| "The sky is the ultimate art gallery just above us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 82) |
Astrophotography by Jason Jennings |
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| Nebulae :: RCW120 | |
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| Resolutions Available: 860x825 : 1434x1375 : 2048x1964 | |
| Object | RCW120 - Dollar Sign Nebula |
| Comment |
RCW120 (aka Sh 2-3, Gum 58) is a HII emission nebula residing in the constellation Scorpius. The nebula is an expanding star forming cloud of ionised gas powered by a central star. The star's radiation interacts with the surrounding dust and gas, increasing the density of matter in new locations, triggering a fresh round of star birth. RCW120 is around ten light-years across, is located approximately 4,300 light-years away. At a glance the nebula's structure resembles a financial dollar sign, perhaps a more fitting name is the Dollar Sign Nebula. The image is a [Ha+R]GB composite. To see the surrounds of RCW120, a wide field version can be viewed here. |
| Optics | RCOS 12.5" F/9 (2874mm FL) |
| Camera | Apogee Alta F16M - 1x1 bin (image scale: .65 arcsec/pix) |
| Mount | Software Bisque Paramount ME |
| Exposure | Total exposure time: 15 hours |
| Date | July 2013 |