Comprehensive Imaging Project Captures All 313 Sharpless Catalog Nebulae
NASA
- Astrophotographer Bing Xin has completed a massive project to image all 313 objects in the Sharpless Catalog of H II regions.
- The project required approximately 800 hours of total exposure time, with individual objects taking between 2 and 6 hours to capture.
Catalog Content
- The collection includes more than just H II regions; it features planetary nebulae like the Medusa Nebula (Sh2-274) and supernova remnants such as the Spaghetti Nebula (Sh2-240).
- Notable highlights include the Eagle (Sh2-49), Heart (Sh2-190), and Orion (Sh2-281) Nebulae.
Technical Execution
- Capture Locations: Dark sky sites across Eastern China and Inner Mongolia.
- Equipment: Utilized narrowband filters to capture ionized hydrogen and oxygen, alongside red-green-blue (RGB) filters.