SH2-173 - AKA - Phantom Of the Opera Nebula

[Andy Nowlen]

Last week I spent a couple of nights on this very dim object. It was a mostly enjoyable challenge. I just wanted to make it happen before the full moon killed my opportunities this month.

SH2-173 can be found in Cassiopeia close to NGC103 open cluster (at the frame bottom right). Approximately 3000 LY distant this nebula is about 77 LY across but appears to us at about 25 arc minutes.

92 sub-frames @ 240seconds
Approximately 6 hours integration.
Mount - ioptron CEM40
Scope - ES 102mm @ 709mm
Camera - Asi533mc pro
Filter - optolong l-enhance
Stacked - Astopixel processor
Processed - Pixinsight and Photoshop

 

[AlanLichty]

The nebula doesn't look dim the way you have captured/rendered it. Beautiful. I can see how it got the nickname.

 

[JimFox]

Wow!!! I had never heard of this one, it sure does feel like Phantom of the Opera!!! Good job on the capture, that’s not easy!

 

[Ben Egbert]

Is this the falling chandelier? Whatever it is, great shot.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Very cool! I was not familiar with this object - I will have to add it to my target list after seeing your excellent result!

ML