NGC 6888, Crescent nebula in hα, jst

NGC 6888, Crescent nebula in hα

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Description

Conditions: Bright, hazy sky; brumous

NGC 6888 object data

Size: 18 x 13'

Brightness: 10 mag

Distance: 4.700 light years

The Crescent nebula was discovered by William Herschel on September 15th, 1792. Herschel classified this object as No. 72 in his object list of planetary nebulae. From his observing log it is obvious that he could only observe the brighter nothern part of the Crescent nebula.

The Crescent nebula is located in the constellation Cygnus. NGC 6888 lies about 2.5 degrees southwest of γ Cygni. Although it looks like a supernova remnant such as the Veil or the Jellyfish nebula, it is an emission nebula surrounding a Wolf-Rayet star. The Crescent nebula is illuminated by the 7.4 mag bright Wolf-Rayet star WR 136 (HD 192163) which can be seen in the middle of the nebula.

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NGC 6888, Crescent nebula in hα, jst