IC 59 and IC 63 Gamma Cass Nebula
Published 12 March 2023

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IC 59 and IC 63 along with Gamma Cass

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IC 59 and IC 63 annotated

About this object

The bright star 27 Gamma Cass, also known as Navi, in the constellation Cassiopeia is a bright blue/white sub giant variable star shining from magnitude 1.6 to 3.0. It lies about 550 light years distant. 27 Gamma Cass spins so rapidly at 472 km/sec that the star bulges near its equator. It's 17 times the suns mass and radiate a huge amount of energy equal to 34,000 suns. Near the star is an area of emission nebulosity called the Gamma Cass nebula. This nebula contains the objects IC 59 and IC 63. IC 63 is sometimes called the ghost of Cassiopeia. The Gamma Cass nebula is being eroded by massive UV radiation from the star 27 Gamma Cass. In the annotated image above, along with these objects, there are a few faint PGC galaxies and some molecular dust. The images above combine a bit over 9hrs of data through RGB and Ha filters.
Image Details

  • Optics : Stellarvue SVX 152T refractor @f8 1200mm FL
  • Mount: Paramount MYT
  • Camera: ZWO ASI6200
  • Filters: Chroma 50mm LRGB
  • Exposure (min): RGBHa 118:104:112:225 9.3 hrs, 2x2 binning
  • Automation Control: The Sky X, Voyager, PrimaluceLab Eagle 4
  • Guiding: StarlightXpress Lodestar X2
  • Processing Software: PixInsight, PS CC
  • Location: Stark Bayou Observatory, Ocean Springs, MS
  • Sky: Typical SQM 19.6-20.1, Bortle 5, Suburban
  • Date: 7 Nov - 28 Dec 2022
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