IC1318 – Gamma Cygni Nebula (around 37 Cygni)
IC1318, also known as the Gamma Cygni Nebula or Sadr region, is a vast emission-nebula complex in the constellation Cygnus, at an estimated distance of between 4,000 and 5,000 light-years from Earth. This astrophotograph shows part of the complex identified as LBN 234, a broad region of emission nebulosity formed mainly by ionized hydrogen. Although the complex appears to surround the supergiant star Sadr, or Gamma Cygni, the star lies in the foreground and is not physically related to the gas cloud. Spectacular bands of dark interstellar dust cross the region, including the prominent LDN 889. These obscuring structures divide the bright areas and help create the characteristic appearance of the Butterfly Nebula, resembling a pair of outstretched wings. Intense ultraviolet radiation from young, hot stars ionizes the gas and produces its characteristic reddish glow. The entire complex is a vast and active star-forming region associated with several open clusters and extending across dozens of light-years.
General information
- Constellation
- Cygnus
- Category
- Nebulae
- Date
- 27 July 2026
Capture
- Total time
- 5h 00min
- Subframes
- 300s (Ha: 30x, OIII: 30x) bin1
- Gain / Offset
- 125 / 30
- Calibration
- 30 flat frames, 30 dark-flat frames and 40 library dark frames, without bias frames
Equipment
- Telescope
- TS102ED f/5.6
- Camera
- ASI294MM at -10ºC
- Filters
- Ha and OIII Astronomik, 6 nm
- Mount
- Sky Watcher Wave 150i
- Guiding
- PHD2, Guide scope 60mm/f4 + ASI220MM + PegasusAstro UCH + PPBMicro
- Focuser
- ZWO EAF
- Filter wheel
- ZWO EFW 7pos
Processing and environment
- Processing
- Stacked and post-processed with PixInsight 1.9.4
- Acquisition
- NINA
- Location
- l'Ampolla
- Sky
- Bortle 4
Annual visibility
170 days per year above +30° at 00:00 UTC from 41° N, 1.5° E.