# Deep-sky Objects

# Cygnus Loop

[![IMG_0096.jpeg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0096.jpeg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0096.jpeg)

> **My best photo (mosaic) of the Cygnus Loop -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/199579/deep_sky/ngc-6960/veil-nebula-mosaic/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 28/Aug/2024  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 202x2min Lights, 20x2min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 800  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

### **Description**

The Cygnus Loop (radio source W78, or Sharpless 103) is a large supernova remnant (SNR) in the constellation Cygnus, an emission nebula measuring nearly 3° across. Some arcs of the loop, known collectively as the Veil Nebula or Cirrus Nebula, emit in the visible electromagnetic range. Radio, infrared, and X-ray images reveal the complete loop.

<p class="callout info">[Find more information about the Cygnus Loop on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cygnus_Loop)</p>

---

### **Personal Stats**

#### **First observation**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%F0%9F%93%86-12%2F01%2F2013-%F0%9F%93%8D-los-a" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 50%; border-width: 1px; height: 58px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 21.2346%;"></col><col style="width: 78.5185%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">📆

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">28/08/2022

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px; vertical-align: middle;">📍

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">Canadelo, Portugal

</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### **Imaging sessions**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0datebortle-classtot" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%; height: 87.5px; border-width: 1px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 86px;"></col><col style="width: 244px;"></col><col style="width: 298px;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29.5px;"><td class="align-center" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: none; height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Date</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Bortle Class

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Total Exposure Time

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;">28/8/2024

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Class 3</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 6h44min (202x2min)</span>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

---

**Captured media**

#### **Photographs**

[![IMG_0096.jpeg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0096.jpeg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0096.jpeg)

> **My best photo (mosaic) of the Cygnus Loop -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/199579/deep_sky/ngc-6960/veil-nebula-mosaic/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 28/Aug/2024  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 202x2min Lights, 20x2min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 800  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

[![combined2_crop.jpg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-09/scaled-1680-/combined2-crop.jpg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-09/scaled-1680-/combined1-crop.jpg)

> **My best photo of the East Veil Nebula -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/241592)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 6/Sep/2025  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 10x5min Lights, 3x5min Darks, 15x5s Flats, 15x5s Dark Flats  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Gain**: 126  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Sensor Temperature**: -10ºC  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Guiding**: Yes  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: ZWO ASI294MC Pro  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span>**Filters**<span style="color: rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">: SVBONY SV260 Light pollution filter</span>  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Orion Newtonian 8"/790 mm N 203/790 (0.95x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ6 modified with Onstep </span>

# Pacman Nebula / NGC281

#### **NGC 281**

[![erRWofJ - Imgur.jpg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/errwofj-imgur.jpg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/errwofj-imgur.jpg)

> **My best photo of the Pacman Nebula -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/240197/deep_sky/ic-11/ngc281/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 26/Aug/2025  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 10x5min Lights, 3x5min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Gain**: 105 (doh!)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Sensor Temperature**: -10ºC  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Guiding**: Yes  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: ZWO ASI294MC Pro  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span>**Filters**<span style="color: rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">: SVBONY SV260 Light pollution filter</span>  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

### **Description**

NGC 281, IC 11 or Sh2-184 is a bright emission nebula and part of an H II region in the northern constellation of Cassiopeia and is part of the Milky Way's Perseus Spiral Arm. This 20×30 arcmin sized nebulosity is also associated with open cluster IC 1590, several Bok globules and the multiple star, B 1. It collectively forms Sh2-184,\[3\] spanning over a larger area of 40 arcmin.\[4\] A recent distance from radio parallaxes of water masers at 22 GHz made during 2014 is estimated it lies 2.82±0.20 kpc (9200 ly) from us.\[5\] Colloquially, NGC 281 is also known as the Pacman Nebula for its resemblance to the video game character.

