NGC 2359, Thor's Helmet

NGC 2359

Thor's Helmet

Image Information
Date Imaged	07/25/2009
Image Location	Light BucketsTelescope Networks in Rodeo, New Mexico Cave Creek Canyon Observatory in Arizona Sky Village, Arizona
Equipment	Luminace & Ha imaged at LightBuckets Telescope: RCOS 24" RC Camera: Apogee Alta U42, Apogee U16-M with Astrodon Filters Focal Ratio: f/8.0 RGB imaged at Cave Creek Canyon Observatory Telescope: AP180 EDF StarFire Camera: Apogee U16-M with Astrodon Filters Focal Ratio: f/7.0
Exposure Information	LRGBHa: 20:120:120:120: 15
NGC 2359 (also known as Thor's Helmet) is a emission nebula in the constellation Canis Major. The nebula is approximately 15,000 light-years away and 30 light years in size. Known as a Wolf-Rayet star, the central star is an extremely hot giant thought to be in a brief, pre-supernova stage of evolution. It is similar in nature to the Bubble Nebula, interactions with a nearby large molecular cloud are thought to have contributed to the more complex shape and curved bow-shock structure of Thor's Helmet. It is also Sharpless catalog Sh2-298 and Gum catalog 4.