Jones-Emberson 1

Image Title: Jones-Emberson 1

Copyright: Ravagnin Alessandro

Date image was taken: November 11, 2024

Location (was image taken with remote scope?): Romano d'Ezzelino (VI) Italy
(my backyard, Bortle 7/8 sky)

Image Description and Details: PK 164+31.1, also known as Jones-Emberson 1, is a planetary nebula in the constellation Lynx. Its intricate structure and relatively faint luminosity make it a challenging target for astrophotographers. However, with patience and dedication, this “hidden gem” can be transformed into a stunning window into the deep sky.

The nebula appears as a faint, diffuse spherical shell with an irregular structure. Its most striking features include internal rings and filaments, likely formed due to instabilities in the mass-loss process of the progenitor star. Hα and OIII filters reveal distinct details: OIII highlights the hotter, ionized regions, while Hα traces the denser gas.

The characteristic blue-green color, visible in broadband images, primarily results from the emission of doubly ionized oxygen (OIII), while the reddish tones are due to ionized hydrogen (Hα).

This nebula is the remnant of the outer layers expelled by a Sun-like star in its final life stages. The central star, visible as a small, hot white dwarf, is the remaining core of the progenitor star. Its temperature exceeds 100,000 K, making it hot enough to ionize the surrounding gas.

As a planetary nebula in its advanced stage, the gas shell is gradually expanding and dispersing into the interstellar medium. PK 164+31.1 is thought to be a bipolar nebula, seen almost perfectly along the axis of its two lobes, with an estimated age of 15,000 years. At this stage, the ejected material begins to blend into the surrounding interstellar environment.

Equipment Details: C11HD Edge f/10 + ASI2600MM Pro + LRGBHO Optolong 2"
100x300s H-alpha
100x300s OIII
150x120s L
3x30x180s RGB
Sky-wathcer EQ8
Guiding: Tecnosky 115/800mm + ASI183MM

Name: Alessandro Ravagnin

Website or Facebook Profile: https://astrotrex.wordpress.com/2024/11/20/pk-16431-1-again/