This image represents a slightly 'normalized' of this region which is heavy in Hydrogen Alpha; moderate in Sulfur ii, and low in Oxygen iii. The hydrogen alpha is toned down to allow the other bands to come through more. Individual shots of each of the bands is show below.
This image represents a highly 'normalized' of this region which is heavy in Hydrogen Alpha; moderate in Sulfur ii, and low in Oxygen iii. The hydrogen alpha is significantly toned down to allow the other bands to come through more.
Messier 52 (M52), also known as the Scorpion Cluster, is a striking open star cluster nestled in the constellation Cassiopeia, and it’s a fantastic object to highlight on your site—especially for audiences curious about deep-sky wonders visible from the Northern Hemisphere.
M52 was one of my first open clusters I observed through a telescope and sticks in my memory.
Shape and Structure: Observers often describe M52 as irregular or asymmetrical, with a compact core and stars trailing off unevenly—hence the nickname “Scorpion Cluster.” It’s classified as a Type I2r cluster, meaning it has a dense core and a medium range in stellar brightness.
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_52
Forged by a star 45 times the mass of our Sun, this expanding shell of ionized gas spans over 10 light-years. The Bubble Nebula is a living record of stellar feedback—where ultraviolet radiation and supersonic winds reshape the interstellar medium, compressing clouds, triggering new stars, and sculpting cosmic architecture. What looks like a fragile sphere is, in truth, a monument to energy, motion, and time.
💨 What Creates the Bubble?
- The nebula is sculpted by the fierce stellar wind of a massive O-type star, SAO 20575, located at its center.
- This star is 45 times more massive than our Sun, and its radiation pushes surrounding gas into a glowing shell.
- The “bubble” is not perfectly spherical—it’s shaped by the uneven density of the interstellar medium, which causes ripples and asymmetry.
🔥 Size & Expansion
The bubble spans 6 to 10 light-years across. It’s expanding at a speed of 36 km/s, driven by the star’s wind moving at over 4 million mph. Estimated age: ~40,000 years, still young in cosmic terms.
🧪 Composition & Color
Made of ionized hydrogen, helium, and trace elements, which emit light in specific wavelengths. Narrowband imaging (Ha, OIII, SII) reveals dramatic color contrasts—perfect for astrophotography.
🌟 Why It Matters
The Bubble Nebula is a textbook example of stellar feedback—how massive stars shape their environments. It offers clues about star formation, molecular cloud erosion, and chemical enrichment of the galaxy.
References:
4.5 Hours of Ha
4.5 hours of Sii
4.5 hours, of Oiii
Bias and Flats (No Darks)
Total Integration time: ~8.5 hours
Optolog 3nm SHO Filters
Scope: Explore Scientific ED 127mm refractor
Apex ED 0.65x Reducer / Flattener
Camera: ZWO 2600mm
Guide scope: Agena Astro 60mm refractor
Guide camera: ZWO ASI120mm-S
Mount: Losmandy G11G
Beelink Mini PC S Intel 11th Gen
Focuser: ZWO EAF (Electronically Assisted Focuser)
Filter Wheel: ZWO 7 Position
Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Micro
NINA 3.2 used for capture
PixInsight for Processing