Object | Crescent Nebula |
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Description | The Crescent Nebula, or NGC 6888 is a rather faint emission nebula in Cygnus, located about 5,000 light years from earth. It is formed by the fast stellar wind from the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136 (HD 192163) colliding with and energizing the slower moving wind ejected by the star when it became a red giant around 250,000 to 400,000 years ago. The result of the collision is a shell and two shock waves, one moving outward and one moving inward. The inward moving shock wave heats the stellar wind to X-ray-emitting temperatures. |
Image | |
Scope | Explore Scientific 127ed APO refractor |
Camera | ST2000XCM |
Mount | Losmandy G11 |
Filters | LPS filter |
Guiding | St-i through a Zenithstar 80mm refractor |
Exposure Info | 43 X 15 minute exposures for a total exposure or 10.75 hours It was imaged over several nights between 10/30/2018 and 11/5/2018. |
Date | October 31, 2018 |
Copyright | Photo copyright Thomas Kerns, Beluga Lake Observatory |