Medusa Nebula


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By
Catalog
Obj Type
Location
Date Taken:
Smoot
Abell 21
Nebula
Mayhill, NM
02-27-2009
Description

The Medusa nebula, also known as Abell 21 and as Pk204.14+1, is an old planetary nebula that is located 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Gemini.  Ultraviolet radiation from a hot dying star powers the nebular glow. The Medusa's transforming hot central star is the small blue star within the upper half of the overall bright crescent shape. Fainter filaments clearly extend above and to the left of the bright crescent region. The Medusa Nebula is estimated to be over 4 light-years across.

Technical Details
Exposure Time:
5 hrs Ha and 1.75 hrs each RGB
Camera:
SBIG STL-11000M
Telescope:
RCOS 16 inch f/8.7 Ritchey-Chretien
Mount:
Software Bisque Paramount ME
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