At 5,500 light years distant, the Cat's Paw nebula NGC 6334 is an emission nebula with a red colour that originates from an abundance of ionised hydrogen atoms. Alternatively known as the Bear Claw Nebula, stars nearly ten times the mass of our Sun have been born there in only the past few million years. Pictured here is a deep field image of the Cat's Paw Nebula in light emitted by hydrogen, oxygen, and sulphur.
(text from Apod).
Third finished image from the big Tak/QSI 6162/Chroma combo now that the field field is aaaallllllmost flat (after considerable re-machining of the focuser faces, thanks Stefan Buda!).
This is a Ha rich region, so have deliberately allowed some of the background nebulosity to show through. The Chroma 5nm filter worked a treat as the Ha was taken just 30 degrees from a full moon!
To me it resembles a genie pouring out of the magic lamp!
Ha - 11x1200secs
O3-17 x 1800 secs
S2- 10x1200secs
RG&B 10x180 secs ea.
Captured using Ekos on a Mac.
The Melbourne weather has not been kind this winter, so data gathering opportunities have been scarce - and it's hard to follow
Suavi's excellent version from a few years ago, but I've given it my best shot!
Big one for Pixel Peepers
Processed in APP & PS CC 2020 - with Topaz NR
Taken from my light polluted suburban backyard in Melbourne.