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"The sky is the ultimate art gallery just above us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 82)
Astrophotography by Jason Jennings

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Nebulae :: NGC2359


NGC2359

 

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         Object NGC2359 - Thor's Helmet
         Comment NGC2359 is a remarkable emission nebula located in the constellation Canis Major. It is powered by a hot Wolf-Rayet star (HD 56925) that is shedding stellar material. The extremely strong stellar winds that flow outward from the star interact with previously expelled gas and dust providing a bubble-like feature rich in doubly ionised oxygen. The complex structure surrounding the bubble has formed by the ongoing interaction of ejected material and the interstellar medium. Given the nebula's intriguing shape that resembles a Viking warrior's head gear, it is more commonly known as Thor's Helmet. The nebula is located approximately 15,000 light-years away.

Image is a [Ha+L]RGB composite with HA and OIII clipping masks
         Optics Modified ASA N16 Astrograph F/3.5 (1420mm FL)
         Camera Apogee Aspen CG16070 - 1x1 bin (image scale: 1.07 arcsec/pix)
         Mount Software Bisque Paramount ME
         Exposure Total exposure time: 13.5 hours
         Date March 2016

 

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