Boomerang Nebula, the coolest place in the Universe
Hi all
Heres an image of the Boomerang Nebula in Centaurus. Taken last Sat night with my 10 inch f5.6 Newtonian and Hutech modded 350D camera. Ive included a full frame view and a full resolution crop.
5x10 mins ISO200. UV/IR filter, Baader MPCC coma corrector. Hand off axis guided with Q guider cam as usual.
This is an odd protoplanetary nebula http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boomerang_Nebula
Its actually colder than the cosmic background
Another article here http://www.esa.int/esaSC/Pr_1_2003_h_en.html
Its an odd colour too, a yellow white, seeimgly more broadband emission than emission line, hence I didnt use a nebula filter only the uv/ir filter.
Its small and faint, would be a good visual challenge for the big dob users.
Scott
Awesome work on this tough target Scott. I've heard of it before, but never thought of imaging it. Thanks for sharing this obscure little nebula. Well done.
Yes Graham it seems faint, about mag 14.4. Its coords are RA = 12:44:45.4, DEC = -54:31:11.3 according to the ESO. Go 2.7 deg from delta Cru to gamma Cru and about the same distance again. See: http://server2.sky-map.org/starview?...object_id=8142
Guide 8 shows it as GN 12.41.9 and it is 3.22 deg from gamma Cru in pa 38.
I printed a map of the Boomerang neb area with a 1 degree field yesterday. It was clear and cold here last night so I had a go at seeing it at 7pm with the 12" Dob. Started with a 21mm EP and UHC filter and could only just see it. Put an 8mm in with no filter and it was easier, although looking at the map with a faint red LED torch didn't help. Waited a while took a deep breath and it was visible without averted vision but very small. I just checked Scott's image and it was definitely it, I could see both of the stars (mag 13.8 and 15.1 according to Guide) next to it. I think the mag 15.1 star (GSC 8651290) is brighter than that.
