Planetary Nebula Abell 34
Published 24 May 22

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Full image field here: Un-cropped full resolution

About this object

Abell 34, also known as PK 248+29.1 and PNG 248.7+29.5 is a fairly large 4.7x4.5 arc min planetary nebula in the constellation Hydra. It lies some 2.400 light years distant. As with many planetary nebula its shape is round as gas was expelled from its central star. The main emission line of the blue/green colored gas is doubly ionized oxygen (OIII) which gives it its blue/green color. There are two small patches of hydrogen emission, one along the left side and one fainter near the bottom. There is also a neat galaxy (PGC 3081651) behind the edge of the gas shell on the left side. There are also many background galaxies within the image. See this uncrossed annotated image with lists many of them. There are also quite a few faint redshifted background galaxies lying millions of light years distant. The above image is a crop of a much larger field of view. The full un-cropped version is linked above. The image was taken from 26 Jan to 3 April 22 and combines 35.2 hrs of exposure time. Resolution is .62 arcsec/pixel.
Image Details

  • Optics : Stellarvue SVX 152T refractor @f8 1200mm FL
  • Mount: Paramount MYT
  • Camera: ZWO ASI6200
  • Filters: Chroma 50mm RGB 5nm OIII and Astrodon 50mm 5nm Ha
  • Exposure (min): RGBHaOIII 145:125:140:880:820 35.2 hrs, 1x1 binning
  • Automation Control: The Sky X, Voyager, PrimaluceLab Eagle 4
  • Guiding: StarlightXpress Lodestar X2
  • Processing Software: PixInsight, PS CC
  • Location: Stark Bayou Observatory, Ocean Springs, MS
  • Sky: Typical SQM 19.6-20.1, Bortle 5, Suburban
  • Date: 26 Jan - 3 April 22
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