ROAST ::

July 9/10. Another heatwave, some clear but sweaty nights, and a couple of new targets. I used a schedule, but checked it was working properly for the shoots after a recent scheduling failure on M 31.

This is the Bubble Nebula in Cassiopeia (aka C 11, NGC 7635, Sh-162). This planetary nebula is small and fairly faint and needs a lot more exposures to bring out the bubble better, but here’s a start:

The tight group of stars at upper left is the Scorpion Cluster, also known as the Cassiopeia Salt and Pepper Cluster, M 52, NGC 7654, Cr 3455 and Mel 243. The nebula at top right is the Northern Lagoon Nebula, aka the Brain Nebula, Dreyer’s Object, NGC 7538, Sh-2 158, LBN 542 and Ced 209. And all these catalogues are getting ridiculous!

Here’s the Bubble, zoomed in:

Details:
Target: C 11 (NGC 7635), Bubble Nebula
Time: 2026-07-10 01:09..03:03
Equipment: Dwarf Mini, Duo-Band filter; perfect EQ mode
Integration: 1hr 37mins (195×30secs, +2 failures), gain 60
Conditions: Clear, Bortle 6
Processing: PhotoDesk equalisation, gamma

My second target was the Wizard Nebula, so-called because it apparently resembles a wizard in a pointy hat. Really? Perhaps more exposures will clarify things.

This is in Cepheus, actually fairly close to the the Bubble Nebula, and is also known as (deep breath): Harry Potter and the Golden Snitch, NGC 7380, Sh2-142, LBN 511, Cr 452 and Ced 206.

Details:
Target: NGC 7380 (Sh2-142), Wizard Nebula
Time: 2026-07-09 23:06..00:53
Equipment: Dwarf Mini, Duo-Band filter; perfect EQ mode
Integration: 1hr 29mins (178×30secs, +4 failures), gain 60
Conditions: Clear, Bortle 6
Processing: PhotoDesk equalisation, gamma

And so to bed…