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The Pencil Nebula

NGC 2736

Artistic Interpretation

A close-up of a high-velocity shock wave from the Vela Supernova Remnant, showcasing a razor-sharp, luminous turquoise filament cutting across the cosmic void with delicate internal structure.

Related Commentary

The Ast in astroanderson.com: Reflections on the Pixel

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Astronomical Overview

  • Classification: Supernova Remnant
  • Hemisphere: Southern
  • Constellation: Vela
  • JNOW Coordinates: RA 09h 00m 18s | Dec -45° 56′ 53″
  • Apparent Size: ~51 × 5 arcminutes
  • Distance from Earth: ~815 light-years
  • Image Site: 34°S 58°W | Bortle Class 5
  • Image Date: March 2025

Technical Acquisition

  • Optics & Mount: Celestron 9.25 Edge HD on Celestron CGEM Mount
  • Camera & Cooling: ZWO ASI2600MM Monochrome Camera (Maximum Cooling, Gain 100)
  • Filters: ZWO 7nm Hα, SII, OIII Narrowband Filter Set
  • Exposures (Narrowband HOO): Hα (20 × 600s) | SII (Nil) | OIII (20 × 600s)

Processing Workflow

Calibrated, integrated, and colour-mapped in PixInsight; refined in Topaz and Adobe Photoshop.