Capture summary
Nebula in Cygnus
29 Aug - 2 Sep 2022 / Moon 20%
Chroma H-alpha 5nm Bandpass 36 mm, Chroma OIII 5nm Bandpass 36 mm, Chroma SII 5nm Bandpass 36 mm
Summer target / wide composition
- H-alpha 3h 50m 46 x 300s / 4 days in 2022 / Moon 21%
- SII 3h 35m 43 x 300s / 31 Aug, 2 Sep 2022 / Moon 27%
- OIII 5h 60 x 300s / 29 Aug-1 Sep 2022 / Moon 15%
- Totals 12h 25m 29 Aug - 2 Sep 2022 / Moon 20%
The Tulip Nebula sits in a busy Cygnus field, compact compared with the larger summer emission complexes but full of small structure. Its brighter folds and darker interior lanes make it feel carved out of the surrounding gas.
This narrowband version leans into that structure. Hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur separate the nebula from the star field and give the compact target enough contrast to hold the frame.
Acquisition Data
Technical capture details from the public AstroBin record for this image. View on AstroBin.
- H-alpha: 46 x 300s, 3h 50m, 4 days in 2022, Moon 21%
- SII: 43 x 300s, 3h 35m, 31 Aug, 2 Sep 2022, Moon 27%
- OIII: 60 x 300s, 5h, 29 Aug-1 Sep 2022, Moon 15%
- Totals: 12h 25m, 29 Aug - 2 Sep 2022, Moon 20%
Equipment and Software
- Telescope: Explore Scientific ED APO 127mm f/7.5 FCD-100 CF HEX
- Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
- Mount: iOptron CEM60
- Filters: Chroma H-alpha 5nm Bandpass 36 mm, Chroma OIII 5nm Bandpass 36 mm, Chroma SII 5nm Bandpass 36 mm
- Software: Adobe Photoshop, Sequence Generator Pro, PixInsight
- Guiding camera: ZWO ASI290MM Mini
Target Planner
Nebula in Cygnus; best planned for June through August from New Jersey.
Summer targets often improve later at night as the Milky Way climbs higher.
Assumes a New Jersey backyard horizon and evening imaging.
Emission nebulae are good candidates for narrowband filters; reflection nebulae prefer darker skies.
Sh2-101 is listed here in Cygnus.
Current frame: Narrowband / Ha, OIII, SII.
Calculating target altitude and moon context.
Use the full planner to enter a ZIP code, choose a date, and compare the target from your sky.
Based on the current time.
Green marks usable dark-sky altitude.
Next upper transit.
Approximate horizon crossing.
Moon phase and altitude.
