Characteristics:
Magnitude:  Roughly magnitude 5.0
Size: about 80'
Distance: 1470 light years
RA: 20h 56m 34s
Dec: 31 degrees 43' 54"

Description:
The Eastern Veil (NGC 6992) is a supernova remnant that is part of a larger complex that includes the Western Veil (NGC 6960).  It is estimated that the supernova explosion occured about 10,000 years ago, before the age of recorded history.  The star that gave rise to this supernova remnant is no longer visible, but it must have been massive.  During a star's life, nuclear fusion produces elements such as oxygen, silicon, carbon, and iron.  These elements are expelled into space during supernova explosions, later to become part of other stars, planets, and lifeforms like ourselves.  The Eastern Veil is the brightest component of the Veil Complex and contains several subdivisions.  Although relatively faint, the Veil Complex is a stunning view at dark sites using large aperture scopes, especially with the use of an OIII filter.  Please click here for a widefield view of this region.

Photographic Details for Ha image:
Date:  June 8, 2005
Scope:  Takahashi FS-102 at f6 with TOA-130 focal reducer, on the G11 Losmandy Mount. 
Autoguider:  SBIG STV with e-finder.
Camera:  Maxcam CM10 (Finger Lakes Instruments).
Filters:  Astrodon 6nm bandpass Ha filter.
Exposures:  12 x 10' each Ha.  Total Ha exposure duration 2 hours.  Color data from Cord Scholz are comprised of RGB at 30:30:45 minutes, respectively.
Conditions:  Temperature 80 degrees F dropping to 65 degrees at end of session (I needed to refocus every 30 minutes); below average transparency; humid; poor seeing; intermittent breeze.  Imaging performed at -20 degrees C throughout.
Post-processing:  Calibrated subs were debloomed with Ron Wodaski's Debloomer software, and then aligned in Registar.   Sigma combined using RC Sigma Reject MaximDL, followed by DDP in ImagesPlus (IP).  Subsequent levels and curves adjustments in Photoshop CS (16 bit format).  I combined my Ha image as a luminance channel with the color data (aligned with Registar) using routine techniques in PS.  I'm impressed with the richness of Cord's color data, and with the small stars in my luminance data (through the use of the AstroDon 6nm bandpass Ha filter).  A sharp eye will notice that the lower right hand corner of the image lacks color, since this region was not covered by the RGB data.