Bubble Nebula

As its name suggests, the Bubble Nebula( (NGC 7635) is caused by a massive star blowing an enormous bubble of material into space. The Bubble Nebula is located about 8000 to 11,000 light-years from Willingboro and it is about 7 light-years in diameter.

The star forming the bubble (SAO 20575) is about 45 times more massive than our sun. The gases in the outer atmosphere of the star are so hot that they escape into space at more than 4 million miles per hour. This “stellar wind” pushes the interstellar gas in front of it, forming the bubble.

Still, I thought, wouldn’t the nebula look better if, instead of the emitting due to the Hydrogen alpha transition, it emissions were generated by the Hydrogen beta transition? So, during processing, I swapped the red and blue colors. I, personally, think it looks much better that way.

SAO 20575 is only about 4 million years old and it is burning so rapidly that astronomers expect the star to go supernova in another 10 to 20 million years. So enjoy it while you can.