NGC 7635 - The Bubble Nebula

NGC 7635 - The Bubble Nebula
3x1000sec exposures/each - Ha/R/G/B filters
© Billy Vazquez @ VAO Webster, NY 6/1/2011

The image to your right is NGC 7635, also known as the Bubble Nebula.  It is a combined image through the Ha, R, G and B filters.  Each filter frame is the combination of three 1000 seconds exposures for a total exposed time per filter frame of 50 minutes and a grand total of 3.33 hours of exposure time to create the beautiful image you see to your right.  The image was processed as per the usual data reduction pipeline of dark and flat fields. 

The Bubble Nebula is found in the Cassiopeia constellation, relatively close in the night sky to another interesting object, open cluster Messier 52.   The bubble is created by the stellar winds of a massive hot star SAO 20575.  SAO 20575 is an O type star, which is about 10-20 more massive than the sun  and about 4 times bigger.  It is located 11,000 light years away from us and the bubble spans about 10 light years across. 

NGC 7635 - The Bubble Nebula
50  minute Ha exposure
© Billy Vazquez @ VAO Webster, NY 6/1/2011

Although the color image is evocative, I like to present to you what the Ha channel frame looks like without any editing and spanning the whole view of the CCD.   The monochromatic image gives the observer a new perspective of the celestial object.  You can see also how the nebulosity spans many light years away from the hot O star.

I am glad to report that the efforts to get the telescope to provide the best image possible have paid off.   This image is testament of the capabilities of my observatory.  Stay tuned for more exciting imagery and science.