Image Title: Minkowski 2-51 Planetary Nebula
Copyright: Douglas J Struble
Date image was taken: September 19, 2026
Location: Taylor, MI USA
Data Acquisition Method: Personal Telescope Setup
Description and Details: Minkowski 2-51 (M 2-51) is a planetary nebula, cataloged as PN G103.2+00.6. It is the ionized circumstellar material expelled during the late evolutionary stages of a low- to intermediate-mass star. It’s not captured often and tried to do it justice.
The nebula consists primarily of gas expelled from the progenitor star during its asymptotic giant branch (AGB) evolution. After losing its outer envelope, the star's exposed core became extremely hot and began ionizing the previously expelled material.
The resulting nebula emits strongly through collisionally excited forbidden lines and hydrogen recombination lines.
Name: Douglas Struble
Website, Instagram or Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/AstrophotographyByDouglasJStruble/
