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M17 – The Omega (or Swan) Nebula
Nearby in the sky, the Omega Nebula glows as a bright, sweeping arc of ionized gas, its curved shape earning it names such as the Swan, Horseshoe, or Checkmark Nebula. Powered by a cluster of hot, young stars embedded within its core, M17 is one of the brightest and most massive star-forming regions in our galaxy. Dense clouds of gas and dust frame the nebula, while brilliant emission regions reveal where stellar radiation is actively shaping the surrounding material. Located roughly 5,500 light-years from Earth, M17 showcases star formation on a grand and energetic scale.
Technical Details
Telescope: Sky-Watcher Esprit 100ED Refractor
Auto Focus: ZWO Electronic Auto Focuser
Astronomy Camera: ZWO ASI183MC Pro
Filter: Optolong UV-IR cut filter; 240 exposures @ 60 seconds each (4 hours)
Filter: Antlia ALP-T Dual Narrowband Ha/Oiii Filter; 228 exposures @ 5 minutes each (18 hours)
Total Integration Time: 22 hours
Auto Guiding: William Optics Uniguide 50mm Guide Scope
Auto Guiding Camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini Guide Camera
Auto Guiding Software: PHD2
Telescope Mount: Celestron CGX Equatorial Mount
Telescope Computer: BeeLink GK-55 Mini PC / Windows 10 Pro
Wireless Communication: GL-iNEt Beryl Travel Router
Telescope Control & Image Capture Software: Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy (N.I.N.A.)
Image Integration Software: Astro Pixel Process, by Aries Productions
Image Post Processing Software: PixInsight, by Pleiades Astrophoto
Images captured: Palm Springs, CA during September 2022. Dark sky classification = Bright suburban sky (Bortle 6)