Sh2-174
Sh2-174 is an unusual ancient planetary nebula. A planetary nebula is created when a low-mass star blows off its outer layers at the end of its life. The core of the star remains and is called a white dwarf. Usually the white dwarf can be found very near the center of the planetary nebula. But in the case of Sh2-174 it off to the right. (It is the very blue star near the center of the blue gas). This assymetry is due to the planetary nebula's interaction with the interstellar medium that surrounds it.
| Observatory: | Kitt Peak National Observatory Kitt Peak, Arizona |
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| Telescope: | KPNO 4-Meter |
| Instrument: | Mosaic I |
| Astronomer: | T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage) and H. Schweiker (WIYN and NOAO/AURA/NSF) |
| Date of Observation: | 09-19-2011 |
| Filters and Assigned Colors: | 5x10 min in B, [OIII] and H-alpha, and 5x3min in I |
| Exposure Times: | 5x10 min in B and H-alpha, and 5x3min in I |
| Location of Image: | Cepheus |
| Field of View: | 29.0 x 33.8 arcmin |
| Orientation: | North is up, East is to the left |
| Link to Larger Image | |
| Link to Full Resolution Image | |
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