This expansive super wide-field image provides a breathtaking view of the Cygnus region, immersing viewers in the cosmic symphony of this celestial expanse. Crafted using luminance (L), red, green, blue (RGB), and hydrogen alpha (Ha) filters, this LRGBHa composition accentuates the diverse and intricate features that define Cygnus. The Veil Nebula, can also be seen (lower left ) a testament to a stellar explosion millennia ago, against the vast backdrop of the Cygnus constellation.

The Ha data enriches the image, unveiling the subtle glow of ionized hydrogen amidst the stellar tapestry. The RGB channels bring to life the natural hues of stars and interstellar dust, creating a vibrant and captivating panorama that extends far beyond the immediate vicinity of the Veil Nebula. The Cygnus region takes center stage, with its prominent stars, dark nebulae, and cosmic clouds weaving together in a harmonious display.

Image Description and Details :

This image was taken in South of France with an Esprit 120ED and an Asi 294MM Pro. I used Ha and OIII 4.5nm narrowband filters with 11.5 hours of exposure on the Veil Nebula in Cygnus constellation.

Copyright: Benjamin LEFEVRE

I have started this imaging project back at 2010. My aim was to make a high resolution mosaic covering the constellation Cygnus. Work like that takes time and patience, especially since I have worked so, that many of the individual sub mosaics or frames have been published as an individual artworks. Here is a poster format presentation about all of longer focal length images used for this mosaic beside wide field panels.

As a result I have now a huge 37 panel (And 58 long focal length sub-panel) mosaic panorama covering 28 x 18 degrees of sky.  I have collected photons way over 600 hours during past ten years for this photo. The full size mosaic image has a size of about 25.000 x 15.000 pixels.

In the orientation image above, there are three large supernova remnants visible, first the Cygnus Shell W63 , bluish ring at upper left quarter, secondly the large SNR G65.3+5.7 at utmost right and finally the third is a brighter SNR, the Veil nebula just outside of field of view at bottom center. (Image is partly overlapping with large mosaic but I didn't want to include it yet due to artistic composition.)Beside three supernova remnants there are two Wolf Rayet stars with outer shell formations. NGC 6888, the Crescent Nebula at center of the image and the WR 134, it can be seen as a blue arch just right from the Crescent Nebula, near the Tulip nebula.Next to the Tulip Nebula lays a Black hole Cygnus X-1, it's marked in small closeup image of the Tulip Neula at center right in orientation image above.

There are 37 base panels with shorter focal length tools (300mm f2.8 Tokina and 200mm f1.8 Canon) There is also 59 sub-panels used, they are shot with my old 12" Meade and 11" Celestron Edge scopes.

Copyright: J-p Metsavainio