GUM 25 (AKA RCW40)

 EMISSION NEBULA COMPLEX IN VELA (THE WATER SNAKE)  

(Image centered at: ra 09 h:03 m / dec - 48º 47')

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR A LARGE VIEW

February 2022, Sarandi, Gualeguayachu, Entre Rios, Argentina

DATA

TYPE: BRIGHT EMISSION NEBULA

APPARENT DIAMETER: 7 x 6 arc minutes

VISUAL BRIGHTNESS: NA

DISTANCE: 1800 Párcecs or 5870 light years 

IMAGE INFORMATION1

INSTRUMENT: 8" ORION OPTICS UK (Ultra Grade Optics) w/Televue Paracorr working at at f5,75

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS

MOUNT: SKY WATCHER NEQ6, OAG with Starligh Xpress Lodestar

FILTERS: Baader LRGB Set

SKY CONDITIONS: rural skies - Bortle 4 to 5

EXPOSURES: LHaRGB (40,60,40,40,40)

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

This is a very dusty region in the central side of the constellation of Vela. Gum 25 also known as RCW 40 is relative bright and stands out in the center of image along with RCW 39. Visible at the lower left we have Markarian 18, an open cluster of 3 arc seconds in diameter and 7,8 visual brightness.

Gum 25 has a circular shape. The HII structure is ionized by 10,5 magnitude 09V star CD-48 4352 (visible in the center of the image). The nebula appears to be part of OB1 Vela association.