NGC 2359 or Thor’s Helmet also cataloged as Sharpless 2-298 and Lynds Bright Nebula LBN 1041. An emission nebula in Canis Major, approx. 12,000 light years away. The nebula is approx. 30 light years across. The central star is the Wolf-Rayet star WR7, an extremely hot star thought to be in a brief pre-supernova stage of evolution. It is similar in nature to the Bubble Nebula, but interactions with a nearby large molecular cloud are thought to have contributed to the more complex shape and curved bow-shock structure of Thor’s Helmet. Integration time 10 x 240 seconds each channel RGB, Ha 15 x 900 seconds, OIII 36 x 900 seconds. Total time 14.75 hours 8 inch RC telescope, QSI 683 camera.
Astrophotography