The Medusa Nebula

[Graeme]

The Medusa Nebula is a dim target and was never going to be a prize winner sitting as it does low to the south above the Medway Towns light pollution. But it was a good test for what I can see in that part of the sky. Aka SH2-274, Stellarium oddly has Abell 21 listed as a cluster of galaxies in Andromeda! The Medusa Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation of Gemini.

I managed five hours of LRGB exposures which I whittled down to four after blinking out the wind gusts and CGX guiding quirks. All at 240 seconds, Captured in NINA. Processed in PixInsight.

Medusa_Nebula_02_EL.jpg

Graeme

[HansV]

Excellent!

[stuck]

I hope there isn't intelligent life in the nebula, they might take issue with being called dim.

Impressive photo though!

Ken

[Graeme]

Not probable since the Main Sequence star that was at the centre would have burnt up any potential life supporting planets as it expanded into a Red Giant. The planetary nebula is the result of the outer layers of the Red Giant continuing to expand into space and glowing due to the heat of the White Dwarf dying ember at its centre.

Graeme

[BobH]

Snakes alive! What a great image.

Thanks, Graeme.