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Medusa Nebula

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By
Catalog
Obj Type
Location
Date Taken:
Don Goldman
PLN 205
Nebula
Sierra Remote Observatories, Shaver Lake, CA
11-12-2007
Description

Astronomical Picture of the Day, APOD November 23, 2007

The official designation for this planetary nebula is PK205+14.1. It is also listed as Abell 21 and Sharpless 2-188.  It is a very large PN in Gemini perhaps 10 arcmin in diameter.  The brighter portion pointing to the SE gives it a crescent moon appearance, but closer inspection shows fainter regions toward the NW.  Thus, it probaby has an ellipsoidal shape.  North is to the lower left.

This image, taken on the WayBack Machine (16" RC) is comprised of 6 nm H-a mapped to red and 3 nm OIII mapped to equal mixtures of green and blue to enhance contrast and bring out the incredible structure within the PN.  Star colors were blended in from G2V-balanced RGB data.

Technical Details
Exposure Time:
2 hrs H-a, OIII, 9 min each R,G,B
Camera:
SBIG STL11000
Telescope:
RC Optical 16" f/8.9 Ritchey-Chretien
Mount:
Software Bisque Paramount ME
© 2010 Don Goldman
Used with permission, No reproduction of these images are permitted without written approval from Don Goldman.