North American Nebula from last night - what a difference a year makes

[Skywatcher]

Sorry if you are beginning to find these tedious - please let me know and I will desist.

About a year ago I got my first pic of this huge nebula



I was really chuffed with it but knew there was so much more detail to grab.

Last night was clear and dark for what seems like ages - was a little hazy with high cloud at times though. Anyway i spent about an hour on this 1 object and I think you will agree there is a bit more detail in this now

[Keith]

just a bit more detail there yeah

Absolutely amazing picture Chris... makes me want to get out there. So this is a massive cloud of dust, gas and plasma which could potentially even form a star at some point? or erm something entirely different

[piglet]

Your pictures are absolutely amazing. Are they really those colours?

[Skywatcher]

Colours are as taken I have not changed them at all and yes keith you are right - nebulas are either Star forming areas in general or caused by stars exploding

[Keith]

I asked about the colours as well, unbelievable arent they!

[Skywatcher]

you will only ever seethe colour by taking a photo though as you use your rod cells to see at night and they don't see colours - the only excepton is the orion nebula which is very bright so you can see it as a greeny tinge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebula

[Keith]

you will only ever seethe colour by taking a photo though as you use your rod cells to see at night and they don't see colours - the only excepton is the orion nebula which is very bright so you can see it as a greeny tinge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebula

AHHHHHHHHHHH ok that explains it