Staring down the Iris


Michael Telesco from New Canaan, Connecticut

The Iris Nebula (LBN 487) is a reflection nebula 1,300 light-years away in Cepheus lit by the open star cluster NGC 7023 that lies within it. The imager obtained this data for this starless rendition with a 2-inch scope and 6.7 hours of exposure at the 2023 Black Forest Star Party in Cherry Springs State Park under Bortle 2 skies.