Observation by Alan Thomas: NGC40 Planetary Nebula in Cepheus

Uploaded by

Alan Thomas

Observer

Alan Thomas

Observed

2021 Oct 15 - 19:27

Uploaded

2021 Oct 16 - 11:35

Objects

The Bow Tie Nebula (NGC40)

Equipment

Unistellar eQuinox 112mm reflector

Exposure

25min

Location

Norbreck Observatory, Warrington, Cheshire, UK

Target name

NGC40 The Bow Tie Nebula in Cepheus

Title

NGC40 Planetary Nebula in Cepheus

About this image

Planetary nebula discovered by William Herschel in November 1788. Distance c.3-3,500ly. Apparent size 36x24". Actual diameter 0.6ly.

Chandra X-ray data (https://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2005/n40/) indicate that a 2 million mph stellar wind is being emitted by the central star, compressing and heating an outer shell of gas. In about 30,000 years the nebula is expected to have faded away, leaving an ultradense, Earth-sized white dwarf behind.

Glad I managed to observe it before it's too late!

Files associated with this observation

eVscope-20211015-192734 (2).jpg (606.8 kB)

Like this image

Nick Hewitt, Jeremy Shears, Callum Potter

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