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NGC6888 The Crescent Nebula Crop, Terry Hancock

NGC6888 The Crescent Nebula Crop

NGC6888 The Crescent Nebula Crop, Terry Hancock

NGC6888 The Crescent Nebula Crop

Description

The Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888) is an emission nebula in the Cygnus constellation, about 5000 light years away. It was formed by the fast stellar wind from the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136 (HD 192163) colliding with and energizing the slower moving wind ejected by the star when it became a red giant around 400,000 years ago. The result of the collision is a shell and two shock waves, one moving outward and one moving inward. The inward moving shock wave heats the stellar wind to X-ray emitting temperatures.

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NGC6888 The Crescent Nebula Crop, Terry Hancock