Waid Observatory

Object: NGC 6888
Date: 07-07-2009      -      Location: Denton, TX
Telescope: Celestron C-14    -    Camera: ST-10XME    -    Mount: MI-250
Exposure: L(Schuler Ha 10nm) = 120 min.   (15 min. sub-exposures)

Click on the image to view at higher resolution.

  NGC 6888 - The Crescent Nebula

 

NGC 6888 (The Crescent Nebula)

NGC 6888 is located approximately 4,700 light years from earth and is known as the Crescent Nebula because of its distinctive shape.  Technically it is classified as a Wolf-Rayet nebula.  Such a nebula is formed when a very hot, massive star ejects its outer layers in a strong stellar wind.  In the case of the Crescent Nebula the star responsible (WR 136) is the bright star in the center of the image above.  As the star ages it begins to shrink and grow much hotter.  Its stellar wind becomes more rarefied but much faster.  This fast stellar wind then collides with the older ejected gas and pushes it into a relative dense bubble.  The radiation from the hot central star excites the gas, principally hydrogen, causing it to shine in the red spectrum typical of an emission nebula.  The image above was captured using a hydrogen alpha filter. This filter is deep red in color and aids in bringing out fine detail of the nebula.  WR 136 is in the final stages of its stellar life and is estimated to explode in a supernova event within the next million years

 
Copyright Donald P. Waid