Ghost Nebula! (Sharpless 2-136, Sh2-136, VdB 141)

The Ghost Nebula! (Sh2-136, VdB 141)

This interstellar field, rich with stars and dust, is located in the constellation Cepheus. It is filled with clouds reflecting starlight, within the plane of the Milky Way. The Ghost Nebula is visible at the center of the image. Two dark, translucent, human-like figures appear to be raising their hands upward. Its size is more than two light-years, and it is brighter than other ghostly apparitions. Inside the reflection nebula, there are signs of dense, contracting condensations. These likely represent early stages of star formation.

Equipment:
Telescope: Sky-Watcher 150/750
Mount: Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro
Camera: Canon 550Da Cooled
Guide Scope: Svbony 60/240
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini
Coma Corrector: Baader MPCC MK II
Filter: Svbony UV/IR Cut 2"
Control: ZWO ASIAIR PRO

Software Used:
Acquisition: ZWO ASIAIR PRO
Calibration, Stacking: PixInsight 1.8
Post-processing: Astroforum, by paeraenoiae (AI Plugins)

Location, Date, Frames:
August 22-23, 2023, Verkhneyarkeyevo village, Republic of Bashkortostan
L – 44 x 600s ISO/Gain: 800 (3-7°C)

Total integration time: 7.5 hours.
Yellow light pollution zone (Bortle 5-4).