vdB 69 is a reflection nebula in the constellation of Monoceros. It is located about 3° west of the star γ Monocerotis, an orange giant of magnitude 3.99 clearly visible even to the naked eye; it can be easily observed with a powerful amateur telescope, in which it shows itself as a light spot with a star in the center, placed in a group of three similar nebulae,of which it occupies the central position. Responsible for its lighting is BD-06 1418, a blue star of spectral class B2.5V, which gives the cloud a markedly bluish color. This star belongs to the monoceros r2 association, anOB association linked to the molecular cloud of the same name, located at about 830 parsecs (2700 lightyears), the center of which is located in the direction of this and other nearby light clouds; Within this nebulae complex, star formation phenomena are known,as evidenced by the presence of several protostars forming part of a young cluster in formation, numerous jets of molecular gas, and discrete sources of infrared radiation and X-rays. The stars of the Mon R2 association were formed about 6 million years ago, when the first cycle of star formation that affected the region took place; it would have been triggered by an expanding superbolla a few hundred parsecs in diameter.

Telescope: ASA N16 f3.6
Mount: Astro Physics 3600GTO “El Capitan”
Camera: SBIG STL-11000M
Guider: SBIG STL-Internal

L: 43×5 mins = 215 mins, R: 12×5 mins = 60 mins, G: 14×5 mins = 70 mins, B: 14×5 mins = 70 mins

Total Imaging Time: 6h 55m

Data Imaged remotely over 5 nights during February & March 2010.
Data acquisition & Processing by David Churchill.

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