Waid Observatory

Object: Sh2-224
Feb. 06-07-08-11, 2019   -   Location: Davis Mountains west of Fort Davis, TX
Telescope: Stellarvue 102ED  -  Camera: ST-8300M  - Filters: Astrodon SII, Ha, OIII, R, G, B
Exposure: SII = 360 min. Ha = 240 min. OIII = 300 min.  -  RGB for stars = 30 min. each

Click on the image to view at higher resolution.

 

Sh2-224

 

Sh2-224 - Supernova Remnant in Auriga 1

Sh2-224 is a very faint supernova remnant located approximately 14,700 lightyears distant in the constellation Auriga.  This unusual celestial object is also designated VRO 42.05.01 and has been the object of considerable research using both ground based and space based telescopes including the ROSAT and the Dominion Radio Astronomy Observatory.  The nebula created by the supernova explosion is composed of two visual parts.  It is postulated the supernova explosion created a bubble like structure.  (Visible in the upper left of the image.)  As the shockwave from the explosion progressed into a very low density region of the interstellar medium, a "wing" component was expelled.  (Visible in the lower right of the image.)

Supernova explosions are the end stage of the natural life cycle of very large stars.  Such events are responsible for the distribution of heavy elements into the interstellar medium where they are incorporated in the birth of new star systems.  Without this phenomenon, planets, such as the Earth along with life as we know it, would not be possible.

The image above was assembled from narrowband filtered images.  The standard Hubble palette was used with SII mapped to red, Ha mapped to green, and OIII mapped to blue.  The stars were imaged using regular red, green, and blue filters.  These "true color" stars were superimposed over the narrowband background image.

A near true color version of the image may be viewed here.

1https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/rosat/gallery/snr_vro.html

 
Copyright Donald P. Waid