The Crescent and Soap Bubble Nebulae; Two Paths of Stellar Death (Framed)

Image Description

An image captured over the course of two weeks shows two very different stellar fates, playing out in the rich star fields of Cygnus.

Most easily identifiable is NGC 6888 - The Crescent Nebula. This complex structure is formed by the massive Wolf-Rayet star WR 136 in its violent final stages of life. The intense stellar winds slam into older, slower moving material shed from an earlier stage of its evolution, creating an intricate shell of glowing gas. The delicate blue filaments of doubly-ionised oxygen contrast against the red hydrogen-rich clouds. The smaller yellow edge structures highlight areas of sulphur.

The much fainter Ju 1 - The Soap Bubble Nebula (PN G75.5+1.7) lies in the lower left of the frame. Discovered only in 2007 and in contrast to the Crescent Nebula, this nearly perfectly spherical shell is the result of a sun-like star gently casting off its outer layers during the final stages of its life.

Imaging System

Our twin 130mm APO quadruplet refractors are mounted on a strong custom adaptor plate, riding securely on a Paramount ME. At the rear of each OTA is a rotator and EFW with complete Antlia LRGB + 3nm SHO filter sets, these in turn feed the photons into twin ASI2600MM Pro cameras. Though the Paramount is capable of unguided imaging, we opted for OAG to support dithering. Focus is automated for each OTA through ZWO EAFs. Power distribution and USB control is managed through a Pegasus UPB v3, with remote power strips and a UPS for redundancy.

The system is hosted by PixelSkiesAstro remote observatory in Southern Spain where the roof frequently rolls off to a clear, dark sky. Both telescopes run in parallel, doubling the exposure time on target.

We utilise NINA for an almost completely autonomous data acquisition solution, relying heavily on the Target Scheduler plugin to synchronise all three cameras and select the most suitable targets from our wish-list. SyncThing ensures the raw data is transferred overnight and waiting on our home PCs each morning, ready for backup and queued for calibration. The complexity of the rig is matched by an equally capable imaging server with redundant drives, ample memory and automated Discord status updates - keeping us both informed throughout the night.

Print and Frame

The sleek aluminium frame with a polished finish pairs perfectly with premium semi-glossy paper, enhancing colours and adding a protective layer against fading from light or moisture. The artwork and frame ship pre-assembled and ready to hang:

• Frame Material: Durable aluminium.
• Frame Colour: Black.
• Frame Measurements: Approximately 20mm (0.8") thick and 10mm (0.4") wide.
• Paper Finishing: Semi-glossy, enhances colours with a subtle shine.
• Paper Weight: 200 gsm (80 lb), thickness: 0.22 mm (8.7 mils).
• Protection: Shatterproof plexiglass protects the poster.
• Sustainable Paper: FSC-certified materials or equivalent.
• Available Sizes: 21x29.7cm, 30x40cm and 50x70cm.