6 replies to this topic

[Keith Rivich]

Most of you have probably seen the press release for Wolf-Rayet 124 (WR124). Beautiful image. https://www.nasa.gov...de-to-supernova

 

I looked at WR124, aka Sh2-80, many years ago in the 25" out in west Texas in excellent conditions. In my notes I wrote that the 10th mag "central star" (Megastar has this plotted as a planetary nebula) was easy to find but the nebula had to be teased out. I wrote that the H-Beta filter showed it best. Just a soft roundish glow about 1' in diameter. No detail. 

 

Here is an excerpt penned by Uwe Glahn over in the Deep Sky Forum (2012):

"Last new moon I tried the WR Nebula Sh 2-80 "Merrill's Star". The nebula is called after Paul Merill, who wrote about the star first at 1938, after Cora Burwill detected an emission line in the yellow portion of the spectrum through the objective prism spectogram on Mount Wilson. It was misclassified as a PN (Min 1-67; PN G050.1+03.3 )

After I few unsuccessful observation I could see something around the 10mag star WR 124. I observed with my 27" under good to very good transparency and tried several AP's and filter. The only successful combination was 172x (AP 4mm) with Hß filter. With that I could see a very dim, round glow with approx 1' in diameter. Brightest part was like a semicircle structure just S of the star. Another better defined part lies very close just E of the star with a short part to the NW.

What experience do you have with this unusual nebula? What aperture is needed to see the faint glow?"

 

Anyway, this one goes back on my observing list for the upcoming spring season. I'll take a look at TSP. 

 

WR 124

SH2-80

19 11 30

16 51 38

Sagitta

The magnitude listed in Megastar is 8.2 (IR) 

V magnitude is 11.5 (Simbad)

[yuzameh]

I must admit I've been websearching through several fora trying to see if any amateur images of it can be found, but I hadn't searched on the Sh2 80 name, most mentioned nebula name seem to be the M1-67 one which was getting me nowhere image-wise.

[Keith Rivich]

I must admit I've been websearching through several fora trying to see if any amateur images of it can be found, but I hadn't searched on the Sh2 80 name, most mentioned nebula name seem to be the M1-67 one which was getting me nowhere image-wise.

Here is a CN thread about the object:

 

https://www.cloudyni...-merrills-star/

[David Knisely]

This Wolf-Rayet star is getting a lot of interest from the JWST image, but the repeated "on the verge of going supernova" is more of the hype machine going bonkers again (sigh).  Maybe we can start a pool to see which star goes supernova first: WR 124 or Betelgeuse (we do have a while to wait on both of them, so don't pop the popcorn too soon ).  If the amateur observer wants more nebulosity, NGC 6888 around the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136 is relatively easy to view, especially in narrow-band and OIII line nebula filters.  Oh well, I guess trying for the nebula around WR 124 is about like going after Hoag's Object or other space telescope targets just to see if you can even just barely see them.  Clear skies to you. 

[Keith Rivich]

This Wolf-Rayet star is getting a lot of interest from the JWST image, but the repeated "on the verge of going supernova" is more of the hype machine going bonkers again (sigh).  Maybe we can start a pool to see which star goes supernova first: WR 124 or Betelgeuse (we do have a while to wait on both of them, so don't pop the popcorn too soon ).  If the amateur observer wants more nebulosity, NGC 6888 around the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136 is relatively easy to view, especially in narrow-band and OIII line nebula filters.  Oh well, I guess trying for the nebula around WR 124 is about like going after Hoag's Object or other space telescope targets just to see if you can even just barely see them.  Clear skies to you. 

A few years ago, at TSP, we looked at Hoag's Object. Wasn't very difficult in the 25". More resembling a planetary nebula then a galaxy. Going after these space telescope targets is part of the fun. Don't know until you try!

[yuzameh]

I'll remind you you said this on your 52,383 birthday just after it's gone kaboom. Put my name in the pool and be ready to cough up.  Put a cent in savings now and it will have risen in amount quite nicely.  Of course the final amount will only be worth a billionth of a current cent coz of inflation.

 

Seriously though the hype is getting too much of late and doing astro no good, I think it was better when astronomy was just ignored completely.

 

 but the repeated "on the verge of going supernova" is more of the hype machine going bonkers again (sigh).

Edited by yuzameh, 18 March 2023 - 03:53 PM.

[David Knisely]

A few years ago, at TSP, we looked at Hoag's Object. Wasn't very difficult in the 25". More resembling a planetary nebula then a galaxy. Going after these space telescope targets is part of the fun. Don't know until you try!

I did Hoag's in my 14 inch Dobsonian at the Nebraska Star Party a few years ago, but all I could make out was the core region.  It was definitely somewhat more difficult than seeing Andromeda's parachute however.  Clear skies to you.