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MWP1 and ALV1_wider field, James E.
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MWP1 and ALV1_wider field

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MWP1 and ALV1_wider field, James E.
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MWP1 and ALV1_wider field

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Part 3 of 3:

I've completed an imaging project of both MWP1 and ALV1.  In the wider view containing both MWP1 and ALV1, the field contains interesting clouds of Ha and OIII as well as interesting bands of OIII. 

-- Standalone image of MWP1 can be found here:  https://astrob.in/k16myj/0/

-- Standalone image of ALV1 can be found here:  https://astrob.in/u8d9iz/0/

MWP1 (discovered by C. Motch, K. Werner and M. Pakull in 1993) is an ancient, bipolar planetary nebula in Cygnus at a distance of 4500 light years. MWP1 is one of the largest known planetary nebulae with a diameter of about 15 light years and an estimated age of 150,000 years. Typically, planetary nebula will disperse below detection in about 10000 to 20000 years making it a challenge for scientists studying MWP1's evolutionary history.  Various theories exist as to why this nebula is still visible today. The bipolar structure may suggest that there is a close binary central star or one that has a significant magnetic field. The central star, RX J2117.1+3412, is also a pulsating GW Vir star [a type of pulsating white dwarf with a very short period - on the order of a few minutes to just over one hour - whose luminosity varies due to non-radial gravity wave pulsations within itself].  (Tweedy, RW and Kwitter, KB, “An Atlas of Ancient Planetary Nebula and Their Interaction with the Interstellar Medium,” J. Astrophys. Supp. V107, p 2556 (1996).  (Ref: Astrodon Imaging, MWP1).  MWP1 is sometimes called the Methuselah Nebula because of its age.

ALV1 (discovered by Portuguese amateur Filipe Alves in 2009) is a faint planetary nebula [candidate].  Some info on this nebula can be found in the paper "Discovery of New Faint Northern Galactic Planetary Nebulae" written by A. Acker, et al in 2012.  ALV1 was discovered while imaging the binary planetary nebula MWP1 (C. Motch, K. Werner and M. Pakull).  While not much is revealed about ALV1, the paper discusses "a very blue star of B ∼ 18.2 is found approximately 12′′ away from the geometrical centre of the nebula and could possibly be the central star of this object, thereby increasing the possibility of it being a PN. We note that it is not unusual to find a slightly offset central star: this could be related to ISM [interstellar medium]-wind interaction, high proper motion of the central star, the presence of a binary system at the centre, or simply some asymmetry of the nebula itself."  Interesting side note:  this paper also announced the discovery of objects Ou1 through Ou4 (the Squid Nebula) by French imager Nicolas Outters in 2011.

Although these are faint nebula, both MWP1 and ALV1 are generally of equal relative "brightness" in Ha and OIII.  Some SII data was collected, but only showed faintly among the Ha cloud in the wider field.

Imaged over several nights:  Aug 10, 30; Sep 1, 4, 9, and 19, 2022.

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    MWP1 and ALV1_wider field, James E.
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MWP1 and ALV1_wider field, James E.