The Red Rectangle Protoplanetary Nebula

Image Title: A Rectangle in the Sky

Copyright: ShaRA Team

Date image was taken: November 13, 2025

Location: Rio Hurtado (Chile)

Data Acquisition Method: Remote Observatory (Commercial)

Description and Details: The Red Rectangle is a protoplanetary nebula located in the constellation Monoceros, about 2,300 light-years away. Its distinctive shape is the result of a dying star’s evolution, or more precisely, of a binary system at its core, ejecting gas in two opposing conical outflows. Viewed from Earth, these cones, sliced by our line of sight and framed by a dusty disk, appear as a suspended “X” in space.
Imaged obtained combining 15 different versions, using our standard processing workflow of ShaRA superstack! Data acquired in November with RC1000 remote telescope, with expositions from 90s to 600s. LRGB combination.

Name: ShaRA Team

Email: shara.astrophotography@gmail.com

Website or Facebook Profile: https://astrotrex.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/shara14-1-un-rettangolo-nel-cielo/#english