Rho Ophiuchus Nebula Complex in Ophiuchus

This is my second attempt at this complex, this time with the camera cooled.

This is one of my favorite areas of the night sky seek in the summer time near the Milky Way. The bright star in the picture is Antaras. It is many times larger than our sun.

This complex features all the best of the night sky. You can see the blue area, a reflection nebula. The red area around the lower star is an emission nebula and the dark wispy clouds are dark nebulae. You see them because the light from around and behind them is being blocked by the clouds of dust. There is also a nice globular star cluster in the shot (M4).

Image Info:

Shot the night of 8.14.2010
Location: Southern UT
Camera: Canon XSi Baader Modified @ 27deg F
Lens: Nikkor ED 180mm F2.8 @ F4
Mount: Orion Atlas, (EQMOD)
Images: 14 lights @ 300sec ISO 800 & 2 Darks