Sh2 86 NEBULA on  2024-09-28,29,30 & 10-1,2

Sh2 86 is a large, faint emission nebula. Embedded within Sh2 86 is the open star cluster NGC 6823 and a small reflection nebula NGC 6920. The trunk-like pillar (near the center of my photo) is inside NGC 6920 and is the most striking feature of the nebula. The center of the star cluster NGC 6823 is about two million years old and is predominantly represented by many young, bright blue stars. The star cluster is about 50 light years across and lies about 6000 light years away.

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This photo was taken in Kyle, Texas, under Bortle 5.9 skies, through a 4.5-inch f/4 Telescope, on a ZWO AM5 Mount, with a ZWO ASI533MC PRO color camera, plus a dual-band H-Alpha & O-III Filter. The processing was done in PixInsight. The total image acquisition time is: 11 hrs 16 min 00 sec.