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Sh2 290 on 2026-03-12,13,14,17,18,19,20,21
Sh2 290, also known as Abell 31, is an ancient planetary nebula in the constellation of Cancer. It is estimated to be about 2,000 light years from our solar system. The central white dwarf has a spectral type of DAO. Abell 31 is mainly composed of hydrogen and oxygen gas. The blue oxygen occupies the central region and makes up the bulk of the nebula, while the red hydrogen makes a ring at the nebula's edge. This object is very old, and consequently, it is very large and dim. It has a low surface brightness, and its gas is dispersing into the interstellar medium. This photo was taken in Kyle, Texas through a 4.5-inch f/4 Telescope, on a Sky-Watcher EQ6-R mount, with a ZWO ASI533MC PRO color camera plus a dual-band H-Alpha & O-III Filter. The processing was done in PixInsight. The total image acquisition time is: 18 hrs 16 min 00 sec.