The Bubble Nebula
Target
Name: Bubble Nebula
Designations: NGC 7635, Sharpless 162, Caldwell 11
Distance: 7,100-11,000 ly
Radius: 3-5 ly
Equipment
Camera: ASI2600MM Pro
Telescope: Askar 80 PHQ
Filters: Optolong 3nm SII, H-Alpha, and OIII filter set
Total Exposure Time: 25h 45m
Software: PixInsight, RC Astro Blur/Noise/StarXTerminator Plugins
The Bubble Nebula is a beautiful structure formed around and by a hot, young star. Stellar winds from that star form the bubble and the gasses glow because they’re excited by the star’s heat.
In addition to the Bubble Nebula, there are a couple of other points of interest in this photo. Just over half way between the Bubble and the top edge of the image is a cluster of stars known as M 52. In the bottom right is the incredible NGC 7538. Curious about this beautiful structure? See below!
This image was creating using 309 separate 5 minute exposures taken over 5 nights. These photos were taking using filters that only allow very specific wavelengths of light to hit the camera sensor. All of those exposures were combined to create this false-color image in the SHO palette (made famous by the Hubble Space Telescope images that used it).
NGC 7538
I just had to feature this awesome structure. I had never heard of it before starting this project, but in my opinion it stole the show. Also known as Sharpless 158 and Dreyer’s Object, this nebula is home to the largest protostar yet discovered, which is estimated to be 300-500 times larger than our sun. When I get a telescope with a longer focal length I’m definitely going to give NGC 7638 a closer look!