When to photograph IC 1396 (Elephant's Trunk Nebula)
IC 1396, the Elephant's Trunk Nebula, is a cluster with nebula in Cepheus, 14′ x 4′ across.
When to photograph it
From 45° N the best months are September to November, with up to 8.2 hours of astronomical darkness above 30° in October. It reaches 78° at its highest. It never sets from this latitude, so some imaging is possible all year.
From 35° S it never rises.
Framing
Its long axis is 14′. It fills 35 to 80% of the short side of an APS-C sensor at about 1340 to 3060 mm, and of a full-frame sensor at about 2060 to 4710 mm.
Filters and the moon
It glows in H-alpha, and often OIII, so a dual-band filter on a color camera or narrowband filters on a mono camera cut light pollution and keep it workable with the moon up. The dark sky calendar shows which nights this month are moon-free where you are.
Plan it for tonight
Dates and times depend on your exact location. The imaging planner shows IC 1396's altitude through tonight, its transit time and its distance from the moon. For sub length, use the exposure calculator.
Nearby targets
- NGC 7129 8.6° away
- NGC 6946 Fireworks Galaxy 8.7° away
- NGC 7380 Wizard Nebula 9.1° away
- M 39 9.1° away
- NGC 7243 9.3° away
- IC 5146 Cocoon Nebula 10.5° away
Gear that suits IC 1396
IC 1396 is 14′ along its long axis. These frame it on an APS-C sensor with room to crop. It shines in H-alpha and OIII, so a dual-band filter on a color camera cuts through light pollution and moonlight.
- Celestron C8 OTA 2032 mm f/10: fills 53% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific
- Celestron EdgeHD 8 OTA 2032 mm f/10: fills 53% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific
- Optolong L-Ultimate 3 nm 3 nm dual-band, Ha, OIII, for color cameras View at High Point Scientific
- Antlia ALP-T 5 nm 5 nm dual-band, Ha, OIII, for color cameras View at High Point Scientific
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