North is to the top
The planetary nebula, NGC 246, is 1,600 light-years away in the constellation Cetus. Appropriately named, "the Skull Nebula" it was formed by expelled gasses of the outer atmosphere of a once sun-like star. The central star is the fainter of a binary system and is entering its final phase of becoming a white dwarf
Taken on 11/18/2009 to 11/22/2009 in Chino Valley, AZ
RCOS 12.5" Ritchey-Chrétien w/ an SBIG STL-11000 camera using Astrodon filters
Exposure Details:
Lum 270 min. (18 x 15 min)
RGB 315 min. ( 7 x 15 min. each)