Object info

IC59 (the blue nebula) and IC63 (the red part) are good examples of a reflection nebula and an emission nebula.
The blue reflection nebula is illuminated by the light of Gamma Cassiopeia (the center star in the W shape of Cassiopeia).

The emission nebula consists of ionised hydrogen and therefore appears red in this image.
The reflection nebula lights up by the starlight of Gamma Cassiopeia. The starlight scatters off dust clouds which causes the blue reflection.

Both nebulae can be found in the center of the constellation Cassiopeia and lie at a distance of about 600 light years.

Processing

CCDOPS was used for focussing. Image acquisition was done using CCDSOft.
All separate frames were calibrated, aligned and stacked in ImagesPlus 2.8.
Photoshop CS4 was used for further processing - curves adjustment, levels adjustment, etc. Noal Carboni's Astronomy tools were also used.

Comments

Updated version of the 2009 image. DSLR color data of 2009 image was used to colorize this version taken with the ST-8300M

Previous versions

October 17, 2009