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Object name
NGC2359 the Thor Helmet nebula

Constellation: Canis Major
Distance:12,000 light years
Imaged by Jean-Yves Beninger from Alqueva Dark Sky, Portugal
From 3 to 5 February 2025

Equipment:
Astro-Physics Mach1
Astro-Physics AP130 Starfire EDF with 2.7" field flattener 67PF562, 819mm
Camera Zwo ASI 2600MM pixel size 3.76µ
Filters R, G, B, S, H, O

HOO image

Description:

NGC 2359, also known as Thor’s Helmet, is an emission nebula located approximately 12,000 light-years away in the constellation Canis Major. The nebula’s distinctive shape, resembling a Viking helmet with curved horns, is created by a central Wolf-Rayet star, WR 7, which is an extremely hot and massive star in a late stage of stellar evolution.

The nebula’s complex structure is formed by powerful stellar winds from the Wolf-Rayet star, which push surrounding interstellar gas and dust into intricate filamentary shapes. Its bluish-green glow is primarily due to ionized oxygen gas. NGC 2359 spans about 30 light-years across and is a dynamic region of intense stellar activity.