RCW 120 AKA SHARPLESS 2-3 or GUM 58

EMISSION NEBULA IN SCORPIUS

(Image centered at: ra 17 h:14 m / dec - 38º 30')

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July - 2024, Home Backyard in Martinez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

TYPE: EMISSION NEBULA

APPARENT DIAMETER: 12 x 6 arc minutes and 12 x 2 respectively

APPARENT MAGNITUDE (V): Central Star CD -38 11636 10.87

DISTANCE: 4300 light years

IMAGE INFORMATION

INSTRUMENT: 6" ORION OPTICS UK (Ultra Grade Optics) w/Sky Watcher Coma Corrector (0.9x) working at at f4.5

CAMERA: QHY 183 MONO

MOUNT: VIXEN GDPX, OAG with QHY 5II Mono

FILTERS: BAADER LRGB Set Antlia HA 3nm filter

SKY CONDITIONS: urban skies - Bortle 8

EXPOSURES: LHARGB (45,150,45,45,45)

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

RCW 120 is an emission nebula and H II region in the southern Milky Way and located some 4,300 light-years from Earth. RCW 120 can be found slightly above the flat plane of our galaxy. Its designation appears in the RCW Catalogue published in 1960, whose circular diameter size is 12 arcmin. It is also catalogued as Sh 2-3 and Gum 58. Veta S. Avedisova considers RCW 120 is being ionised by the O8 V star CD -38 11636 and places the nebula in the star formation region SFR 348.26+0.47. The star now appears about ten times more massive than the Sun and may grow much larger by accreting material from the surrounding gas and dust.

RCW 120 AKA SHARPLESS 2-3 or GUM 58

CENTRAL STAR: O8 V star CD -38 11636 AKA TYC 7870-965-1