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This emission nebula in the constellation Swan has a central star (Walf-Rayet star) that is about 5 times brighter than our sun. It is at the end of its life and is already shedding its outer shells. This is the prelude to its end - a supernova.
The matter ejected from the star is strongly ionised by the star (the blue-grey veil in O3) and heated. This matter hits the matter in front of it and pushes it, causing it (red in the image, H alpha) to hit the interstellar medium at about 2,000 km/s and be heated further. This creates these shock waves with the characteristic structure.
| Object: | NGC6888 Crescent Nebula | |
| Constellation: | Swan (Cygnus) | |
| Distance: | 4,400 light years | |
 | Optics: | Askar 500, 500mm, f/7,5 |
 | Mount: | Skywatcher EQ8 on concrete pier |
 | Camera: | QHY268C Antlia ALP-T Dualband Filter |
| Exposures: | 65 x 300s, total 5h 25min | |
 | Guiding: | WO Uniguide 50, ASI290mini |
 | Recorded in/on: | 2023-08 |
 | more info: | Editing in PixInsight only |