Nestled within the constellation Cassiopeia, the Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635).The Bubble Nebula is a product of the dynamic interaction between a massive star, BD+60°2522, and the surrounding molecular cloud. The intense radiation emitted by the star strips away the outer layers of nearby gas, creating a blister-like structure. This stellar wind, composed of high-speed particles, inflates the bubble and sculpts the surrounding nebula. The result is a stunning spherical shell of ionised gas, illuminated by the ultraviolet radiation from the central star. At the heart of the Bubble Nebula resides BD+60°2522, a massive O-type star. With a surface temperature exceeding 30,000 degrees Celsius, this stellar powerhouse emits an immense amount of energy, ionising the surrounding hydrogen gas and sculpting the nebular structure.I took this image over 3 nights at the end of November 2023. It includes around 15 hours of exposures through my Optolong L-Extreme filter and 60mm refractor. The wider field also includes a number of other objects: -
- NGC 7538 - This cosmic nursery is known for hosting a massive young star cluster and features a variety of astronomical objects, including emission nebulae and dense molecular clouds. The complex is situated approximately 9,100 light-years away from Earth
- NGC 7654 / M52 - Also known as the "Salt and Pepper Cluster" or the "Little Dumbbell Nebula," is an open star cluster located in the constellation Andromeda. It is about 2,400 light-years away from Earth.
- 4 Cassiopeiae (4 Cas) is a binary star system located in the constellation Cassiopeia. It consists of two main sequence stars, and it is approximately 54 light-years away from Earth. The primary star is a G-type yellow dwarf similar to our Sun, and the secondary star is a red dwarf.
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