This one is a little bit tough. It's at -24 degrees and only visible from my deck for about
an hour and a half. Plus it's best to have a clear moonless sky for this one. So it's
tough to get time with good clean data!
Sh2-308, also designated as
Sharpless 308,
RCW 11, or
LBN 1052, and commonly known as the
Dolphin-Head Nebula, is an
H II region located near the center of the
constellationCanis Major, composed
of
ionised hydrogen. It is about 8 degrees south of
Sirius, the brightest
star in the night sky. The
nebula is bubble-like and surrounds a
Wolf–Rayet star named
EZ Canis Majoris. This star is in the brief,
pre-
supernova phase of its
stellar evolution. The nebula is about 4,530
light-years away.The nebula was formed about 70,000 years ago by the star EZ Canis Majoris throwing off its outer
hydrogen layers, evealing inner layers of heavier elements. Fast
stellar winds, blowing
at 1,700 km/s (3.8 million mph) from this star, create the bubble-shaped nebula as they sweep
up slower moving material from an earlier phase of the star's evolution.
The hydrogen composing the nebula is
ionised by intense
ultraviolet radiation.
The nebula is approximately 60 light-years across at its widest point.
Information Credits: Wikipedia
Telescope: Explorer Scientific 127mm CF APO Refractor f/7.5 (952mm Focal Length)
Explore Scientific X0.7 Reducer f/5.25 (667mm Focal Length)
Mount IOptron CEM40
Camera ZWOASI2600MC-Pro Temp -15C, Binning 1 x 1, Gain 100 Offset 50
5 X 180 Second Exposures W/Optolong L-Ultimate (3nm) Filter
28 X 240 Second Exposures W/Optolong L-Ultimate (3nm) Filter
38 X 300 Second Exposures W/Optolong L-Ultimate (3nm) Filter
20 Dark Frames/20 Flats/Bias
Total Integration Time: 5 Hours 22 Minutes
Acquisition with SharpCap
Stacked with APP
Guiding PHD2
Processed with Astra Image
Photo taken from Seven Lakes, NC Bortle 4.5
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