This image presentation was last processed on 2017Feb09
The original version can be found here.

At long last I've added to a new category of images: nebulae!  Presenting itself in grand fashion here is the Iris Nebula, a unique blue reflection nebula in the constellation Cepheus.  As the name and type would suggest, this nebula shows cloud blooms like a flower, illuminated by the light reflecting off it from the nearby star cluster NGC7023.  As nebulae are very rarely strong visible light sources, we tend to find most at a close distance in our own galactic neighborhood.  The Iris is no different, sitting a mere 1,300 light years from us as seen through a host of stars from our galaxy.

This is my first image with a brand new imaging system.  I've ditched my Olympus E-P5 for astro work and have moved to a monochrome CCD, the STF-8300M.  Along with this camera I've attached a filter wheel, which allowed me to take luminance, red, green, and blue exposures separately to compose this image.  I've also employed the use of an off-axis guider which uses the same imaging train as the main camera, which in turn provides much more accurate tracking correction without concerns of parts moving in a separate optical system (as I had done before).  The result is a major step up in image quality.  I've only scratched the surface here with 15 minute exposures, and can't wait to get back in the field to uncover more treasures.