Date 2009	Location Fredericksburg TX	Software CCDSoft, CCDStack	Mount Paramount ME	Guide STL-11000M
Optic RCOS 14.5"	Camera STL-11000M	Filter Astrodon C/R-G-B	Exposure 900s/600s (2 x 2)	Process Photoshop CS2

Billions and Billions.com/Thor's Helmet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Thor's Helmet NGC 2359 in Canis Major- 

As with the famous Bubble Nebula, Thor's Helmet is fueled by a rare 'Wolf-Rayet' star.  W-Rs (ray-AY) are incredibly hot, and expel their outer layers of gas at tremendous velocities.  Thor's star- HD 56925 has blown multiple bubbles of ionized gas, resulting in a 'helmet' of both teal O-III (Oxygen 3) and pink Ha (Hydrogen alpha).  Tilt your head right to visualize the horned Viking Helmet.  Thanks again to good friend David Plesko of Cherry Mountain Observatory  for acquiring the fine data, and allowing me to process it for us.  Our image appeared in the February, 2010 Astronomy Magazine Reader Gallery.  Return to the Gallery