Southern Celestical Serpent - Mandel-Wilson 9 ** AAPOD2 - 2 August 2025 **

[Ryderscope]

The Mandel-Wilson catalogue contains 9 entries and of those, MW 9 is the only southerly object accessible from my location at -33.5d latitude. Also known as the Southern Celestial Serpent, it is a large area of Integrated Flux Nebulae (IFN) located at a declination of -79 degrees with this image here spanning a 10 degree by 7 degree field of view. A VERY faint object that required lurking in the depths of signal to pull out the data even with the 33+ hours of exposures. Lots more detail on the Astrobin post if you want to have a peek.

Astobin post here. (https://app.astrobin.com/i/3c7gq1)
Full acquisition details on Astrobin.

Clear Skies,
Rodney
Edit: We are most pleased to have scored a AAPOD2 for this one (https://www.aapod2.com/blog/southern-celestial-serpent-ifn-33hr-image):D

[PRejto]

Fantastic image, Rodney. The IFN is great, but so are the stars. I find it hypnotic to look at in full resolution.

Peter

[Peter Ward]

I wasn't familiar with this object....very impressive rendition :thumbsup:

[Ryderscope]

Many thanks for the feedback lads.

[Retrograde]

Very cool target and image, Rodney! :thumbsup:

[Ryderscope]

Thank you Pete.

[Bodon]

Rod very nice well done mate :thumbsup:

[Startrek]

Rodney,
Great find and beautiful image
You seem to always hunt and find these rare obscure objects
Nicely processed too
Well done !!
Martin

[Ryderscope]

Thanks Steve and Martin, it is good to be able to hunt down the less imaged objects and the wide field of the ASI6200/EF200 lens combination works well” for this.

[strongmanmike]

Interesting colour palette, it is an LRGB isn't it? Just curious about the burnt orange colour, looks more like some narrowband image I have seen?...but sheesh, quite striking that Rod, awesome field, has a dragons/fantasy feel to it, a great look :thumbsup:

Mike

[Ryderscope]

Thanks Mike. I did ponder the colour from the view point that their may be some Ha present and I may be picking up a hint of that. It is an LRGB image. The only real colour adjustments applied was a small amount of saturation increase. When the opportunity next presents itself I will grab some Ha and see what becomes of it.