SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
Daniel Stern
Location of Photo:
Rio Hurtado, Chile
Date/Time of photo:
October 2023
Equipment:
CDK-17 / L-500 / Moravian C-4
Description:
Planetary nebulae like NGC 1360 (the Robins Egg), are among my favorite targets. The Robins Egg is a bit different than most. A “typical” planetary nebula (PN) has a more defined shape. This one is considered to be evolved, an astronomical euphemism for old, and that’s thought to be the reason for its amorphous shape. Other PNe usually have one white dwarf at their core and NGC 1360 has a binary system consisting of two white dwarfs, a central star that created it and a companion. These ionize the surrounding oxygen and hydrogen giving it its bluish and reddish colors. It also has a reddish jet emanating from its major axis, the result of an ejection from the original star before its final collapse.
