Chilldaddy1964
NGC 2261 Hubble's Variable Neb
NGC 2261 (also known as Hubble's Variable Nebula or Caldwell 46) is a variable nebula located 2,500 ly away in the constellation Monoceros. The nebula is illuminated by the star R Monocerotis (R Mon), which is not directly visible itself.
The star R Monocerotis has lit up a nearby cloud of gas and dust, but the shape and brightness slowly changes visibly even in small telescopes over weeks and months, and the nebula looks like a small comet.
One explanation proposed for the variability is that dense clouds of dust near R Mon periodically block the illumination from the star. This casts a temporary shadow on the nearly clouds.
C8 @F/10 on Evolution Alt/Az mount
ASI385MC one shot color camera
377x4s 25m total exposure
Saved as viewed in Sharpcap (no post-processing) and cropped
NGC 2261 Hubble's Variable Neb
NGC 2261 (also known as Hubble's Variable Nebula or Caldwell 46) is a variable nebula located 2,500 ly away in the constellation Monoceros. The nebula is illuminated by the star R Monocerotis (R Mon), which is not directly visible itself.
The star R Monocerotis has lit up a nearby cloud of gas and dust, but the shape and brightness slowly changes visibly even in small telescopes over weeks and months, and the nebula looks like a small comet.
One explanation proposed for the variability is that dense clouds of dust near R Mon periodically block the illumination from the star. This casts a temporary shadow on the nearly clouds.
C8 @F/10 on Evolution Alt/Az mount
ASI385MC one shot color camera
377x4s 25m total exposure
Saved as viewed in Sharpcap (no post-processing) and cropped