The Blue Horsehead Nebula, formally known as IC 4592, is a reflection nebula located in the constellation Scorpius and is approximately 400-450 light-years from Earth. It is named for its distinct shape, which resembles the head of a horse. The blue color of the nebula is a result of light from nearby stars being scattered by the dust particles in the nebula. Shorter (bluer) wavelengths of light are scattered more effectively than longer (redder) wavelengths, leading to the blue hue. However if the reflected light is from a particularly older red star then the reflected light can be yellow or even orange in colour. Unlike emission nebulae, which glow due to ionized gases emitting light, reflection nebulae like IC 4592 do not emit their own light. The primary star responsible for illuminating the Blue Horsehead Nebula is Nu Scorpii, a bright star located nearby. The dust grains within the nebula are small and typically composed of silicates and carbonaceous materials. The nebula consists of gas, primarily hydrogen, mixed with small amounts of other elements such as helium, carbon, and oxygen. THe data consists of full colour data captured with our TS94EDPH combined with a 2 panel mosaic of luminosity data captured on a rented remote system.
TS94EDPH (with Reducer)
10Micron GM1000 HPS
SIGMA fp L (colour)
3 hrs, ISO 400, F4.4, 414mm
Takahashi FSQ106-EDX4 fitted with F3.6 Reducer
10Micron GM1000 HPS
Player One Poseidon M-Pro
3,5 hrs, Gain 0, F3.6, 382mm (573mm FF equivalent)