The Skull Nebula, also known as NGC246 or Caldwell 56. This is a planetary nebula in the constellation Cetus. The nebula gets its name from its appearance. It is approximately 1,600 light years away from Earth. A planetary nebula is an emission nebula consisting of an expanding, glowing shell of ionized gas ejected from a red giant star. Also in the image to the lower right is NGC255, a barred spiral galaxy. To the left of NGC255, and lower left of the Skull Nebula, is PGC2689, a faint spiral galaxy.
Image Details:
Celestron 9.25” EdgeHD
Starizona Hyperstar V4 f2.2
Celestron CGEM DX mount on a SkyShed Pier in a SkyShed POD
ZWO ASI2600mc-pro Imaging Camera
ZWO ASI224mc Guide Camera
Svbony 60mm Guidescope
ZWO ASIair Pro for image acquisition and gear control.
Image Specs:
80 x 180 second exposed images at Gain 100
Camera sensor cooled to -20°C
No filters used as the ASI2600mc-pro has the built in IR cut window.
Calibrated (with darks, flats, dark flats) and stacked in Astro Pixel Processor and post processed in PixInSight.
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