NGC 2237 AND NGC 2244

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Date
2011/03/09

Observation place
New Mexico

Technical

TelescopeAstroSysteme Austria N8 - Dia. 200mm (8 ''), focal length 720mm, f / 3,6
MountParamount ME
Imaging cameraApogee Alta U8300 regulated at -30o Celsius
Image typeHa (RGB)
ExhibitionHa (10 x 12 'bin 1 × 1), RGB (3 x 5' bin 2 × 2 each)
Pretreatmentnebulosity
TreatmentPhotoshop and PixInsight

Object description

Object typeEmission nebula and open cluster "La Rosette"
ConstellationUnicorn
Visual magnitude5,5
Distance5500 light years
Dimension seen from Earth80 x 60 arc minutes
The Rosetta Nebula looks like a sparkling pink carnation. In the center, the star cluster NGC 2244 is easy to identify with binoculars. These stars were formed about 4 million years ago. The glow of the nebula comes from the ionization of the gas it contains by the ultraviolet radiation from this group of very hot massive stars. These stars are also responsible for the "rosette" appearance of the nebula. In addition, they emit a stellar wind which clears the center of the nebula, which also allows the creation of new stars by compressing the cloud of gas and dust.
Richard Beauregard
Sky Astro - CCD
My impression "We cannot be alone in this gigantic universe"