Thor´s Helmet
Thors Helmet: This impressive nebula formed somewhat like a Viking helmet in the constellation of Canis Major is created by the bright star in the center of the nebula, which is a so called Wolf-Rayet star. These are very massive and extremely hot stars in a late phase of their life cycle, that eject tremendous amounts of matter and radiation, which then strike interstellar matter and previously ejected material from the star and make it shine.
The distance of the nebula is about 15000 LY.
This image shows very well the very extended region into which the ejections take place.
The image was taken at the IAS astronomical site at the Hakos farm in Namibia.
Object |
Thor´s Helmet |
|---|---|
Catagory |
IAS Hakos, Namibia |
Designation |
NGC 2359 |
Constellation |
Canis Major |
Optics |
Keller 20 inch Cassegrain f/3 in corrected primary focus |
Camera |
SBIG STL-11000M with internal CFW 5 |
Exposure |
3 x 10min H-alpha, 4 x 5min each RGB. Baader filterset. Maxim DL for image acquisition |
Calibration |
Dark + Flat Frame |
|---|---|
Guiding |
StarlightXpress Lodestar on Schneider OAG, Maxim DL as Guiding Software |
Mount |
Liebscher GEM |
Processing |
MaxIm DL5,Photoshop. Color Code L:H-alpha,R:H-alpha/R,G,B |
Location, Date |
IAS-Hakos, Namibia - 11+16 Dec 2012 |
Remark |
