This wide-field image shows the extended cloud of gas near the planetary nebula NGC 3242.
Also known as the “Ghost of Jupiter”, NGC 3242 is the bright object at the center of the image.
The nature of the extended nebulosity is not yet known.
It may either be a shell of gas that was ejected by NGC 3242 when it was a red giant star.
Or it may also be a nearby cloud of interstellar gas that is being illuminated by the planetary nebula (NOAO)

HA-O3-RGB image

Ha - 120 min (BIN 2)
O3- 60 min (BIN 2)
RGB 20 min each

Total of 4:00 Hrs

Imaged with the 16" f3.75 Dream Astrograph.
Apogee Alta U-16M camera.



Imaged from Tivoli farm in Namibia June 2014