Sh2-261 - why so rarely imaged?

[ollypenrice]

Imaged with Paul Kummer who did capture and pre-processing.

We became interested in this when we found a large, bright nebula halfway between Betelgeuse and the Jellyfish Nebula on our Orion-Monoceros mega-mosaic. What was it? Why didn't we know about it?  This was no faint little obscurity, it was right there and shining. Sh2-261. A nice one for the narrowband specialists. My guess s that the OIII will be significant.

RASA 8/NEQ6/ASI2600 OSC.  118x3 minute subs.

Here's our mosaic with these data blended in.  https://ollypenrice.smugmug.com/Other/Emission-Nebulae/i-24FpLf3/A

Olly

Edited January 13 by ollypenrice

[Laurin Dave]

Nice one Olly...  clouds permitting I shall take a look  

Dave

[Budgie1]

Not one I've come across, Olly, but looking at Stellarium, it's one that's visible to me for about 6 hours per night at this time of year with no trees or hills to get in the way.  So, hopefully, get some SHO data next week.

Thanks for posting.

[ollypenrice]

1 minute ago, Budgie1 said:

Not one I've come across, Olly, but looking at Stellarium, it's one that's visible to me for about 6 hours per night at this time of year with no trees or hills to get in the way.  So, hopefully, get some SHO data next week.

Thanks for posting.

Clear skies!

Olly

[tomato]

Does it even have a popular name? How about the Angelfish Nebula, I see one swimming left to right.

[ollypenrice]

2 hours ago, tomato said:

Does it even have a popular name? How about the Angelfish Nebula, I see one swimming left to right.

As far as I know it has no popular name and yours fits. It seems to share some structural similarities with the Rosette in that the circular, central part may have been excavated by radiation pressure from stars formed within it. Judging from the fact that the centre is bluer, as with the Rosette, that may be where the OIII lies. Does the OIII form later or are its heavier atoms just less prone to being swept away by the radiation?

Olly

[Budgie1]

2 hours ago, tomato said:

Does it even have a popular name? How about the Angelfish Nebula, I see one swimming left to right.

I've seen it referred too as "Lower's Nebula".

 

[Kinch]

6 hours ago, ollypenrice said:

What was it? Why didn't we know about it?  This was no faint little obscurity, it was right there and shining. Sh2-261. A nice one for the narrowband specialists. My guess s that the OIII will be significant.

Lower's nebula.....and I don't think it is ignored by NB imagers....I have done it a couple of times. You are correct about the OIII.

It is actually not such an easy target to image - this was my last effort  in '21

https://www.kinchastro.com/sh2-261.html

Edited January 13 by Kinch
Added info

[ollypenrice]

1 hour ago, Kinch said:

Lower's nebula.....and I don't think it is ignored by NB imagers....I have done it a couple of times. You are correct about the OIII.

It is actually not such an easy target to image - this was my last effort  in '21

https://www.kinchastro.com/sh2-261.html

Very nice work indeed. The thing about a NB palette is that it allows far more distinction between OIII and Ha emission than is possible in natural colour.  Paul did say it was known as Lower's nebula but I clean forgot.

Can we tempt you to add a second panel in search of that southern loop? (Our version is N up.)

Olly

[Kinch]

19 minutes ago, ollypenrice said:

Can we tempt you to add a second panel in search of that southern loop? (Our version is N up.)

I actually almost started the target again in the past days....but then opted for something new and farther south. (I am in Spain). If I do get back to it - I will start it afresh (easier in the long run)....and as the screen grab shows, my present set-up would be able to cover that 2nd loop which is quite faint I think.  Actually going after that 2nd loop would indeed make it a worthwhile "new" challenge. - I do not recall seeing that anywhere other than your above post.  (If I do get it....I will let you know directly  🙂 ).

[gorann]

Nice image Olly!  It is named after its discoverers: amateur astronomers Harold Lower and his son Charles, who spotted it in 1939. I aimed at it about a year ago with NBZ filter and RASA 8.

Cheers, Göran

 

 

[Laurin Dave]

Clear skies allowed me to get this...   Oiii not as strong as I'd expected, Sii remarkably strong .

Dave