Object Type: Emission nebula, open cluster
Constellation: Cassiopeia
Magnitude: 7.4
Size: 35' x 35'

Called by some observers the "Pac Man Nebula," the nebulosity in NGC 281 is large but of low surface brightness, which makes it difficult to discern detail when viewed without a filter. With a narrowband or O-III filter, the nebula and its structure become much more apparent.

Equipment: ST-10XME/Vixen 102-ED/G-11
F-ratio: f/6.5
Exposures: RRGB: R 8 x 10 minutes: G 8 x 2.5 minutes: B 8 x 2.5 minutes: GB binned 2x2
Date: November 6, 2004
Location: Landers, California, USA
Technical Notes: Individual exposures were sigma combined and the RGB image created in Registar 1.0. The brighter portions of the luminance image were sharpened with Unsharp Mask at 100% with a radius of 1 pixel and a threshold of 0, while Gaussian Blur of 1.0 pixel was applied to the dimmer portions. The same Gaussian Blur was applied to the RGB image.