Gallery Index

NGC 6960

Western Veil Nebula

A supernova remnant filament

TypeNebula ConstellationCygnus SeasonSummer PaletteNarrowband
Image Details

Capture summary

Catalog NGC 6960

Nebula in Cygnus

Total Exposure 21h 36m

13 days in 2022 / Moon 33%

Filters R / G / B / H-alpha / OIII

Chroma Blue 36 mm, Chroma Green 36 mm, Chroma H-alpha 5nm Bandpass 36 mm, Chroma OIII 5nm Bandpass 36 mm, Chroma Red 36 mm

Frame 2022

Summer target / wide composition

Exposure Breakdown 21h 36m
  • R 20m 20 x 60s / 30 Jun 2022 / Moon 2%
  • G 21m 21 x 60s / 30 Jun, 3 Jul 2022 / Moon 9%
  • B 20m 20 x 60s / 3 Jul 2022 / Moon 17%
  • H-alpha 8h 96 x 300s / 6 days in 2022 / Moon 48%
  • OIII 12h 35m 151 x 300s / 11 days in 2022 / Moon 34%
  • Totals 21h 36m 13 days in 2022 / Moon 33%

Same target, different years.

Older revisions stay in the archive so you can see how the target changed with different equipment, processing, and experience.

A delicate shock front crossing Cygnus, with filamentary blue and red strands from a long-ago supernova.

Acquisition Data

Technical capture details from the public AstroBin record for this image. View on AstroBin.

  • R: 20 x 60s, 20m, 30 Jun 2022, Moon 2%
  • G: 21 x 60s, 21m, 30 Jun, 3 Jul 2022, Moon 9%
  • B: 20 x 60s, 20m, 3 Jul 2022, Moon 17%
  • H-alpha: 96 x 300s, 8h, 6 days in 2022, Moon 48%
  • OIII: 151 x 300s, 12h 35m, 11 days in 2022, Moon 34%
  • Totals: 21h 36m, 13 days in 2022, Moon 33%

Equipment and Software

  • Telescope: Explore Scientific ED APO 127mm f/7.5 FCD-1 Alu 2" R&P Focuser
  • Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
  • Mount: iOptron CEM60
  • Filters: Chroma Blue 36 mm, Chroma Green 36 mm, Chroma H-alpha 5nm Bandpass 36 mm, Chroma OIII 5nm Bandpass 36 mm, Chroma Red 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.

Best season June through August

Summer targets often improve later at night as the Milky Way climbs higher.

Good from NJ Late spring through early autumn

Assumes a New Jersey backyard horizon and evening imaging.

Object type Nebula

Emission nebulae are good candidates for narrowband filters; reflection nebulae prefer darker skies.

Constellation Cygnus

NGC 6960 is listed here in Cygnus.

Moon tolerance Narrowband can tolerate some moonlight.

Current frame: Narrowband / Ha, OIII.

Planning from Sewell, NJ

Calculating target altitude and moon context.

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Planning values are approximate and update in your browser.

Planning site Sewell, NJ 39.7700, -75.1400
Current altitude ...

Based on the current time.

Target transit chart Compact altitude curve for this target over a full day. Target ...

Green marks usable dark-sky altitude.

Next transit ...

Next upper transit.

Rise / set ...

Approximate horizon crossing.

Moon now ...

Moon phase and altitude.