NGC5146: The Cocoon Nebula in Cygnus

The Cocoon Nebula is glowing interstellar gas (a HII region), a fairly bright (7.2 mg), and large (9') .

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Images taken: Nov. 12, 2006

Students: Abigail Stanbury and Kristen Robinson

Telescope: Meade 12 in at f/6.55 (f=2m); Camera: SBIG ST-10 CCD

Size of the images: 20'x30'.

The strong glow is due to a reflection in the Meade telescope (due to a manufacturing defect). It was first seen on this image; and the problemhas since been fixed.

Exposures: 2x10 min red, 3x10 min green, 3x10 min blue.

Image processing: CCDoops, CCDsoft, Photoshop CS.

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Images taken: Nov. 1, 2005

Students: Kline Gilbert and Jason Miller

Telescope: Meade 12 in with focal reducer (f=67in) and AO7 adaptive optics accessory.

Size of the images: 15'x9'

Camera: SBIG ST-7 CCD

Exposures: 20 min red, 20 min green, 2x20 min blue, 3x20 min clear.

Image processing: CCDoops, CCDsoft, Photoshop CS.

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