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Sh2-261 – Lower's Nebula

Sh2-261, also catalogued as LBN 863 and known as Lower's Nebula, is an emission nebula of approximate magnitude +10.0 located at the northern edge of the constellation Orion. It was discovered by Harold and Charles Lower in 1939 and lies about 2,900 light-years from Earth. Its apparent size of 30 × 15 arcminutes corresponds to a physical diameter of approximately 26 light-years. The nebula glows as it is ionised by the intense ultraviolet radiation from the massive star HD 41997 within it.

General information

Constellation
Orion
Category
Nebulae
Date
28 December 2022

Capture

Total time
3h 00min
Subframes
300s (36x) a ISO 1600
Gain / Offset
N/A / N/A
Calibration
Not specified

Equipment

Telescope
TS102 f/5.6
Camera
modified Nikon D90
Filters
Optolong L-eNhance de doble banda (Hα + OIII/Hβ)
Mount
Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro with belt drive
Guiding
PHD2, Guide scope 60 mm f/4 + ASI224MC

Processing and environment

Processing
Stacked and post-processed with PixInsight 1.8.9
Acquisition
NINA + PHD2 + Cartes du Ciel
Location
l'Ampolla, Tarragona
Sky
Bortle 4

Additional versions

Identified objectsAnnotated image identifying Sh2-261 and other objects within the photographed field.
Alternative processingAlternative version of Sh2-261 using different processing and colour rendering.