NGC 1514 - The Crystal Ball Nebula

[Petergoodhew]

 

NGC 1514 is a planetary nebula in the constellation Taurus that was discovered by William Herschel on November 13, 1790, describing it "A most singular phaenomenon" and forcing him to rethink his ideas on the construction of the heavens. Up until this point Herschel was convinced that all nebulae consisted of masses of stars too remote to resolve, but now here was a single star "surrounded with a faintly luminous atmosphere." He went on to conclude "Our judgement I may venture to say, will be, that the nebulosity about the star is not of a starry nature".

It has since been conjectured that the nebula in fact envelops a tightly orbiting double star with a period of up to 10 days. Gas is presumably expanding away from the larger star of the pair.

15 hours 30 minutes total capture

R 20x300s

G 20x300s

B 20x300s

Ha 21x1800s

Image captured remotely at Alcalali, Spain 25 Oct 2018 - 4 Nov 2018

APM TMB 152 F8 LZOS, 10 Micron GM2000HPS, QSI6120ws8