-16 x 360 sec subs, iso 3200, AstroDuo filter
-16 x 300 sec subs, iso 1600, Astronomik L3 filter
-3 x 300 sec subs, iso 200, Astronomik L3 filter for star colors
-40 dark and 40 bias frames
-processed as OHH+OSC (stars)
Software: PHD2, DSS, XnView, StarNet++, StarTools v 1.3 and 1.7

IC 1396 Cepheus (Elephant's Trunk Nebula) + HIP 107259 (The Garnet Star)

IC 1396 is a very large hydrogen emission and molecular cloud region subtending an angle of 90 arcmin, located in the constellation of Cepheus at the distance of 2000-3000 LY. It contains Herschel's Garnet Star at the NE end, and the well known Elephant's Trunk Nebula at the W end. The nebula is partially ionized and excited to emit visible light by the powerful ultraviolet radiation from the central blue star complex HD 206267 (HIP106886). This star is about 20 times larger than the Sun, lies at the distance of approximately 1200 LY, and has an apparent magnitude of 5.7. The region is an extensive stellar nursery scattered with high density gas globules where gravitational collapse is leading to a new generation of protostars.

Mu Cephei, HIP 107259, referred to as the "Garnet Star" by Herschel in 1783, is thought to be the largest star visible to the naked eye. It is a red supergiant, spectral class M2 Ia, 15 times more massive than the Sun, but 1650 times larger in diameter. It completed hydrogen to helium fusion, and is presently fusing helium into carbon. If the star were placed into the Solar System, its surface would extend between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn. The star is known to be variable with an apparent magnitude range 3.4 - 5.1, and a period around 2.5 years. In the relatively near future, when its nuclear fuel runs out, the star will suffer gravitational collapse resulting in a massive supernova explosion. Depending on the method used, distance estimates for the Garnet Star vary widely between 1,200 and 32,000 LY. The "maximum likelihood estimate" for the distance is given by Famaey et al as 1,870 ± 323 LY.