The Wizard Nebula … NGC 7380
Astronomical objects have formal names according to the catalogue they are listed in … for example the Messier Catalogue, NGC (New General Catalogue), Caldwell Catalogue, Sharpless Catalogue, etc., etc., etc. But many astronomical objects have been given more common names by astronomers based on sort of what the object resembles … for example The Witches Broom nebula, the Tulip Nebula, Pac-Man nebula, etc, etc. A type of astronomical pareidolia you might say.
So the object pictured above is actually NGC 7380 … but it is more commonly … and perhaps more widely … known as the Wizard Nebula. Why? Well, if you look closely up there on the left you can see (perhaps 😀) a wizard’s pointed hat, perhaps a face and nose, farther down his flowing robes, and maybe even a couple of hands casting a spell. All adding to the fun and wonder of this amazing hobby. Enjoy!
This photo is a result of 633 ten second images taken with the Seestar S50, stacked and processed in PixInsight, with help from NIK Collection plugin for Photoshop, Topaz Sharpener, and ProDigital Software’s Star Spikes 4.
The Wizard Nebula is approximately 7200 light-years away from Earth, has an apparent magnitude of 7.2, and is situated in the constellation Cepheus.
The Wizard Nebula … NGC 7380
Astronomical objects have formal names according to the catalogue they are listed in … for example the Messier Catalogue, NGC (New General Catalogue), Caldwell Catalogue, Sharpless Catalogue, etc., etc., etc. But many astronomical objects have been given more common names by astronomers based on sort of what the object resembles … for example The Witches Broom nebula, the Tulip Nebula, Pac-Man nebula, etc, etc. A type of astronomical pareidolia you might say.
So the object pictured above is actually NGC 7380 … but it is more commonly … and perhaps more widely … known as the Wizard Nebula. Why? Well, if you look closely up there on the left you can see (perhaps 😀) a wizard’s pointed hat, perhaps a face and nose, farther down his flowing robes, and maybe even a couple of hands casting a spell. All adding to the fun and wonder of this amazing hobby. Enjoy!
This photo is a result of 633 ten second images taken with the Seestar S50, stacked and processed in PixInsight, with help from NIK Collection plugin for Photoshop, Topaz Sharpener, and ProDigital Software’s Star Spikes 4.
The Wizard Nebula is approximately 7200 light-years away from Earth, has an apparent magnitude of 7.2, and is situated in the constellation Cepheus.