Whakatane Observatory
boy! have we got a universe
to show you
explore the Moon
check out the planets in our
solar system
School Groups are welcome
want to learn how to use
a telescope?
become a member and meet
the visitors to our area
Public Viewings
open Tuesday and Friday nights.
Astronomical Information
Tonight at Whakatāne Observatory
Moon
Planets visible tonight
Good telescope & binocular targets
Local Sidereal Time
--h --m --s
Sh2-188: The Shrimp Nebula
What causes the swirl in the Shrimp Nebula? Its high speed is likely. What is sure is that Sh2-188 is one of the larger planetary nebulas on the night sky, by angular size, spanning about half the diameter of the Moon. Moreover, the white-dwarf core -- leftover from the Sun-like star that shed its outer atmosphere -- is moving unusually fast through interstellar space, creating a bow shock most visible on the upper left that is similar to a boat plowing through water. Although faint, the Shrimp Nebula glows also by compressing and brightening gas on its leading edge. The featured image was taken in the light of hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen by a backyard telescope in Krakow, Poland and then digitally adjusted to approximate the nebula's true colors. APOD's email for image submissions has changed. Please see: APOD Submissions APOD's main NASA site has moved: From apod.nasa.gov to science.nasa.gov/apod