IC 2169, often called Dreyer’s Nebula, is a faint reflection nebula nestled within the lesser-known constellation of Monoceros, the Unicorn. This nebula is part of the larger Monoceros R2 molecular cloud complex, a rich region of star formation that stretches across a vast area. Dreyer’s Nebula reflects the light of young, hot stars embedded within the surrounding dark dust, creating a soft glow that varies from blue to subtle shades of gray due to scattered starlight—a characteristic feature of reflection nebulae. Interestingly, IC 2169 lies in close proximity to several other nebulous regions, making it a part of a fascinatingly complex structure in the night sky that requires dark skies and long exposures to fully reveal.

Captured from Perth, Western Australia, a location known for its excellent astronomical seeing conditions, this image benefits from the region's clear skies and minimal light pollution, offering an ideal view of this delicate nebula. Perth’s location in the Southern Hemisphere also provides a unique perspective of celestial objects that are not as easily observable from the Northern Hemisphere, making it a prime location for astrophotography. This nebula’s delicate structure and subtle coloring make it an enchanting subject for astrophotographers aiming to capture fine details in LRGB imaging.

Image Description and Details :

NGC 602 or the Flying Lizard Nebula and its neighbors lie near the outskirts of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) some 200,000 light-years away. 204 x 300s SHO subs shot @-10C spread across 5 nights for a total integration time of about 17hrs Equipment used:Skywatcher 10" f4 Newtonian 250PSkywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma CorrectorSkywatcher NEQ6 Pro Hypertuned by Astronomy Academy PerthZWO ASI2600MM Pro Cooled CameraPrimaluce Sesto Senso2 Electronic FocuserWilliam Optics Uniguide 50/200mm guidescopeZWO ASI290MM Mini Guide CameraZWO Electronic Filter WheelAntlia Pro 36mm unmounted filtersRollon rolloff modified shed observatoryBortle 5Data acquisition software: NINA Astronomy SoftwareProcessing software: PixInsight and Photoshop CC

Copyright: Capturing Ancient Photons