SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
Jeff Reitzel
Location of Photo:
Kanab, UT
Date/Time of photo:
Feb 12-13, 2024
Equipment:
Stellarvue SVX127D scope, QHY268M camera, Astronomik Ha, Oiii, Sii filters, and Paramount MyT mount
Description:
Sharpless 2-261 is a faint emission nebula located near the outer edge of the Orion arm of our Milky Way Galaxy. Named for the father-son team of astronomers who discovered it in 1939, it is simply classified as an HII region. It is energized by a rogue O-type star identified as HD41997 travelling rapidly through the surrounding material. It contains a unique multi-layered bubble or shock wave forming in the center of this nebula. It appears similar to bubbles formed around Wolf-Rayet stars but no such stars are known in this area.
