When to photograph NGC 1333 (Embryo Nebula)
NGC 1333, the Embryo Nebula, is a cluster with nebula in Perseus, 20′ across at magnitude 10.9.
When to photograph it
From 45° N the best months are November and December, with up to 10.2 hours of astronomical darkness above 30° in November. It reaches 76° at its highest.
From 35° S it never climbs above 30°. It peaks at 24° when it crosses the meridian, low enough that haze and light pollution soften it. It is possible with a clear northern horizon, but hard.
Framing
Its long axis is 20′. It fills 35 to 80% of the short side of an APS-C sensor at about 960 to 2200 mm, and of a full-frame sensor at about 1480 to 3380 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 NGC 1333's altitude through tonight, its transit time and its distance from the moon. For sub length, use the exposure calculator.
Nearby targets
- M 45 Pleiades 8.3° away
- NGC 1499 California Nebula 8.7° away
- NGC 1275 Perseus A 10.3° away
- NGC 925 13.2° away
- NGC 1579 Northern Trifid Nebula 13.4° away
- M 34 14.7° away
Gear that suits NGC 1333
NGC 1333 is 20′ 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 74% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific
- Celestron EdgeHD 8 OTA 2032 mm f/10: fills 74% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific
- Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED 840 mm f/7: fills 31% 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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