IC 1396 and vdB 142

All,
Here is my shot of IC 1396 this season. It is an HaRGB image. I think this object does OK with this data set. Image is here:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/IC1396_Elephant.htm
(click on the image for full resolution version)

Scope - Zenithstar 66 mm APO at f/4.5
Camera - ST8300M, Astronomik 1.25 HaRGB filters
Mount - G11/Gemini
Guiding - C8 at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PhD Guiding

Great shot Jim! ...Think about an H-Alpha only version. While on the subject, why did you choose 9 minute subs for the H-Alpha?

Brian

Nice image, Jim!

BTW, your info says that the Elephant Trunk is also called vdB 142. vdB142 is a small reflection nebula near the "tip" of the "trunk". Dr. Sydney van den Bergh only cataloged reflection nebulae near BD stars. The "trunk" is not a reflection nebula.
http://www.tvdavisastropics.com/astroimages-1_00005a.htm

-Tom

That's a glorious shot of the trunk.

Check out the dark "walking baboon" nebula to the upper left of it. It comes complete with front and back legs, long monkey tail, and ears.
I should go after that little cloud with the TEC, looks fun.

Great stuff Jim!
Cheers,
Tyler

Very nice looking. (I will also ask about 9 minute subs... ) I hadn't previously noticed you guiding with the C-8, but that makes perfect sense.

Charlie

Thanks for the comments folks.

About the 9 minute subs... Well, maybe this is a bit silly but with my Artemis I could do 4x4 bin test images. With the ST8300 I can only do 3x3 (and actually 9x9 but not 4x4). So I take a 3x3 test shot for 1 minute and say - "well this signal level looks acceptable." Then I figure if I want that level at a 1x1 bin for my image data, I need 9x the exposure time. Hence 9 minutes. Don't laugh.