The Iris Nebula
| Contributed by Bernard Miller from Gilbert, Arizona |
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The Iris Nebula (NGC 7023) lies in the constellation Cepheus the King. All reflection nebulae are blue, but the Iris is intensely so. Small particles within the nebula scatter and reflect light with a predominantly blue hue in much the same way that air molecules scatter mainly blue light throughout our daytime sky. (5.6-inch Telescope Engineering Company TEC-140 refractor at f/7, SBIG ST-8300M CCD camera, LRGB image with exposures of 2, 1, 1, and 1 hour, respectively, taken remotely from the Rancho Hidalgo Astronomy and Equestrian Village near Animas, New Mexico)
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