The Tadpole Nebula is a striking region of ionized hydrogen gas distinguished by its bright, compact “head” and an elongated, trailing “tail” of filamentary structures. This morphology, reminiscent of a tadpole, is sculpted by the dynamic interplay of stellar winds and ionizing radiation from nearby young stars, which compress and erode the ambient interstellar medium. Such processes not only reveal the intricate details of the nebula's structure but also provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of star formation and the evolution of molecular clouds.

Captured from Myślenice, Poland under Bortle 4 skies using a personal telescope setup, this SHO image was produced by carefully balancing multiple long exposures to preserve both the luminous core and the faint outer details. Through precise calibration and stacking of sub-exposures, the final composite reveals the nebula's full dynamic range, showcasing both the brilliant emission of the core and the subtle, diffuse glow of its trailing structures.

This image captures IC 410, also known as the Tadpole Nebula, located in the constellation Auriga. A glowing region of ionized hydrogen, this emission nebula surrounds the open star cluster NGC 1893, a young cluster whose stars power the nebula's illumination.

The "tadpoles" themselves—two dense, dusty structures stretching roughly 10 light-years each—are regions of concentrated gas and dust, shaped by stellar winds and radiation. These structures are likely sites of ongoing star formation, hidden within their dense cocoons.

The image displays a rich palette of colors, showcasing hydrogen-alpha (red), oxygen (blue), and sulfur (gold) emissions, bringing out the intricate textures and dramatic interplay of light and shadow within the nebula.

IC 410 resides approximately 12,000 light-years away and spans about 100 light-years across. This vibrant celestial portrait reveals the complex dynamics of star formation and the incredible power of young, massive stars.

Image Description and Details :

This was shot over the course of 18 nights, spanning 4 months (winter skies in Nashville aren't the greatest). The Canon lens was @ f/4.

The real challenge with this photo came from the Spaghetti Nebula (aka SH2-240, Simeis 147). It's incredibly dim and barely shows up in a single 20 minute sub, which is in stark contrast to brightness of the Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405, SH 2-229, or Caldwell 31) and Tadpoles Nebula (IC 410, NGC 1893). I had to process this as HDR so that they appeared to have the same brightness.

Imaging lens: Canon EF 85 mm f/1.8 USM
Imaging cameras: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
Mounts: Sky-Watcher EQ6R-PRO
Guiding telescopes or lenses: ZWO Mini Guide Scope
Guiding cameras: ZWO ASI290MM Mini
Software: Pleiades Astrophoto PixInisight · Photoshop CC
Filters: Optlong L-eXtreme 2" · Optolong L-eNhance 2"
Accessory: ZWO AsiAir Pro

Dates:
Dec. 10, 2020, Dec. 11, 2020, Dec. 13, 2020, Dec. 18, 2020, Dec. 21, 2020, Dec. 22, 2020, Jan. 6, 2021, Jan. 13, 2021, Jan. 14, 2021, Feb. 4, 2021, Feb. 8, 2021, March 4, 2021, March 5, 2021, March 7, 2021, March 8, 2021, March 9, 2021, March 10, 2021, March 11, 2021

Frames:
Optolong L-Pro 2'': 40x15" (gain: 100.00) -10C bin 1x1
Optolong L-Pro 2'': 40x30" (gain: 100.00) -10C bin 1x1
Optolong L-Pro 2'': 40x60" (gain: 100.00) -10C bin 1x1
Optolong L-eNhance 2": 143x1200" (gain: 100.00) -10C bin 1x1
Optolong L-eXtreme 2": 56x1200" (gain: 100.00) -10C bin 1x1

Integration: 67.5 hours

Darks: ~40

Bortle Dark-Sky Scale: 8.00



Copyright: Jeffrey Horne