Do not do unto others...Heckenthorn-Fesen-Gull 1

[Annehouw]

More than two years ago, I replied to a request for suggestions on "weird Ha objects" by @Astrosurf here: https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/337304-weird-ha-objects-suggestions/

Two years and 86 hours of exposure later, I have finished doing myself what I suggested to do.  

 

This must be the faintest object I ever imaged. It is hardly visible on individual subs from Bortle 5 and it is highest in dark(ish) skies when weather over here in the Netherlands is at its unstablest (late autumn).

OIII is faint, and Ha is even fainter. This is not a subject you can shoot next to a shiny moon; in that respect it is best to image it as you would do a non-narrowband subject: With as little moon in the sky as possible and high in the sky.

At the time, I called it a "cool subject ". Mainly because of its name, but also because of the way it looks. After finishing the image I did a bit of internet digging to find out more on current research on this object and it turns out to be "cool" also in the astrophysical sense.

The write up on that, acquisition details and a bigger version of the image can be found here: https://www.astrobin.com/bd33ox/

 

 

Edited December 31, 2021 by Annehouw

[Sunshine]

This is a wonderful image! a nebula of some sort I assume? I have never seen it before. If I were to name it I would call it the box jellyfish nebula (I have a feeling that already exists) haven’t checked.

beautiful!

[Annehouw]

@Sunshine Thanks. It is a planetary nebula. The particular shape is due to the high speed of the star that creates the nebula.

[pietervdv]

Your persistance is admirable! Very nicely done... 

Pieter

[Annehouw]

Thank you, @pietervdv 

I had planned to go for 100 hours. Just for bragging rights, but I gave up. To be honest, I have no desire to dedicate such amount of time to one subject again.