This bright nebula is part of the Barnard 347 nebula known as Butterfly Nebula.
The Butterfly Nebula, also known as NGC 6302, is a striking planetary nebula located in the constellation Scorpius. This celestial beauty earned its name due to its distinctive appearance resembling a butterfly with outstretched wings. The nebula is the result of a dying star that has shed its outer layers, creating a cocoon-like structure illuminated by the central remnant—a hot, dense stellar core known as a white dwarf.
At the heart of the Butterfly Nebula lies one of the hottest stars known, with temperatures reaching over 200,000 degrees Celsius (about 360,000 degrees Fahrenheit). The intense ultraviolet radiation emitted by this central star energizes the expelled gas, causing it to fluoresce and produce the nebula’s colorful glow. The complex and intricate patterns within the nebula are formed by a combination of ionized gases and intricate dust formations, creating a visually captivating celestial spectacle.
Equipment
Imaging Telescopes Or Lenses
CFF Telescopes Ritchey-Chretien 250mm f/8
Imaging Cameras
QHYCCD QHY268 M
Mounts
Mesu-Optics 200 MK II
Filters
Astrodon Gen2 E-Series Tru-Balance Blue 36 mm · Astrodon Gen2 E-Series Tru-Balance Green 36 mm · Astrodon Gen2 E-Series Tru-Balance Red 36 mm · Astrodon H-alpha 5nm 36 mm · Astrodon OIII 5nm 36 mm
Accessories
MoonLite NiteCrawler 3.0″ · Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox 2 · QHYCCD QHYCFW3-M-US · QHYCCD QHYOAG-M · Talon 6 · TS-Optics 0.8x RC Reducer (TSRCRed) ×
Software
Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight · Starkeeper Voyager Custom Array
Guiding Cameras
ZWO ASI174MM Mini
Acquisition details
Dates:
June 24, 2023 · June 27, 2023 · July 15, 2023 · July 20, 2023 · Aug. 25, 2023
Frames:
Astrodon Gen2 E-Series Tru-Balance Blue 36 mm: 50×120″(1h 40′)
Astrodon Gen2 E-Series Tru-Balance Green 36 mm: 50×120″(1h 40′)
Astrodon Gen2 E-Series Tru-Balance Red 36 mm: 50×120″(1h 40′)
Astrodon H-alpha 5nm 36 mm: 100×600″(16h 40′)
Astrodon OIII 5nm 36 mm: 100×600″(16h 40′)
Integration:
38h 20′
Avg. Moon age:
10.52 days
Avg. Moon phase:
33.53%
RA center: 20h25m38s.751
DEC center: +40°20′31″.33
Pixel scale: 0.964 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: -0.077 degrees
Field radius: 0.493 degrees
WCS transformation: thin plate spline
Resolution: 2028×3070
File size: 9.8 MB
Locations: AAS Montsec, Àger, Lleida, Spain
Data source: Own remote observatory
Remote source: Non-commercial independent facility
via Flickr https://flic.kr/p/2pnkcMf