Long on my to-do list has been the spectacular Simeis 147, also known as SH2-240 or the Spaghetti Nebula.  A large supernova remnant (SNR) spanning the border between the Taurus and Auriga constellations, which despite its size is one of the faintest objects in the night sky and therefore not an easy astrophotography target.  Moreover, given my equipment’s field-of-view the large size of the SNR would require a mosaic to fully image, which is generally out of the question here at Fairvale Observatory with the limited clear sky conditions that prevail here.  Therefore, for the moment I’ve concentrated on a close-up area of the southern lobe, imaged and processed in HOO narrowband to highlight the beautiful complexity of this cosmic cataclysm that is the product of a massive stellar explosion that took place some 40,000 years ago.

Furthermore, imaging was not helped by the presence of a waning full moon and even with 10-minute exposures, only very limited detail was evident in the Ha wavelength and none in OIII, thus also making framing tricky.  However, with over 12-hours integration time eventually obtained over four nights and very careful processing, my first image of this wonderful SNR does not disappoint.  I hope to return to this magnificent object again in the future to add more exposures – you really cannot have too many – and perhaps eventually capture this bowl of cosmic spaghetti in its entirety one day too.