Sh2-308 Dolphin Nebula

[Paul Haese]

This is an image of Sh2-308 or more commonly known as the Dolphin nebula. It's long been on my list of imaging targets but each year it would slip past my gaze. This year though I decided to resolve the previous missed opportunities.

The image has an integration of 45.9 hours and was acquired at Swan Reach Imaging on one of the OOUK AG12's we have out there. The image details can be found via the link below as well as the larger image of the object.

Click here for the larger image.

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

Lovely work Paul. I also seem to let this one slip by each year and keep thinking that I must grab me a dolphin. You’ve managed to catch a lot of Ha in the background I see which adds nicely to the image

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

Nice Paul. So much data needed for this. I love the colour processing

[Peter Ward]

A masterful result, which will be a benchmark for many.

Nice one.

[RobF (Rob)]

Fantastic image Paul. Had a read up as not so familiar with this one. Interesting the Wikipedia article emphasises the neb is largely blown off hydrogen, while the dolphin's head its seems very strong in oxygen lines.

Thanks for sharing.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Like CG4, this object is one of the coolest looking in the sky, a very nice shot of it too, I like the starry brightness, it gleams

Mike

[Dave882 (David)]

Fantastic image! Spectacular detail in the Oiii. Wow!

[Nikolas (Nik)]

Wonderful image

[Paul Haese]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Originally Posted by RobF

Fantastic image Paul. Had a read up as not so familiar with this one. Interesting the Wikipedia article emphasises the neb is largely blown off hydrogen, while the dolphin's head its seems very strong in oxygen lines.

Thanks for sharing.

Yes that is an interesting point and perhaps Wikipedia needs a bit of an update. The OIII filter is nearly all the detail. There is some Ha visible but most of it is background brightness from the surrounding Ha and Hb.

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Like CG4, this object is one of the coolest looking in the sky, a very nice shot of it too, I like the starry brightness, it gleams

Mike

Yeah true, I guess amongst the Nebula it is certainly one of the coolest. Though I would add Rho Ophiuchi, the Eagle Nebula or the Angle hair nebula (NGC2170) in that mix too. The universe's use of gravity and the other laws of physics produces some interesting looking oddities.