Object Description: Shown is open cluster NGC7023, and reflection nebula vdB139 or LBN487. Also seen are dark nebulae LDN 1167 through 1174, the “chocolate” colored dust clouds. The reflection nebula is popularly called “The Iris Nebula” or sometimes “The Tarantula Nebula”.

Telescope: Takahashi FSQ106N
Camera: Canon 40D modified w/ Baader UV/IR cut filter
Mount: ParamountME unguided
Filters: no filters

Date Taken: two nights 31JUL2008 and 02AUG2008
Location: Lot4, Arcturus Way, Sacramento Mountains Astronomy Park, Weed, NM
Sky Conditions: transparency 2/5, seeing 2/5, temp 20C
Image Acquisition: 72x300s, iso800, using ImagesPlus3.5

Image Processing: ImagesPlus 3.5 used for data reduction, alignment, MinMaxExc combine, initial DDP. PSCS2 used for levels, curves, and color enhancement. GradX for background equalization.