NGC 2359 (also known as Thor’s Helmet) is an emission nebula in the constellation Canis Major. The nebula is approximately 3,670 parsecs (11.96 light years) away and 30 light-years in size. The central star is the Wolf-Rayet star WR7, an extremely hot giant thought to be in a brief pre-supernova stage of evolution. It is similar in nature to the Bubble Nebula, but 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. It is also catalogued as Sharpless 2-298 and Gum 4.
Imaging telescopes or lenses: AT6RC
Imaging cameras: Atik 314L+
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-G
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Orion ED80T CF
Guiding cameras: Orion SSAG
Software: DeepSkyStacker, photoshop, Nebulosity, Thousand Oaks Résistance pour télescope de 5”
Filters: Ha, Meade Blue, Meade Green, Meade Green
Accessories: Orion Dewzapper
Resolution: 1100×880
Dates: Jan. 6, 2012, Jan. 25, 2012
Frames:
Meade Blue: 10×600″ -10C bin 2×2
Meade Green: 10×600″ -10C bin 2×2
Ha: 12×1200″ -10C bin 1×1
Meade Green: 10×600″ -10C bin 2×2
Meade Blue: 10×600″ -10C bin 2×2
Meade Green: 10×600″ -10C bin 2×2
Ha: 12×1200″ -10C bin 1×1
Meade Green: 10×600″ -10C bin 2×2
Integration: 9.0 hours
Flats: ~20
Avg. Moon age: 6.66 days
Avg. Moon phase: 46.20%
Bortle Dark-Sky Scale: 6.00
RA center: 109.666 degrees
DEC center: -13.247 degrees
Pixel scale: 1.174 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: 92.732 degrees
Field radius: 0.230 degrees
Locations: Mason OH, None
Author: rigel123