Sharpless 2-239
Published 12 April 2021
Click the image above for a un-cropped full res version. Cropped 1920x1200 resolution
About this object
Sharpless 2-239 is a dusty star forming region within the Taurus molecular cloud that stretches for nearly 3 light years. The brighter nebula right of center is Sh2-239, part of the broader dark nebula LDN 1551 surrounding it. The dark nebula surrounding Sh2-239 contains material equivalent to 50 times the mass of the sun. Within the brighter cloud are dozens of protostars causing the nebula to glow. Also within the nebula are several Herbig-Haro objects, typical of star forming regions.
The above image is a crop of a larger field of view highlighting the dusty star forming region around Sharpless 2-239. I also included an annotated image highlighting several of the main objects. To see the un-cropped full res field of view, click on the image above. There are also a good number of un cataloged and tiny galaxies in the image. See the full res image to find them.
Sharpless 2-239 is a dusty star forming region within the Taurus molecular cloud that stretches for nearly 3 light years. The brighter nebula right of center is Sh2-239, part of the broader dark nebula LDN 1551 surrounding it. The dark nebula surrounding Sh2-239 contains material equivalent to 50 times the mass of the sun. Within the brighter cloud are dozens of protostars causing the nebula to glow. Also within the nebula are several Herbig-Haro objects, typical of star forming regions.
The above image is a crop of a larger field of view highlighting the dusty star forming region around Sharpless 2-239. I also included an annotated image highlighting several of the main objects. To see the un-cropped full res field of view, click on the image above. There are also a good number of un cataloged and tiny galaxies in the image. See the full res image to find them.
Image Details
- Optics : Stellarvue SVX 152T refractor @f8 1200mm FL
- Mount: Paramount MYT
- Camera: ZWO ASI6200
- Filters: Chroma 50mm LRGB, Astrodon 50mm 5nm Ha
- Exposure (min): LRGBHa 176:153:150:150: 500 18.8 hrs, 2x2 binning
- Automation control software: The Sky X, Voyager
- Guiding: StarlightXpress Lodestar X2
- Processing: PixInsight 1.8, PS CC 2021, Topaz Labs
- Location: Stark Bayou Observatory, Ocean Springs, MS
- Sky: Typical SQM 19.6-20.1, Bortle 5, Suburban
- Date: 3 Jan - 7 Feb 2021
