Tag: Prawn Nebula

Cat’s Paw and Prawn Nebulae

The Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334) is a bright emission nebula located in the constellation Scorpius (up right). Its distinctive shape resembles a cat’s paw, with regions of glowing gas and dark dust lanes. This star-forming region is rich in massive, young stars, and its reddish color comes from the ionization of hydrogen gas by intense ultraviolet radiation from these stars.

The Prawn Nebula (IC 4628), also in Scorpius (bottom left), is another emission nebula and star-forming region. It is often overlooked due to its faintness but is a beautiful expanse of glowing gas and dust, with an orange or pinkish hue in images. The nebula is lit by nearby hot, young stars and spans about 250 light-years, making it a large but relatively faint target for observers.

Both nebulae are stunning examples of stellar nurseries, offering insights into star formation and cosmic evolution.

TelescopeAskar ACL 200 F4
Aperture50 mm
Focal length200 mm
MountiOptron HEM15
AutoguidingZWO ASI485MC, QHY Mini Guide Scope
CameraZWO 6200MC @0°C
Filtersnone
Exposure77x300s, Gain 100, bin 1×1,
Date2024-10-03

IC 4628 Prawn Nebula

IC 4628, also called Prawn Nebula is an HII region in the constellation Scorpius. Due to very low southern declination, it is poorly visible even from southern Europe. The southern hemisphere is obviously a better place to observe/photograph this deep-space object for example in Namibia, where this beautiful nebula rises very high in the sky. The open cluster on the left side is called the Northern Juwel box cluster.

TelescopeSharpstar 94EDPH
Aperture94 mm
Focal length414 mm
MountRainbow Astro RST 135
AutoguidingZWO 174MM, QHY Mini Guide Scope
CameraZWO 2600MM @-10°C
CorrectorF4.4 Quad Reducer
FiltersAntlia Ha, OIII, SII 3 nm
Exposure39x300s, Gain 100, bin 1x1,
Date2022-05-31