NGC 2359 – THORS'S HELMET NEBULA

Canis Mayor

(ra: 07:18.36/ dec -13:12:00)

DATA

TYPE: Emission and reflection nebula

APPARENT MAGNITUDE: N/A

SIZE: 13X 11 arc minutes / image size 37 x 28 arc minutes

DISTANCE: 10,000 light years

OBJECT DESCRIPTION

The unusual NGC 2359, presents the shape of a Viking helmet warrior, which is the reason where the popular name from.

The star located in the interior of the bubble (visible in the photograph) shines at 11.5 magnitude. This is Wolf-Rayet type star and it’s the source of energy that powers NGC 2359.  This ring-shaped nebulosity results from the interaction between the stellar wind of a central Wolf-Rayet star and the interstellar matter. The wind compresses the interstellar matter and produces a bubble of gas around the star.

NGC 2359 is located approximately eight degrees form Sirius. This marvellous object can be distinguished or seen with small telescopes at 47 x but with the aid of Oxygen III filters in very dark skies. In order to observe the dim parts a 10 inch aperture is needed.

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Orion ED 80 at f7.5. Vixen GPDX Mount. Sky Sensor 2000

GUIDING: Synta 70/400 refractor. SXV Guide Head camera. Astro Art 

SKY CONDITIONS: VISUAL MAGNITUDE 4.

LOCATION. Martinez Buenos Aires

CAMERA: Starlight Xpress SXV M7  

FILTERS: Astronomik Type II, Ha 6 nm

EXPOSSURES: HRGB (60,15,15,15)

PROCESSED: Calibrated Darks, flats, offsets in Images Plus, Photoshop CS