vdB1
Reflection Nebula in Cassiopeia
About
A small reflection nebula in Cassiopeia, the first entry in van den Bergh's 1966 catalogue, about 1,600 light-years away. It is considered to shine by the light of three 8th-magnitude stars that overlap it.
Imaging tips
- It is only about 5′ across, so it needs a long focal length and fine pixel scale; it fills a small part of even a narrow field.
- Reflection nebulae need broadband: one imager used a light-pollution filter on a modified DSLR, 12 six-minute subs, and still recorded it.
- It lies about 26′ from the bright star Caph, which can throw a ghost reflection into the frame; check for it in your subs.
- Best placed in September and October.
Facts
- Size
- 5′
- Magnitude
- —
- Coordinates
- RA 0h 10.8m, Dec +58° 46′
- Framing, APS-C
- longer than 4000 mm
- Framing, full frame
- longer than 4000 mm
- Best months
- Sep, Oct
- Peak altitude
- 81° from 50°N, 66° from 35°N