When to photograph NGC 7380 (Wizard Nebula)
NGC 7380, the Wizard Nebula, is a cluster with nebula in Cepheus, 25′ x 20′ across at magnitude 7.2.
When to photograph it
From 45° N the best months are September to November, with up to 9.3 hours of astronomical darkness above 30° in October. It reaches 77° 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 25′. It fills 35 to 80% of the short side of an APS-C sensor at about 750 to 1720 mm, and of a full-frame sensor at about 1160 to 2640 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 7380's altitude through tonight, its transit time and its distance from the moon. For sub length, use the exposure calculator.
Nearby targets
- C 9 Cave Nebula 4.6° away
- NGC 7635 Bubble Nebula 5.2° away
- M 52 5.8° away
- IC 1396 Elephant's Trunk Nebula 9.1° away
- NGC 7243 9.5° away
- NGC 7129 10.9° away
Gear that suits NGC 7380
NGC 7380 is 25′ 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.
- Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED 840 mm f/7: fills 39% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific
- Sky-Watcher Quattro 200P 800 mm f/4: fills 37% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific
- Sky-Watcher 130PDS 650 mm f/5: fills 30% 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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