NGC 6823 & 6820

Type:

Open Cluster in the constellation of Vulpecula. The cluster is surrounded by the reflection nebula NGC 6820, and is situated in a bright H II region, known as Sharpless 86 (Sharpless 1959), with associated dark clouds and pillar-like structures.

The center of the open cluster formed only about two million years ago and is dominated in brightness by a host of bright young blue stars (O & B stars). The hydrogen gas of the surrounding region is ionized and heated (up to 10 000K) from the UV radiation of the bright young stars, resulting in a reddish glow of the nebula structures.

The huge pillars of gas and dust likely get their elongated shape by erosion from hot radiation emitted from the brightest cluster stars. (stars removed in the zoomed pictures with the software StarNet++)

In these pillars gas and dust are in the process of creating new stars, while also being eroded by the light from nearby stars that have recently formed.

Distance: ~ 6000 Ly

Visual brightness: 7.1 mag

Date: September 2-nd, 2024

Equipment / Exposure:

Remote Telescope in south of Spain (Takahashi Epsilon 160ed, QHY268M, 10Micron GM1000HPS mount), L(76x120s)+R(53x180s)+G(31x180s)+B(30x180s)

Thanks to M. Olhöft for providing access to the remote telescope and taking the exposures