APM/TMB 130/780
QSI 583WSG
Astrodon 6nm Ha
Ha: 8x15min 1x1
Imager Temp -10C
Field Flattener
Full Frame

Link to Larger JPEG

Taken during a quarter moon. Open cluster M52 is visible in the upper left, and the very faint nebulosity throughout the entire right upper field is part of the very large (90x60 arcminutes) emission nebula Sh2-161.

NGC 7635 is located about 11,300 light years distant and spans 10 light years. The central star is 20 solar masses and excites the nebula with intense radiation.

The Bubble Nebula, is being pushed out by the stellar wind of massive central star BD+602522. Next door, though, lives a giant molecular cloud, visible above the bubble. At this place in space, an irresistible force meets an immovable object in an interesting way. The cloud is able to contain the expansion of the bubble gas, but gets blasted by the hot radiation from the bubble's central star. The radiation heats up dense regions of the molecular cloud causing it to glow. (APOD)

August 18, 2010