EIGHT BURST NEBULA - NGC 3132
VELA
(ra: 10:07.0 / dec -40:26)
DATA
TYPE: Planetary Nebula
MAGNITUDE: 9.2
(m_v)
SIZE: 1.47 arc
minutes (revised data)
DISTANCE: 2000 light years
OBJECT DESCRIPTION
A nice planetary nebula also known as the Southern Ring Nebula. The Nebula contains two central stars. The one visible in the image of Magnitude 10 and a dimmer one of magnitude 16 which was not defined in the photograph. The fainter star is considered the central star that has exploded with multiple star burst (in fact that's the reason of its name) and formed the nebula. This is my first picture at f10. I did not wait for a good night as it is recommended to do when working with 2 meters of focal length. The night it was just average and somehow I lost the darks frames, so the process was a bit hard. The LHa Picture below shows some artifacts in this respect
The Eight Burst Nebula is a beautiful target to observe at 200 x. The 10 magnitude star is embedded in the center of a bright and elongated oval ring.
IMAGE INFORMATION
TELESCOPE: Celestron SCT C8 at @ f10
MOUNT: Vixen GPDX with Sky Sensor 2000
GUIDING: Synta 70/400 Refractor SXV Guide Camera
IMAGE ACQUISITION: Astro Art 3.0 Interface Control Plug In 2.72
SKY CONDITIONS: Visual limit magnitude 4
CAMERA: Starlight Xpress SXV7
FILTERS: Astronomik Type II, Astronomik CLS for L channel and Ha 6nm
EXPOSURES: LHaRGB (15,11,5,5,5)
PROCESSED: only bias in Images Plus, NASA Fits Liberator. Photoshop CS
VELA
(LHa Version)
