IC 1318A

Object: IC 1318a

Date: May. 24-25-27, 2024 - Location: Dark Sky Observatory, Fort Davis, TX
Telescope: 16 inch RC - Mount: Paramount-ME II - Camera: FLI-16803
Exposure: SII = 23x10 min., Ha & OIII = 24x10 min. (Bin 1/1) - R, G, B = 20x2 min. each filter (Bin 2x2)

Click on the image below to view at higher resolution.
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IC 1318a Surrounding the star Sadr (Gamma Cygni) in the constellation of Cygnus the Swan is a giant HII nebular region designated IC 1318^[2]. IC 1318 is located approximately 5,000 light years from the Earth and is not associated with the star, Sadr, which is much closer at approximately 1,800 light years distant^[4]. IC1318 is sub-divided into 3 separate components designated IC1318 a, b, and c^[2]. The image above is centered on IC1318a which is also designated LBN 251 and DWB 78^[1]. An annotated image showing several designated objecs in the area surrounding IC1318a^[3] may be viewed here.

The image above is known as a mapped, or false color, image and was acquired using narrowband filters. It was assembled using the standard Hubble palette with SII mapped to Red, Ha mapped to Green and OIII mapped to Blue. The stars were overlaid with color data from a separate RGB image. A RGB filtered true color version of IC1318a may be viewed here.

Member of the Dark Sky Observatory Collaborative

References
¹J. Thommas: https://jthommes.com/Astro/IC1318NW.htm
²R. Gendler: http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/IC1318text.html
³J. Thommas Annotaded Image: https://jthommes.com/Astro/images/IC1318a_MN152_PS4IPCrpRz_annotated.jpg
⁴Gamma Cygni (Sadr): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_Cygni