Thor’s Helmet (NGC 2359) is an emission nebula located in the Canis Major constellation, about 15,000 light-years from Earth. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1785. Its actual size is about 30 light years .
It is not just a simple emission nebula because it is part of the short list of Wolf-Rayet bubbles.
It owes its particular shape to the Wolf-Rayet WR7 type star (HD 56925) .
This giant at the end of its life has consumed all the hydrogen present in its heart and has begun to fuse heavier elements. It expels matter surrounding its core in the form of high-velocity stellar winds.
Currently, WR 7 shines 280,000 times brighter than the sun and its surface temperature is 112,000°C!
This is the final stage before the supernova!
TSA120 à 880mm and ZWO 294mm on Avalon Linear mount from Saint-Saturnin (France).
120x300s with Ha filter
120x300s with OIII filter
Total: 20H