A reflection nebula with embedded star cluster in constellation Cepheus, about 3500 light years away.

It somehow reminds me to the core of M42, the famous Orion Nebula.
This object is imaged less frequently although it contains quite some interesting objects. Eleven Herbig-Haro objects have been found in this object. These are red emission nebulae created when protostars eject material at very high speeds from their poles into the surrounding gas cloud. Some of them are visible as red patches at the lower left and upper right of the core of the nebula. They are catalogued as HH103, HH105, HH167, HH232, HH234, HH235, HH236, HH237, HH238, HH239 and HH242.
A young star cluster illuminates the core of the nebula. The strong stellar winds from the young hot stars are eroding the gas and dust around them forming a small bubble which will eventually grow until the whole nebula disappears leaving a „normal“ open star cluster in its place.

I am not too excited about the quality of this image, but at least I know what the problem was … and I expected it more or less. It was my first try with the EDGE HD8 and 0.7x focal reducer. I could not reach correct backfocus with this setup and I could not correct the small sensor tilt. I worked hard on the stars to get them round … but of course the nebulae are missing a bit of detailed structure.
Hope you like it anyway.

Celestron EDGE HD8
0.7x Reducer
F=1480mm, F/7
Skywatcher EQ6R Pro mount
ASI2600mc Pro
IDAS Distance worker
Bortle 4-5
No moon

370x60sec (6h10m)

PixInsight