Object: Narrow
Band Emission Image of NGC 2244 and NGC 2237 (Rosette Nebula) in
Monoceros
Equipment: Takahashi FSQ-106N, SBIG
STL-11000M camera with Astrodon H-alpha, SII and OIII 5nm filters on
Astro-Physics 1200GTO mount with Vixen 70mm guidescope and SBIG
remote guide camera
Exposure/Processing: 1 hour
each H-alpha, SII, OIII (15 minute exposures), mapped as H-alpha =
red; SII=green; OIII=blue. H-alpha also used as luminance
Location/Date:
Gainesville, Florida; March 2, 2009
Notes:
NGC 2244 is an open star cluster that formed in the center of the
hydrogen-rich and star-forming nebula NGC 2237 (estimated distance
is 4500-5000 light years in the Perseus arm of the Milky Way).
Stellar winds from the stars formed approximately 4 million years
ago clear gases away in the center of the nebula image. Stellar
winds from central stars collide into the surrounding cooler gases
in the nebula (estimated 150 light years wide) and heat areas up to
6 million degrees Celsius. Electromagnetic emissions eminate from
excited gases in the nebula. Among the most abundant gases are
hydrogen which emits Hydrogen-alpha (656 nm). Other gases excited
include sulfur (SII - 672nm) and oxygen (OIII-501nm). Emitted
wavelengths are selectively filtered and are recorded on the CCD
camera to create a complex and beautiful image of excited gases in
and around the star forming area in this nebula.
Links/references:
Chandra
X-ray Telescope Image
CFHT
Image
Atlas
of the Universe
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