Total Exposure Time: 8:50 hours L(bin1); RGB(bin2),
LRGB 270:90:60:90 // 18x15min frames + 24x10min frames UNGUIDED

Location RA 06h 08m 31.5s, Dec -06° 26' 31.8"
Pos Angle +270° 27', FL 599.8 mm, 3.936"/Pixel
This image is 1570x1188 pixels

Officina Stellare Riccardi-Honders Veloce 200 RH OTA
ASA DDM60 Pro Mount
Officina Stellare - http://www.officinastellare.com/products_scheda.php?idProd=15
On my site - http://www.pbase.com/boren/officina_stellare_riccardihonders_veloce_rh_200
Deeper technical informaiton on the Riccardi-Honders design - http://www.telescope-optics.net/honders_camera.htm
ASA DDM60 Pro - http://www.astrosysteme.at/eng/mount_ddm60.html
On my site - http://www.pbase.com/boren/asa_ddm60_pro
SBIG ST8300M, Ha Astrodon Gen II 5 nm


In this image dusty nebula NGC 2170 shines near the image center. Reflecting the light of nearby hot stars, NGC 2170 is joined by other bluish reflection nebulae, a red emission region, many dark absorption nebulae, and a backdrop of colorful stars. Like the common household items still life painters often choose for their subjects, the clouds of gas, dust, and hot stars pictured above are also commonly found in this setting - a massive, star-forming molecular cloud in the constellation of the Unicorn (Monoceros). The giant molecular cloud, Mon R2, is impressively close, estimated to be only 2,400 light-years or so away (ref. http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120306.html).

Taking this image (and another 4 hours of color data) required driving to the Negev Desert and back (540 km each time) for two nights in a row...