Elephant's Trunk nebula, VdB 142

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The Elephant's Trunk nebula (VdB 142) is a quite difficult object inside the large IC1396 nebula, on the western side. Other interesting dark nebula are present in the field, such as LDN 1008-1009, the large V-shaped dark nebula at upper left corner. Also the color hues are interesting from a blue-magenta near the center toward a pure red on the right side, with a pink on the border of the Elephant's Trunk nebula and yelloy in the middle of VdB-142. Look also at older images: 1 2 3 4.
Technical Data
Optics TEC 140
Focal Length
 1011 mm
Focal Ratio f/7.2
Exposure Time 3h10m (single exp of 10 min)
CCD Canon EOS 5D with Baader filter
Sensitivity 800 ISO
Location Colle dell'Agnello (CN, Italian Alps) at 2700 m height
Date
 24 August 2012
Mount Gemini G-41
Tracking Lodestar on an 80mm f/5 refractor
Temperature and humidity T= +10°C, RH=60%
Sky brightness at zenith (with SQM-L) 21.5 mag/arcsec^2
Notes Transiting clouds ruined part of the exposures, so the total is limited to about 3 hours.

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