The Cygnus Loop

Sun Aug 11 2024

The Cygnus Loop is the expanding wreckage of a star that exploded thousands of years ago, a supernova remnant in the constellation Cygnus. Its delicate, lacy filaments are shock waves plowing into the surrounding gas and making it glow. It sprawls across a huge patch of sky, which makes capturing the whole loop a favorite wide-field challenge of mine.

About this object

Type

Supernova Remnant

Constellation

Cygnus (the Swan)

Apparent size

25.1′ × 19.9′

Catalogue designations

IC 1340

Acquisition

• Antlia 3nm Narrowband H-alpha 36 mm: 120 × 3m (6h 0m)
• Antlia 3nm Narrowband Oxygen III 36 mm: 129 × 3m (6h 27m)
• Total integration: 12h 27m

Equipment

• Telescope / Lens: Astro-Tech AT72EDII
• Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
• Mount: Celestron CGEM II
• Filters: Antlia 3nm Narrowband H-alpha 36 mm, Antlia 3nm Narrowband Oxygen III 36 mm
• Guiding scope: ZWO 30mm Mini Guider Scope
• Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC
• Accessories: Astro-Tech .8X Reducer for F6 (ATR8)
• Software: Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight

Astrophotography by David Joyce, AstroDavido.