<p class="callout info">[Find more information about the Pacman Nebula on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_281)</p>

---

### **Personal Stats**

#### **First observation**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%F0%9F%93%86-12%2F01%2F2013-%F0%9F%93%8D-los-a" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 50%; border-width: 1px; height: 58px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 21.2346%;"></col><col style="width: 78.5185%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">📆

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">26/08/2025

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px; vertical-align: middle;">📍

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">Fontão Fundeiro, Portugal

</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### **Imaging sessions**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0datebortle-classtot" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%; height: 87.5px; border-width: 1px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 86px;"></col><col style="width: 244px;"></col><col style="width: 298px;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29.5px;"><td class="align-center" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: none; height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Date</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Bortle Class

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Total Exposure Time

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;">26/8/2025

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Class 4</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 50min (10x5min)</span>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

---

**Captured media**

#### **Photographs**

[![erRWofJ - Imgur.jpg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/errwofj-imgur.jpg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/errwofj-imgur.jpg)

> **My best photo of the Pacman Nebula -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/240197/deep_sky/ic-11/ngc281/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 26/Aug/2025  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 10x5min Lights, 3x5min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Gain**: 105 (doh!)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Sensor Temperature**: -10ºC  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Guiding**: Yes  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: ZWO ASI294MC Pro  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span>**Filters**<span style="color: rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">: SVBONY SV260 Light pollution filter</span>  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

# North-America Nebula / NGC 7000

#### **NGC 7000**

[![IMG_0101.jpeg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0101.jpeg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0101.jpeg)

> **My best photo of the North America Nebula -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/230657/deep_sky/ngc-6997/ngc7000-quick-test/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_object_search_in_description=false&gallery_object_types=&gallery_filter_type_ids=&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 7/Jun/2025  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 27x1min Lights, 10x1min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 3200  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Guiding: Yes</span>  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Filters**: SVBONY SV206 Light pollution filter  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Orion Newtonian 8"/790 mm N 203/790  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**: Equatorial Sky-Watcher EQ6 (Upgraded with OnStep)

### **Description**

The North America Nebula (NGC 7000 or Caldwell 20) is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, close to Deneb (the tail of the swan and its brightest star) in the night sky. It is named because its shape resembles North America.

<p class="callout info">[Find more information about the North America Nebula on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America_Nebula)</p>

---

### **Personal Stats**

#### **First observation**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%F0%9F%93%86-12%2F01%2F2013-%F0%9F%93%8D-los-a" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 50%; border-width: 1px; height: 58px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 21.2346%;"></col><col style="width: 78.5185%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">📆

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">16/08/2022

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px; vertical-align: middle;">📍

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">Santa Cruz, Portugal

</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### **Imaging sessions**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0datebortle-classtot" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%; height: 87.5px; border-width: 1px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 86px;"></col><col style="width: 244px;"></col><col style="width: 298px;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29.5px;"><td class="align-center" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: none; height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Date</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Bortle Class

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Total Exposure Time

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;">16/8/2022

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Class 5</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 50min (50x1min)</span>

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;">7/6/2023

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Class 5</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 27min (27x1min)</span>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

---

**Captured media**

#### **Photographs**

[![IMG_0101.jpeg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0101.jpeg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0101.jpeg)

> **My best photo of the North America Nebula -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/230657/deep_sky/ngc-6997/ngc7000-quick-test/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_object_search_in_description=false&gallery_object_types=&gallery_filter_type_ids=&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 7/Jun/2025  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 27x1min Lights, 10x1min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 3200  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Guiding**: Yes  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Filters**: SVBONY SV206 Light pollution filter  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Orion Newtonian 8"/790 mm N 203/790  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**: Equatorial Sky-Watcher EQ6 (Upgraded with OnStep)

[![IMG_0102.jpeg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0102.jpeg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0102.jpeg)

> **My first photo of the North America Nebula (reprocessed) -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/230657/deep_sky/ngc-6997/ngc7000-quick-test/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_object_search_in_description=false&gallery_object_types=&gallery_filter_type_ids=&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 16/Aug/2025  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 50x1min Lights  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 3200  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Guiding**: Yes  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Lens**: Pentax Lens 200 mm Super Takumar 200mm  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**: Unknown EQ2 (Modified with OpenAstroMount)