Astrophotography by Keith B. Quattrocchi

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IC 1805/Melotte 15  
Central Region of the Heart Nebula in Cassiopia 
Composite RGB and Narrow Band Image

POD:  July 26, 2008

Copyright 2008
Keith B Quattrocchi

            
Image Acquisition Information                      
 
Telescope:  16" RCOS Ritchey-Chretien Telescope (ion milled at f/9) 
Location:   The Lost Valley Observatory, loated at Sierra Remote
Observatories in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California
Camera: SBIG STL-6303
Guiding: Astrodon  MOAG AOG (SBIG 237 with .65 FLR)
Filters:  Astrodon L, R, G, B, Ha, SII, OIII
Mount:  Software Bisque Paramount ME
Acquisition Programs:   The Sky,CCDAutopliot III, CCD Soft. 
Processing Programs: CCDStack, Maxim DL, Photoshop CS3
Date:: November 28-December 31, 2007                              
Time: 24 hours total:  12x20 min for each of R,G,B Ha, SII, OIII   
Processing:  CCD Stack and PhotoShop CS/3
 
Image Information:  IC 1805 is the designation of a young star cluster and the emission nebula surrounding it.  The stars just to the right of center are an open star cluster, known as Melotte 15, named after their discoverer.  They are emiting UV light which is illuminating the larger nebulosity.   

Processing Comments:  The Narrow Band Image was assembled using the Hubble Palette (SII, Ha, OIII).  The color image was assembled in Maxim DL and overlayed with the Narrow B and using PS CS/3.  Further processing, such as data stretching, high pass filtering and smoothing performed using PS CS/3.