This is one of my most challenging targets so far. The image includes the reflection nebulae VdB 7 and VdB 9 with both a very low surface brightness and also several dark nebulae. Vdb 7 (lower right) lies in proximity of RZ Cassiopeiae. The nebula is located just to the left of this star. The illuminating star however is not RZ Cassiopeiae, but a much weaker star, of eleventh magnitude. Regarding VdB 9, its illuminating star is the fifth magnitude SU Cassiopeiae, a white-yellow dwarf Cepheid, at a distance of about 1,400 light-years from Earth. The two dark nebulae are LDN 1357 (left) and LDN 1355 (right) This group of dark nebulas is sometimes knicknamed as ‘The Helping Hand’ or ‘The Cosmic Hand’
LDN 1355, LDN 1357, LBN 643, VdB 7 & VdB 9
Telescope: 16″ f3.75 Dream Scope
Camera: FLI ML16803
Mount: ASA DDM85
Exposure: 13 hours (72x300s L + 3x28x300s RGB)
Date: August – September 2019
Location: Southern Alps, France
Bart Delsaert - Astrophotography 