2017_01_31 NGC 2261 Hubble's Variable Nebula
The star at the tip of the fan is R Monocerotis, a very young variable star surrounded by a small accretion disk. Its classified as a T-Tauri star so it hasn't quite settled down on the main sequence yet.
Its around B8 in terms of luminosity class at present but is likely to drop down to F,G or K when it matures. The brightness may be in part related to Lithium burning which pre-main sequence stars can achieve.
The larger fan like structure is a reflection nebula - a gas cloud illuminated by the star.
Just two problems - R Monocerotis varies in luminosity. Also the surrounding accretion disk varies in density so both these factors change the illumination that the reflection nebula receives - sometimes over just a few days.
Animations of this region taken over months show flickering flame-like appearance of the reflection nebula as its illumination from the star and shielding accretion disc change.
Im going to try to get enough images to make a short animation of this.
Taken with the T18 scope in Nerpio, ESP
2017_01_31 NGC 2261 Hubble's Variable Nebula
The star at the tip of the fan is R Monocerotis, a very young variable star surrounded by a small accretion disk. Its classified as a T-Tauri star so it hasn't quite settled down on the main sequence yet.
Its around B8 in terms of luminosity class at present but is likely to drop down to F,G or K when it matures. The brightness may be in part related to Lithium burning which pre-main sequence stars can achieve.
The larger fan like structure is a reflection nebula - a gas cloud illuminated by the star.
Just two problems - R Monocerotis varies in luminosity. Also the surrounding accretion disk varies in density so both these factors change the illumination that the reflection nebula receives - sometimes over just a few days.
Animations of this region taken over months show flickering flame-like appearance of the reflection nebula as its illumination from the star and shielding accretion disc change.
Im going to try to get enough images to make a short animation of this.
Taken with the T18 scope in Nerpio, ESP