NGC 2359 (also known as Thor’s Helmet) is an emission nebula in the constellation Canis Major. The nebula is approximately 15,000 light-years away and 30 light years in size. The central star is the Wolf-Rayet star HD 56925, an extremely hot giant thought to be in a brief, pre-supernova stage of evolution. It is similar in nature to the Bubble Nebula, interactions with a nearby large molecular cloud are thought to have contributed to the more complex shape and curved bow-shock structure of Thor’s Helmet.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Home made 10inch Serrurier Truss
Imaging cameras: SBIG STF8000M STF8000M
Mounts: Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro NEQ 6 PRO
Software: Cyanogen Maxim DL, Startools
Filters: Baader Planetarium O3 8.5nm 36mm, Baader Planetarium Ha 7nm 36mm
Accessories: Starlight Xpress SX USB Filter Wheel 7x36mm, Teleskop-Service TS9-OAG off axis guider
Resolution: 3208×2357
Dates: Jan. 4, 2014
Locations: Melbourne
Frames:
Baader Planetarium Ha 7nm 36mm: 6×600″ -25C bin 1×1
Baader Planetarium O3 8.5nm 36mm: 6×600″ -25C bin 1×1
Integration: 2.0 hours

2 hours of Ha and O3 mapped as LRGB -> O3.Ha.O3.O3
Stacked in Maxim, processed in Startools.

Autor: Alistair Symon

AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI
7 January 2014

We select the best works of amateur astrophotographers with details of equipment, shooting processing etc.