'Pac-Man' Nebula Gobbles Up Space in Stunning Photo

[Judi Lynn]

'Pac-Man' Nebula Gobbles Up Space in Stunning Photo
by Nina Sen, SPACE.com Contributor | January 24, 2014 01:50pm ET



With its mouth open wide and teeth bared, the insatiable-looking "Pac-Man" Nebula appears to be gobbling up deep space in this cool night sky photo.

Astrophotographer Steve Coates of Ocala, Fla., sent SPACE.com the stunning image on Jan. 20. He used an Astro-Tech 8 inch Ritchey-Chretien telescope, QSI 683wsg-8 camera, and Losmandy G11 with Gemini II mount to capture the image (Ha data 3 hours, SII and OIII data two hours and 20 minutes each filter). The Pac-Man shape of the nebula is orientated upside down in this view.

Also known as NGC 281, the Pac-Man Nebula is an emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia about 9,500 light-years from Earth. One light-year is the distance light travels in one year, or about 6 trillion miles (10 trillion kilometers).

http://www.space.com/24409-pac-man-nebula-night-sky-photo.html

[longship]

1. That's a pretty amazing pic, all done with amateur equipment.

I used to have a G11 Gemini mount. It was awesome. Set up took some time and it weighed a lot, but man, if I told it to point at the PacMan nebula it would nail it perfectly. Never got into photography; I ran out of job and funds. Eventually I had to sell the mount and the APO refractor I mounted on it. It was either look at the stars or heat my house in the winter. It was an easy call.

I still have a 10" Newtonian on a Dobsonian mount with digital setting circles. Fun when it gets warm enough and clear enough to drag it out.

Happy to R&K

[dangin]

2. Salmonchantedevening

This will be in Sundays lol cats with the caption. Nom nom nom.