Image of the day 09/06/2013

    NGC 6888, Metsavainio

    Equipment

    Loading...

    Acquisition details

    Loading...

    Description

    Natural color composition from the emission of ionized elements, R=80%Hydrogen+20%Sulfur, G=100%Oxygen and B=85%Oxygen+15%Hydrogen to compensate otherwise missing H-beta emission. This composition is very close to a visual spectrum.

    The Crescent Nebula, also known as NGC 6888, Caldwell 27 and Sharpless 105, is an emission nebula in constellation Cygnus, about 5000 light years distance.

    It is formed by the fast stellar wind from the Wolf-Rayet star, WR 136 (HD 192163), colliding to an slower moving wind ejected by the same star when it became a red giant, around 400.000 years ago.

    The result of the collision is a glowing shock shell around the star. Apparent size of the shell is 18' x 12' and the real size is about 25 x 16 light years.

    Comments

    Revisions

      NGC 6888, Metsavainio
      Original
      NGC 6888, Metsavainio
      B
    • Final
      NGC 6888, Metsavainio
      C

    Histogram

    NGC 6888, Metsavainio