Abell 8

Description By Sakib Rasool

Abell 8 is a 1 arcminute planetary nebula in the constellation of Auriga that consists of a Ha bright rim and an OIII interior. Deep narrowband images such as this one show extended clouds of hydrogen in the vicinity. This isn't material ejected by the progenitor star but ambient material in the surrounding interstellar medium (ISM) that is being ionized by ultraviolet radiation of the central star leaking out of the thin gaseous shell of the planetary nebula. Abell 8 was discovered by the astronomer George Abell in 1955.

Telescope: Planewave 24" f6.7 on a Planewave HD Mount Camera: SBIG 16803

Taken at Stellar Winds Observatory, a/k/a Stan Watson Observatory in Animas, NM.

Exposure: L,R,G,B,03(2x2),HA(2x2) 300,300,300,300,450,450 min