Flower Bud Nebula
NGC 7129 is a reflection nebula surrounded by a young open star cluster, located approximately 3,300 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cepheus. Its distinctive blue glow comes from starlight scattered by surrounding interstellar dust, while reddish emission features and dark dust clouds add complexity to the region. The nebula is a site of active star formation, containing young stars that interact with their surroundings through powerful stellar winds and outflows. The wider field also includes the nearby open star cluster NGC 7142, visible among the dense background of stars. Together, these objects create a rich and intricate deep-sky scene.
OBJECT INFORMATION
| Name/Designation | Flower Bud Nebula / NGC 7129 (LBN 497) |
| Object Type | Reflection Nebula / Open Star Cluster |
| Constellation | Cepheus |
| Distance | ~3,300 light-years |
| Apparent Magnitude | ~11.5 |
| Angular Size | ~7′ × 7′ |
IMAGING
| Date | July/August, 2026 |
| Location | Aegina, Greece |
| Frames | 1825 × 60″ exposures |
| Integration | 30h 25m |
| Camera Settings | Gain 101 | Temperature: 0°C |
| Bortle Scale | 4/5 (Rural sky) |
EQUIPMENT
| Telescope | Sky-Watcher Explorer 130PDS |
| Camera | ZWO ASI533MC Pro |
| Mount | Sky-Watcher EQ5 Pro |
| Filter | Baader UV/IR Cut Luminance |
| Accessory | Baader 2″ MPCC Mark III |
| Guide Scope | Artesky 32mm Mini |
| Guide Camera | ZWO ASI120MM Mini |
SOFTWARE
| Acquisition | Astro Photography Tool |
| Guiding | PHD2 Guiding |
| Processing | PixInsight |
| Plugins | RC Astro |