Sh2-101 - The Tulip Nebula

Sh2-101 is a beautiful emission nebula located in the constellation Cygnus, specifically in the region that could be seen as the "neck" of this majestic swan soaring through the northern hemisphere’s summer skies. Its delicate shape, reminiscent of flower petals, has earned it the nickname “The Tulip Nebula.” This nebula is part of a vast and active star-forming region rich in ionized hydrogen (H II region). It lies approximately 6,000 light-years from Earth and spans about 70 light-years across. Its reddish glow is the result of hydrogen atoms being ionized by the intense ultraviolet radiation from nearby young, hot stars. Very close to Sh2-101 is one of the most intriguing objects in our galaxy: Cygnus X-1, a binary system that includes one of the first confirmed candidates for a stellar-mass black hole. The proximity between the nebula and this powerful object makes the region a fascinating cosmic laboratory for studying stellar evolution, interstellar plasma, and the effects of extreme astrophysical phenomena. Without a doubt, the constellation of Cygnus is filled with celestial wonders. Every year, it seems there’s always some new object within the Swan worth capturing and exploring in detail. Image Processed in Pixinsight. Data acquired by Jim and Linda Powell, from the Deep Sky West robotic observatory, between May 02 and June 30, 2020. Equipment: TEC 160FL Telescope (OTA # 30) SBIG STXL-16200 camera Paramount ME II mount Astrodon LRGB Tru-Balance E-Series Gen 2 50mm Filter Set. Accessories: Starizona Microtouch Autofocuser, Feathertouch Motorized Focuser, SBIG filter wheel STXL-FW8G, Drew buster controler. Data: H-Alpha: 26x1800 "-20C bin 1x1 OIII: 20x1800 "-20C bin 1x1 Blue: 13x900 "-20C bin 1x1 Green: 13x900 "-20C bin 1x1 Red: 15x900 "-20C bin 1x1 Total integration time: 33.2 hours.