A Deep Narrowband View of the Fish Head Nebula

From the clear skies of the United Arab Emirates, this narrowband image reveals the rich structure of the Fish Head Nebula (IC 1795) an active star-forming region located about 6,000–6,500 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia.

IC 1795 is part of the larger W3–W4–W5 star-forming complex (a group of giant star-forming clouds cataloged by the astronomer Gart Westerhout), one of the most dynamic regions of massive star birth in the Milky Way. The nebula glows in narrowband emissions of hydrogen (Hα), oxygen (OIII), and sulfur (SII), highlighting shock fronts, ionization boundaries, and dark dust structures shaped by intense ultraviolet radiation from young, luminous stars.

This image represents a total integration of 9 hours and 48 minutes, captured through 180-second exposures across the Hα, OIII, and SII channels.

Telescope: Sky-Watcher Quattro 200P
Mount: iOptron HAE43
Camera: ZWO ASI183MM Pro (cooled, 0 °C, Gain 111)
Filters: Narrowband Hα–OIII–SII
Guiding: Svbony 30mm + ZWO ASI290MM
Acquisition Software: ASIAir

Pixinsight and Photoshop