Abell 39 (5-18-09)

This planetary nebula is a stretch for my equipment (well, especially without guiding). Abell 39 is a rather dim planetary nebula discovered in 1966. A planetary nebula forms when an aging star expels its outer layers. The nebula has a diameter of about 5 light years and is 7,000 light years away. Can you see it? It is near the top of the frame. It is very dim. You may have to turn the lights off to see it. What I like most about this nebula is that it is nearly round. How amazing to look out in the sky and see this ball of light, faint as it is. Several background galaxies can also be seen.

For a really amazing image of this same nebula, see here. Notice in the linked image that one background galaxy is visible right through the nebula itself! You can see that galaxy in my image, too, but it's just a smudge, not as obvious.

This image is 173x30" with the Atik 16 through the Vixen R135S, unguided on the Tak EM-10.