NGC2359 ; Thor's Helmet

true color image of NGC2359

The image above was obtained on December 14 2003 using the IMACS instrument on the Magellan-Baade telescope at Las Campanas observatory. The field of view corresponds to 15 arc-minutes imaged using eight 8-megapixel CCD detectors in B/V/R filters. The nebula is a result of extensive mass loss from an evolved massive star (the bright star slightly left from the image center) referred to as Wolf-Rayet stars.

Some higher resolution close-ups are also available.

Danny Steeghs, Jan'04