Wizard Nebula - Lost Photons Gallery

A July 2020 Wizard Nebula frame from the archive, shown beside the later September processing run.

What am I looking at?: The Wizard Nebula is a star-forming region whose loops of gas suggest a wizard's profile.
How far away is it?: About 7,200 light-years away.
Where is it in the sky?: In Cepheus, near the northern Milky Way.
Why does it matter?: A rewarding narrowband object with intricate structure that benefits from long exposures.
When is the best time to photograph it?: Late summer through autumn when Cepheus is well placed.

Capture Data

Capture summary

Catalog NGC 7380

Nebula in Cepheus

Integration time 4h

July 27, 2020

Filters L-Pro

OSC broadband

Frame 2020

Summer target / wide composition

Exposure Breakdown 4h

L-Pro 4h 48 x 300s / July 27, 2020
Totals 4h July 27, 2020

Same target, different years.

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

Left year Right year

Wizard Nebula 2020 — 2020 **Wizard Nebula** *Currently viewing*

Wizard Nebula 2022 — 2022 **Wizard Nebula** *Compare revision*

2022 Wizard Nebula Open revision

2020 Wizard Nebula Older revision

2020 Wizard Nebula Currently viewing

Target Planner

When to image this target

Nebula in Cepheus; 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 Cepheus

NGC 7380 is listed here in Cepheus.

Moon tolerance Narrowband can tolerate some moonlight.

Current frame: Natural color / OSC broadband.

Open full planner View on sky map

Live altitude, moon, and filter guidance

Planning from Sewell, NJ

Calculating target altitude and moon context.

Check your location Enter ZIP in planner

Use the full planner to enter a ZIP code, choose a date, and compare the target from your sky.

Planning values are approximate and update in your browser.

Planning site Sewell, NJ 39.7700, -75.1400

Current altitude ...

Based on the current time.

Green marks usable dark-sky altitude.

Next transit ...

Next upper transit.

Rise / set ...

Approximate horizon crossing.

Moon now ...

Moon phase and altitude.

Processing

Acquisition & processing notes

Filter channels, integration times, and capture dates for this frame. View on AstroBin.

Optolong L-Pro 2 48 x 300s, 4h