IC 1396 is a vast emission nebula and active star-forming region located approximately 2,400 light-years away in the constellation Cepheus. Spanning an area of the night sky more than three times the diameter of the full moon, this massive complex consists of glowing ionized gas intertwined with dense dark dust filaments.
At the heart of the nebula lies HD 206267, a massive star system whose intense ultraviolet radiation energizes the surrounding hydrogen gas, causing it to emit its characteristic red glow. Powerful stellar winds from these central stars carve out giant cavities within the cloud and sculpt surrounding interstellar dust. The most famous of these dense, eroded columns is the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula (vdB 142), an active site where new protostars are currently forming.
Due to its dramatic contrast between radiant gas clouds and dark dust lanes, IC 1396 is a favorite target for deep-sky astrophotography—particularly when captured using narrowband filters in SHO or HOO palettes.
First Sessions from April – Juli 2026
shot on the ASKAR SQA55 and the ASI 2600 MC Pro
Elephant Trunk
by Patrick Papesch
Published: Jul 24, 2026
Total integration: 33h 43m
Integration per filter:
- Multiband: 33h 25m
- No filter: 18m (18 × 60s)
Equipment:
- Telescope: Askar SQA55
- Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
- Mount: ZWO AM5N
- Filters: Antlia ALP-T Dual Band 3nm SII&OIII, Optolong L-Ultimate 2″
- Accessory: ZWO ASIAIR Plus
- Software: Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight
For more information, visit AstroBin:
https://app.astrobin.com/i/sov5q5
Second Session in August 2026
which has been the first light for my new ASKAR 111F.
IC 1396 – First Light AKSAR 111F
by Patrick Papesch
Published: Aug 10, 2026
Total integration: 10h
Integration per filter:
- Multiband: 9h 50m (118 × 300s)
- No filter: 10m (20 × 30s)
Equipment:
- Telescope: Askar 111F Flat-Field Refractor
- Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
- Mount: ZWO AM5N
- Filters: Antlia ALP-T Dual Band 3nm SII&OIII, Optolong L-Ultimate 2″, SVBony UV/IR Cut 2″
- Accessory: ZWO ASIAIR Plus
- Software: Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight
For more information, visit AstroBin:
https://app.astrobin.com/i/8rid0z
Third Session – October 2026
While waiting for the California Nebula to be high enough in the sky i did another run. This time with the ASKAR 111F and its 0.74x reducer. So three different FoVs so far:)
yet another Trunk – IC1396
by Patrick Papesch
Published: Oct 19, 2026
Total integration: 5h 20m
Integration per filter:
- Multiband: 5h 20m
Equipment:
- Telescope: Askar 111F Flat-Field Refractor
- Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
- Mount: ZWO AM5N
- Filters: Antlia ALP-T Dual Band 3nm SII&OIII, Optolong L-Quad Enhance 2″, Optolong L-Ultimate 2″
- Accessory: ZWO ASIAIR Plus
- Software: Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight
For more information, visit AstroBin:
https://app.astrobin.com/i/s8jgp5