Date: 9/22//2012
Description: IC 5146 (also Caldwell 19, Sh 2-125, and the Cocoon Nebula) is a reflection/emission nebula and Caldwell object in the constellation Cygnus. The NGC description refers to IC 5146 as a cluster of 9.5 mag stars involved in a bright and dark nebula. The cluster is also known as Collinder 470. It is located near the naked-eye star Pi Cygni. When viewing IC 5146, dark nebula Barnard 168 (B168) is an inseparable part of the experience, forming a dark lane that surrounds the cluster and projects westward forming the appearance of a trail behind the Cocoon.
Sky Conditions:
Clear sky, urban light pollution, half moon
FWHM: 2.5 - 3.0 arc sec/pixel
Imaging:
Exposure: 210 min (RGB, 3x7 x10min) at 2x2 bin using RGB Filters
Guiding: 10 sec at 2x2 bin using NOAG
Equipment:
SBIG STF8300M CCD
AT10RC at F8
Starlight Focuser
NOAG w/SBIG ST-i guide camera
AP1200 mount
SW:
Maxim DL V5, FocusMax, CCD-autopilot V4, Robofocus, AP ASCOM V2, SkyX, Photoshop CS4 (using Astro-Tools deep space noise reduction) - no noise reduction and no sharpening, calibration with only darks and bias