At a Glance
Object: NGC 7635 – The Bubble Nebula
Type: Emission Nebula
Constellation: Cassiopeia
Distance: 7,100 Light-years
Catalog: NGC 7635
Best Season: Fall
NGC 7635, also known as the Bubble Nebula, is a captivating celestial object located in the constellation Cassiopeia, approximately 7,100 light-years away from Earth. This stunning emission nebula derives its name from the remarkable bubble-like structure it exhibits, making it a popular subject for both amateur and professional astronomers.
At the heart of NGC 7635 lies a massive, young, and scorching star named BD+60°2522. This central star’s intense radiation and powerful stellar winds play a pivotal role in shaping the nebula’s distinctive appearance. The star’s radiation ionizes the surrounding hydrogen gas, causing it to emit a reddish glow that is typical of emission nebulae.
The bubble-shaped appearance is a result of the dynamic interplay between the star’s energetic outflows and the surrounding molecular cloud. As the star’s winds collide with the cloud’s material, it creates a cavity, effectively sculpting the nebula into its iconic form.
NGC 7635 spans roughly 10 light-years in diameter and is also an active region for the formation of new stars. As the radiation and shockwaves from BD+60°2522 interact with the surrounding gas and dust, it triggers the birth of other stars within the nebula.
For astronomy enthusiasts and astrophotographers, NGC 7635 is a prized target. Its visually striking appearance through telescopes and its intricate beauty when captured in long-exposure images make it a favorite among stargazers.
Exploring NGC 7635 allows us to gain insight into the incredible forces of nature that shape our universe. It serves as a reminder of the beauty and wonder that can be found in the depths of space, making it a truly enchanting spectacle in the night sky.
Capture Details:
| Telescope | Celestron Nexstar 8se |
| Reducer/Flattener | Celestron .63x Reducer/Flattener |
| Filter | Optolong L-Extreme |
| Camera | ZWO ASI294 MC |
| Mount | Skywatcher EQM-35 Pro |
| Total Captured | 104 |
| Total Time | 8 hours and 40 minutes |
| Capture Software | N.I.N.A. |
Guiding | PHD2, ZWO asi120mm mini, |
| Processed in | PixInsight |
Backyard Capture Notes
NGC 7635, better known as the Bubble Nebula, is a great backyard target because it has a bright, recognizable shape surrounded by a much larger field of faint glowing gas. The “bubble” itself is formed by powerful stellar winds from a hot young star pushing into the surrounding nebula, and it can be tricky to process without losing the softer structure around it.
From suburban skies, this is a target that benefits from plenty of exposure time and a good narrowband or dual-band filter. The brighter bubble area comes through fairly well, but the surrounding hydrogen clouds and darker dust structures need patience to reveal. It is a rewarding object because the final image has both a clear main feature and a lot of subtle background detail for viewers to explore.