Click on the image for a higher-resolution version.

Object Type: Open cluster, reflection nebula
Constellation: Cepheus
Magnitude: 7
Size: 18'

Commonly called the Iris Nebula, NGC 7023 consists of a star cluster imbedded in a blue reflection nebula, which itself is surrounded by a dark nebula.

Equipment: Meade 14" LX200R/STL-11000M/Astrodon RGB filters/Paramount ME
F-ratio: f/9.5
Exposures: LRGB:  L 8 x 7 minutes, binned 2x2: R 8 x 7 minutes: G 8 x 7 minutes: B 8 x 7 minutes: RGB binned 3x3
Date: September 23, 2005
Location: Landers, California, USA
Technical Notes: Individual exposures were obtained using CCDAutoPilot2 and then sigma combined. The RGB image was created in Registar 1.0. Mild color gradients were removed with Russell Croman's GradientXTerminator plug-in for Photoshop. A high-pass filter with a radius of 8 pixels was applied to the bright portions of the luminance image. A copy of the RGB image was recombined with the original using Soft Light to enhance color.