When to photograph IC 1848 (Soul Nebula)
IC 1848, the Soul Nebula, is a cluster with nebula in Cassiopeia, 150′ x 75′ across at magnitude 6.5.
When to photograph it
From 45° N the best months are October to December, with up to 11.0 hours of astronomical darkness above 30° in November. It reaches 75° 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 150′. It fills 35 to 80% of the short side of an APS-C sensor at about 120 to 290 mm, and of a full-frame sensor at about 190 to 440 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 1848's altitude through tonight, its transit time and its distance from the moon. For sub length, use the exposure calculator.
Nearby targets
- IC 1805 Heart Nebula 2.5° away
- IC 1795 Fish Head Nebula 3.4° away
- NGC 896 3.5° away
- C 14 Double Cluster 5.1° away
- NGC 663 7.9° away
- M 103 9.5° away
Gear that suits IC 1848
IC 1848 is 150′ 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.
- Samyang 135mm f/2 135 mm f/2: fills 38% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific
- William Optics RedCat 51 250 mm f/4.9: fills 70% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific
- William Optics RedCat 61 300 mm f/4.9: fills 84% 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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