A Sorcerer of Gas and Dust
NGC 7380 is a young open cluster discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1787. The surrounding nebula, Sh2-142, is sculpted by the energetic winds and radiation from the massive stars within the cluster. The 'Wizard' shape is formed by the interplay of glowing hydrogen gas and cold, dark dust clouds that act as silhouettes. The 'hands' and 'face' of the wizard are actually towering pillars of gas where new stars are currently being forged. This region is a part of the Cepheus OB1 association, a massive complex of hot, young stars.
Imaging Challenges
- • Contrast Management: The dark dust lanes that form the 'profile' of the wizard require careful stretching to avoid losing detail in the shadows.
- • Color Grading: This is a classic SHO target; the challenge lies in balancing the golden Sulfur and the cyan Oxygen without making the stars look magenta.
- • Star Density: Located in a rich Milky Way field, the stars can easily distract from the delicate nebulosity.
The 'Wizard' is roughly 110 light-years across, meaning if you were at one end, it would take over a century for your light signal to reach the other side.