NGC 6888
Crescent Nebula in Cygnus

10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC with 0.5 focal reducer and Astronomik UHC filter
Exposure = 5-13-20 sec, Live Stacked frames = 15-31-24 (70 total), Gain = 70 of 250

Also known as Caldwell 27, the Crescent Nebula is about 5000 light years away, and 25 by 16 light years across. The bright Wolf-Rayet star at the center of the crescent-shape is the source of the nebula. Imaging the fainter parts of the crescent shape was difficult, for example the western side; to get the full crescent, the data in the image needed to be significantly stretched, making the brighter portions appear blown-out. There is a faint “ribbed” look on the interior portion of the nebula, giving it a very 3D appearance in this view. The faint extensions just above the bright portions make it look like it is smouldering.

North at 11 o’clock, East at 8 o’clock

10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC with Optolong L-eNhance filter
Exposure = 5 sec, Frames = 216, Gain = 250 of 250, Digital Binning = 2×2

This image is composed of 216 TIFF frames taken at max gain, snapped individually with Auto Capture mode in MallincamSky and stacked + post-processed in PixInsight.

North at 2 o’clock, East at 11 o’clock