Imaging telescopes or lenses: Stellarvue SVX102T-R
Imaging cameras: ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool
Mounts: Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Stellarvue 50mm Guidescope
Guiding cameras: ASI224MC
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5.5 · PHD2 · Sequence Generator Pro · PixInsight · SkySafari Pro
Filters: Astronomik Deep-Sky G · Astronomik Deep-Sky R · Astronomik Deep-Sky B · Astrodon Ha 5nm · Astrodon OIII 3nm
Accessory: QHYCCD PoleMaster · ZWO 8x 1.25" Filter Wheel (EFW) · Hotech 2" SCA Self-Centering Field Flattener · MoonLite CFL 2.5" Large Format Focuser
Dates:Aug. 16, 2020 , Aug. 27, 2020 , Sept. 5, 2020
Frames:
Astrodon Ha 5nm: 700x120" (gain: 200.00) -20C bin 1x1
Astrodon OIII 3nm: 347x120" (gain: 200.00) -20C
Astronomik Deep-Sky B: 30x60" (gain: 0.00) -20C bin 1x1
Astronomik Deep-Sky G: 30x60" (gain: 0.00) -20C
Astronomik Deep-Sky R: 28x60" (gain: 0.00) -20C bin 1x1
Integration: 36.4 hours
Darks: ~50
Flats: ~50
Bias: ~250
Avg. Moon age: 17.89 days
Avg. Moon phase: 55.89%
Bortle Dark-Sky Scale: 8.00
Astrometry.net job: 3866025
RA center: 18h 25' 6"
DEC center: +0° 57' 0"
Pixel scale: 1.105 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: 282.530 degrees
Field radius: 0.289 degrees
Resolution: 1471x1177
Locations: Backyard White Zone Observatory, Taylor, MI, Michigan, United States
Data source: Backyard
The Sh2-68's very irregular shape is due to its interaction with the surrounding interstellar medium. The white dwarf is moving rapidly through space and happens to be in a location in our Milky Way galaxy where there is more gas and dust between stars than usual. So as it moves, the gas it blows off is itself blown back, making it look like a giant screaming head with flaming hair, streaking across the Galaxy. The interaction with the interstellar medium also impedes and finally stops the expansion of the nebula.The star itself is the blue one right in the center of the OIII.
Sh2-68 is a very ancient planetary nebula estimated to be 45,000 years old. The distance is still yet to be determined. Over the next several thousand years, the Flaming Skull Nebula will gradually disperse into space, and then the white dwarf will cool and fade away for billions of years. Our own Sun is expected to undergo a similar fate, but fortunately this will not occur until some 5 billion years from now.
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