NGC 6302 – THE BUG NEBULA

Scorpius

 (ra: 17:13,7/ dec -37:06)

Click for Wide View

DATA

TYPE: Planetary Nebula

APPARENT MAGNITUDE: 13

SIZE: 1.48 arc minutes.

DISTANCE: 3400 light years

DATE: October the 2nd 2008

OBJECT DESCRIPTION

Also known by the nickname "Bug Nebula" NGC 6302 is interesting object located in the Constellation of Scorpius. There are studies of this object from 1888. In 1907 Edward Barnard draw and described the nebula. Is one of the most complex planetary nebulas known. The central star can not be seen in visible light, but is extremely hot: with a temperature over 200.000 kelvin. The star is throwing off outer envelopes of gas in a strong stellar wind. This bipolar will continue to shine a few more thousands years. After its central star will fade and become a white dwarf. 

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Celestron C8 (SCT) Vixen GPDX Mount. Sky Sensor 2000 guided with SXV guide Camera

SKY CONDITIONS: Seeing: Good. Visual limit magnitude 4.

CAMERA: Starlight Xpress SXVF H9 @f 5 (imaged croped)

FILTERS: Astronomik Ha, Astronomik Type II, IDAS LPS II for Luminance

EXPOSURES: LRGB(10,10,10,10) 

IMAGE ACQUISITION & GUIDING: AstroArt 3.0 - CCD Control Interface 3.72 Plug In

PROCESSED: ImagesPlus 2.75, Photoshop CS

NGC 6302 – THE BUG NEBULA - WIDE VIEW

Scorpius

 (ra: 17:13,7/ dec -37:06)