Image of the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888) in H-alpha enhanced color. This beautiful nebula is in the Cygnus constellation, about 5000 light years away. It is formed by the fast stellar wind from the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136 (HD 192163) colliding with and energizing the slower moving wind ejected by the star when it became a red giant around 400,000 years ago.

Details -
Equipment - 105mm WO refractor with modified Canon T1i on HEQ5 mount.
H-alpha frames
Date and location - 2009-12-24 - backyard in Victoria
Conditions - Clear and cold (3degC).
Exposures - 14 light and 20 dark at ISO 3200 for 120s each with 8 flats for calibration.
Color frames -
Date and Location – 2009-08-12; Cypress Hills.
Exposure – 36 min of light frames and 30 min of dark frames, ISO 1600 and 3200.
Processing - ImagesPlus and Photoshop.