The Swan Nebula (M17, NGC 6618)

Date: August 4-7, 2005
Location: Cupertinio, CA
Scope: Takahashi FS102 @ 800mm
Guiding: Vixen 60mm refractor with SBIG ST-4
Mount: Losmandy G-11
Camera: SBIG ST2000XM
Filters: Custom Scientific in FLI CFW
Exposure details:
1x60 min Hydrogen Alpha for red
1x60 min OIII for blue
1x60 min Sulfur for green
Processing: MaximDL for calibration, alignment and combining.  PSCS for final processing

Note:  The Swan nebula was first discovered in 1746 by Messier and de Cheseaux.  The nebula of gas and dust is a star nursery in the constellation Sagittarius and is about 7,000 light years from Earth.