SH2-308 — A Cosmic Flipper Sighting in Canis Major

by Bob Meincke

Objects in field: LBN 1052, Sh2-308, 16 CMa), 16 omi01 CMa, EZ CMa, KW CMa, PK236-10.1, The star Udra (ο1 CMa, V0416 CMa, X CMa

Equipment: William Optics Redcat 51, ZWO ASI1600MM Pro

Integration: 20h 21m 40s

H2-308 — A Cosmic Flipper Sighting in Canis Major SH2-308, often called the Dolphin Head Nebula, is a large emission shell in Canis Major formed by the powerful stellar winds of a massive Wolf-Rayet star. The central star has been pushing material outward into the surrounding space, creating the faint, bubble-like structure that gives this object its distinctive dolphin-like shape. For this…