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Topic starter
24/09/2024 11:04 pm
The Tulip Nebula (Sh2-101) is a fascinating structure in the constellation Cygnus, the Swan, and is an emission nebula about 6,000 light years from Earth with a diameter of about 70 light years. The name of this emission nebula stems from the fact that it has the form of a tulip when images in narrowband. This is a little harder to see in this image since it was processed with the intent of bringing out the Cygnus X-1 System (the blue supergiant star HD 226868 + its companion black hole [not visible]), but the tulip area is at the lower left of the blue-purple oval structure near the middle right of frame.
The 9th magnitude star, HD 226868 (see the annotation) is at the center of the Cygnus X-1 System and the accompanying black hole (rotating at 800 times/second!), which itself was formed by the collapse massive star and has at its center a gravitational singularity from which light cannot escape. The black hole pulls material from HD 226868 and that material powers the black hole’s growth (accretion). The material pulled from HD 226868 is either pulled into the black hole or is redirected from the black hole in powerful jets. I’m in no way certain of this, but there is a swirling, cyclonic ropelike structure that appears to emanate from HD 226868 that could possibly be connected with these powerful jets from the black hole.
Above HD 226868 is a large, blue-purple ovoid, which is called a bow shock wave (or shell) that emanates from HD 226868.
I worked on this project throughout August, 2024 in several different iterations, one in which I attempted to combine data from the Askar 107PHQ with dual narrowband data from a SXV90T. Ultimately, I decided to throw away the SVX90T dual narrowband data (just over 13 hours) and process only the narrowband data from the Askar 107PHQ (a total of 27.5 hours) collecting nearly twice as much OIII data as Ha data so I could try and bring out the details of HD 226868’s bow shock wave.
Still not content with the quality of the image, however, I’m going to attempt to accumulate more data. For some reason, this System has a firm hold on me!! 😊
Capture Dates: 8/1, 8/7, 8/10, 8/26, 8/29 (am and pm), and 8/30/2024.
Equipment:
Askar 107PHQ at native fL of 749mm (f/7.0)
ASI2600MM Pro (Monochrome camera)
ZWO 7-position 2" Electronic Filter Wheel (EFW)
ZWO ASIAir with ZWO AM5 mount -- guiding via SV106 and ASI178MM
Filters:
Antlia 3nm Narrowband H-alpha 2": 75×300″ [6:15]
Antlia 3nm Narrowband SII 2": 116×300″ [9:40]
Antlia 3nm Narrowband OIII 2": 133×300″ [11:05]
Antlia Pro V Luminance 2”: 30x60s [0:30]
Total integration time: 27:30
Processed with PixInsight and Adobe Photoshop.
This topic was modified 2 months ago 2 times by Greg Erianne
26/09/2024 7:50 pm
Another wonderful image Greg, lots of detail and visual interest. There is so much here I have a hard time seeing the Tulip until I look at the annotation. Well done!
I like that you have captured the shockwave from HD226868. My image of the tulip just had a small edge of this shock wave due to my tight FOV.
Terri
Topic starter
26/09/2024 9:02 pm
@terri Thank you, Terri! This project was really specifically to try and capture the bow shock wave and surrounding area so I was pretty happy with the result. I have to try reprocessing to see if I messed it up and that's why it isn't as sharp as I'd like it, or if I genuinely need more time on it. (Of course, more time would never hurt!)
Greg
