IC 410: The Tadpole Nebula from Bortle 7 Skies

Captured over three nights from my backyard in Davie, Florida, this image of IC 410—commonly known as the Tadpole Nebula—showcases what’s possible even under the bright glow of Bortle 7 skies. With 16 hours of integration time, this final image is presented in an HOO palette, bringing out the nebula’s intricate hydrogen and oxygen structures.

IC 410 is a stunning emission nebula located about 12,000 light-years away in the constellation Auriga. At its heart lies the open star cluster NGC 1893, whose young, energetic stars are shaping the surrounding gas and dust. The "tadpoles" themselves—two dense streamers of gas—are the standout feature, appearing to swim through the cosmic cloud under the influence of stellar winds and radiation.

The conditions for imaging were actually quite cooperative for a suburban setup, but the real challenge came during processing. Wrestling with 16 hours of dual-band Ha/OIII data to bring out both detail and balance the colors in PixInsight wasn’t easy. Extracting subtle details and balancing the noise while keeping the iconic structures intact required extra patience.

Gear Breakdown:

• Mount: ZWO AM5

• Camera: ZWO 2600 Duo OSC

• Filter: Dual-band Ha/OIII

• Integration Time: 16 hours

While this might not be my absolute best work, I’m pretty satisfied with the outcome, especially considering the light pollution. It’s proof that with the right equipment, dedication, and a bit of skill, even a backyard in suburban Florida can reveal the wonders of deep space.

What do you think? Have you taken on IC 410 from your backyard? Let me know in the comments!