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NGC 3132 "Southern Ring"

A jewel of the southern sky, NGC 3132 has captivated my imagination. Searching through the HLA I found a rarely used* filter, f631n, which is neutral oxygen (OI), added an extra dimensionality to the nebula by strongly highlighting the rims of the cloud-like formations. The details pierce all the way through the depths of the the nebula, making it appear much rounder, like looking into a cosmic womb.

 

*When I say this I mean I don't see it very often for the planetary nebulas in the archive. I don't mean that it's rarely used overall.

 

Red: hst_08390_01_wfpc2_f658n_wf_sci

Yellow: hst_06221_02_wfpc2_f631n_wf_sci

Green: hst_08390_01_wfpc2_f555w_wf_sci

Blue: hst_08390_01_wfpc2_f502n_wf_sci

 

North is NOT up

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Uploaded on October 17, 2013
Taken on October 15, 2013