Sh2-200 / Bearclaw Nebula

NameBearclaw Nebula
Designation(s)Sh2-200
Object Type(s)Planetary Nebula
Relevant Catalog(s)All (Chron), Sharpless
Obs. Lat/Long42° 17', 073° 57'
ConstellationCamelopardalis
Date and Time Observed2024-12-02 00:15:00
InstrumentAskar FMA180-pro f4.0-180mm FL
CameraASI294MC-Pro
Image DetailsUp is 90.3 degrees E of N. Total integration time was 55m30s. Exposures 30s@375g, L-eNhance Filter. Darks subtracted, no flats. Dithered and recentered in SharpCap. No guiding.
DescriptionChallenging PN in a very dramatic part of the Sky. That's the "Soul Nebula" in the upper right corner. SH2-200 is a small gray disk that contrasts minimally with the background. It is marked with a yellow circle and writing in the annotated image. It's visible but tough to pick out on its own. The closeup image gives you an idea of what it looks like. This is a very dim object to observe in a wide-field telescope. In this rendering the disk is greenish gray and nearly uniform. However, if you look closely and enlarge the closeup fully, you can see slightly contrasting, brownish-gray surface markings. In astro photographs with much longer integration time, these markings are easier to see and vaguely resemble a bear claw.
Catalog Links
 Sharpless Listings 
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