDN 1358.

This is another object that was out of my FOV until this year when some new neighbors cut some trees down and opened a small window. The one downside is that a lot of the window starts low in the sky so it is not the most ideal imaging conditions. It is also very dim so there was nothing in the RGB subframes and only a hint in the luminosity. This object would be much improved if it were captured at a darksite. Still I was happy to get this but I had to do a lot processing gymnastics to pull out the nebula.

LDN 1357 - Helping Hand Nebula
Dates: 9-19-23, 9-20, 10-10, 10-11, 10-12, 11-2, 11-5, 11-10
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm (644mm w/ FR)
f/7
Focal Reducer: 0.8x AstroTech Field Flatterner/Focal Reducer
Mount: Orion Sirius
Filter Wheel: ZWO
EFW 8 x 1.25"
Filter: Antlia Ha, OIII; ZWO L, R, G, B
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: ASI120 Mini attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope/ZWO 60mm Guidescope
Exposure: Lum 263 x 120, R 100 x 90, G 122 x 90, B 113 x 90
Gain: 139
Offset 20
Sensor Temp: -10 C
Processing: NINA, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXTerminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, Bill Blanshen Masks, GraXpert.

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