Deep Sky Object in Autumn
Sh2-129 (Diffused Nebula in Cepheus)

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Date & Time: May 4 2019, from 25:56 to 27:06 JST(+0900)
Mosaic of 2 flames of 6min.×6shots
Optical: TAKAHASHI 16cm(6.3") epsilon (f=530mm, F3.3)
with IDAS LPS-V4 Light-pollution suppression filter
Auto-guided with TAKAHASHI JP Equatorial & SBIG STV
Digital Camera: Nikon D810A
Location: Ooizumi, Hokuto city, Yamanashi pref.

Camera Settings: Recording Format...14bit CCD-RAW, converted to 16bit TIFF(7360×4912)
Device Size...FX format (36×24mm)
Sensitivity...ISO2500, White Balance...Daylight


Sh2-129 / Diffused Nebula, type 2 E
R.A.21h 15m 10.0s (2000.0)
Dec.+60° 00' 00" (2000.0)
Apparent Size60'
Real Size23 light yrs.
Magnitude -
Distance1300 light yrs.
This image shows you a very dimmed diffused Hα nebula of Sh2-129 in the constellation of Cepheus. The nebula is positioned about 4 degrees west of IC1396, a vast round nebula in the constellation. Sh2-129 has a shape of hemisphere surrounding eastern part of two stars in center of the arc of nebula. Actually very faint reddish nebulosities emitting Hα light are spread out in round region. And the nebula includes an extraordinary faint bluish gas emitting OIII light in central part. The Cepheus is bathed in autumnal Milky Way, contains many minor reddish nebulae like this inner-Galactic cloud.

Nebulae around Sh2-129 Nebulae around Sh2-129


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Close-up of Sh2-129 (Squid Nebula)

Date & Time: Aug 18 2023, from 24:53 to 27:04 JST(+0900), 12min.×8shots
Sep 17 2023, from 22:24 to 23:49 JST(+0900), 12min.×8shots
Composed 16 shots with 12min. exposed
Optical: TAKAHASHI 16cm(6.3") epsilon (f=530mm, F3.3)
with SIGHTRON Quad BP III filter
Auto-guided with TAKAHASHI EM-200 Equatorial & Lacerta M-GEN
CMOS Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro (Cooled temp.: -10°C)
Location: Koumi town, Nagano pref.(Aug 18), Furudono town, Fukushima pref.(Sep 17)

Camera Settings: Recording format...16bit FITS, converted to 16bit TIFF(6248×4176)
Device Size...23.5×15.7mm, Gain...100


Outline of Squid Nebula This is an image taken with a narrow-band filter, focusing on the central region of Sh2-129. It reveals a greenish nebula extending approximately 1.1 degrees in the north-south direction, overlapping with the reddish Sh2-129. This nebula emits extremely faint greenish OIII lines and became known after it was first introduced by a French astrophotographer around 2011. Since it was "discovered" quite recently and lacks a specific ID, it is affectionately referred to as the "Squid Nebula" due to its appearance resembling a squid's outline.



Sh2-126
Sh2-132

Copyright(c) 2019, 2023 by Naoyuki Kurita, All rights reserved.
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