Hanson Astronomy Photos

NGC 2467 "Skull and Crossbones Nebula"

This very colorful star-forming region seen in this new image of NGC 2467 taken from SSRO in Chile.  Also known as the "Skull and Crossbones Nebula" is located in the constellation Puppis. Numerous stars and clusters come together to make this stunning stellar portrait.

One of the most notable clusters within NGC 2467, known as Haffner 18, houses around 50 stars—most are high-mass, but have already begun the transit into the celestial afterlife. They certainly help shape the pillars of gas and dust, but their role is negligible compared to that of HD 64315 located in the center of NGC 2467. This gargantuan star does most of the work. Its outbursts, ranging from flares, to coronal mass ejections and such, eject vast quantities of radiation into the nebular material, which has a carving effect. The dark splotches all around and in the nebula are Bok Globules. Within these regions, dust is packed together so tightly, light from embedded stars can’t break through.

Telescope: 16" RCOS, FLI 16803, Planewave 200HR

75 Hours of exposure

Location: Cito, Chile