NGC 6888, also known as the Crescent Nebula, is a cosmic bubble about 25 light-years across, blown by winds from its central, bright, massive star. This beautiful telescopic view combines a composite color image with narrow band data that isolates light from hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the wind-blown nebula.
The oxygen atoms produce the blue-green hue that seems to enshroud the detailed folds and filaments. NGC 6888’s central star is classified as a Wolf-Rayet star (WR 136). The star is shedding its outer envelope in a strong stellar wind, ejecting the equivalent of the Sun’s mass every 10,000 years.
The nebula’s complex structures are likely the result of this strong wind interacting with material ejected in an earlier phase. Burning fuel at a prodigious rate and near the end of its stellar life this star should ultimately go out with a bang in a spectacular supernova explosion. Found in the nebula rich constellation Cygnus, NGC 6888 is about 5,000 light-years away.
Constellation : Cygnus
Distance from Earth : 5000 Light years
Equipment Details
Skywatcher EQ6R Pro Mount
Explore Scientific ED102 FCD100 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
ZWO ASI 1600MM Cooled Camera
ZWO Filter Wheel
ZWO Electronic Auto Focuser
Chroma Filters
Stellamira 2” Field Flattener
Skywatcher ED72 Telescope as Guidescope
ZWO ASI 120MC-S camera as Guide Camera
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