Astronomy Picture of the Day: 21.01.2026
- Jan 21
- 1 min read
Object Name: SH2-308 Dolphin Head Nebula
Copyright: Nick Axaris
Location: Melbourne australia
Skill level: Advanced (5-10 years)
Image Title
The Dolphin's head
Artists' statement
SH2-308 is a large emission nebula formed by powerful stellar winds from a central Wolf–Rayet star. The expanding shell of ionised gas is visible as a faint blue structure, with subtle variations showing areas of higher density and shock interaction. This image was captured from Melbourne’s Bortle 6 suburban skies, where light pollution makes faint detail difficult to extract. Through long integration and careful processing its subtle structure was revealed, showing what can still be achieved from the city with patience and technique. The Optolong L-Ultimate filter was used to reveal the HA and considerable O3 gas.
How This Image Was Captured
Gear used
TS-Optics Photoline 130 APO with riccardi 0.75 reducer, Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro belt modded. ASIAIR for acquisition and guiding. Optolong L-Ultimate filter
Exposure details
60×300″(5h) 78×600″(13h)
Processing notes
Stacked in Astropixel Processor and created separate HA O3 channels. Processed in Pixinsight, Blurexterminator Noise exterminator, Then finally finished off in Photoshop.
Exploring SH2-308
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Behind the Selection
This striking image captures the delicate, ghost-like shell of a supernova remnant, revealing intricate filamentary structure and faint shock fronts within the expanding debris of a stellar explosion. The careful balance of deep integration and restrained processing allows subtle colour gradients and fine detail to emerge without overwhelming the surrounding star field. Beyond its aesthetic impact, the image tells a compelling astrophysical story of stellar death and enrichment of the interstellar medium.
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