Sh2-114 Flying Dragon of Cygnus in HOO
Planewave CDK12.5; AP 1100GTO AE
ASI6200MM, - Antlia Pro RGB & 3.5nm NB filters
Ha/O: (45,43 x 480s exposures, Bin 1x1, Gain 200)
R,G,B: (32,31,36 x 180s, Bin 1x1, Gain 100) for stars
Total Integration Time = 16.7 hours – July/Aug 2023
Although exhibiting some of the characteristics of a supernova remnant (SNR), Sh2-114 is not (currently) believed to be one. While the filamentary, and almost fractal bubbly nature of the dragons wings and body is suggestive of an SNR, some of these features may have been just a result of strong stellar winds near the edge of the Cepheus molecular cloud. The flying dragon is also faint, but there is likely not an overabundance of new stars nearby and the faintness is a result of low levels of UV source energy. I tried gathering OIII data, in an attempt to see if there was any filaments of this wavelength as often occurs in other SNRs. In was quite remarkable that no substantive OIII was recorded, and I should likely have capture SII data instead. I guess the nail in the SNR coffin, however, is the lack of a neutron star within the area.
Nonetheless, the dragon shape is very dramatic – captured here in HOO – almost as if the dragon is ready to swoop down and cook some lambs for its dinner.
Oops - my original write-up had the dragon in Cepheus - it is really in Cygnus. How embarrasing. :-(,