Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex
Rho Ophiuchi is a complex of interstellar clouds with different types of nebulae between the Ophiuchus and Scorpius constellations. At only 460 light years away, it is one of the closest star-forming regions to the Solar System. There is enough dust and gas material to create the equivalent of 3,000 suns.
Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius, has a yellow diffuse nebula around it. To the naked-eye, these clouds appear redder, which is how the star got its name as the rival to Mars, “Anti-Ares”. There are several globular clusters (NGC6144 & M4) to the right of Antares. The star, Al Niyat, is the bright bluish star in the lower part of the image with red gas wrapping around it. The blue reflection nebula IC4605, is above it toward the upper-middle of the image below. The actual Rho Ophiuchi star, where the cloud complex gets its name, is the blue double star reflection nebula on the far right of the image.
Specifications:
Known As: Rho Ophiuchi
Apparent Size: 6.5° x 4.5°
Distance from Earth: 460 LY
Two Hour Imaging Using a RGB Filters
The image above was taken in the Bortle 4 sky of Australia. This target is too low for my northern latitude, so I rented time on a Australian telescope to capture this widefield object.
EQUIPMENT
Telescope: Takahashi FSQ-106ED
Mount: Paramount MX+
Camera: FLI PL16083
Guiding: Starlight XP Ultrastar
Filters: Astrodon RGB
ACQUISITION
Integration Time: 2 hrs
RGB: 12 x 300″, 6 x 600″
BIN: 1×1
Bortle Scale: 4
CALIBRATION
Darks: 10
Flats: 30
Dark Flats: 30
Offset/Bias: 30
The Ophiuchus Constellation
Ophiuchus (Serpent Bearer) is commonly represented as a man grasping a snake. The snake is represented by the constellation Serpens. It can be found intersecting the celestial equator. Ophiuchus lies between Aquila, Serpens, Scorpius, Sagittarius, and Hercules, northwest of the center of the Milky Way.
Ophiuchus contains several star clusters, such as IC 4665, NGC 6633, M9, M10, M12, M14, M19, M62, and M107, as well nebula IC 4603-4604 and of course, part of the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex.
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*General information regarding constellations, galaxies, nebulae, and planets have been sourced from: AstroBackyard, VisibleDark, Wikipedia, EarthSky, and NASA.