WR 71
Constellation: Triangulum Australe
WR 71 (HD 143414) is a Wolf-Rayet star in the constellation of Triangulum Australe. North of WR 71, we can also see 5 galaxies (left to right: 2MASX J16043918-6227118, 2MASX J16043088-6234197, 2MASX J16042704-6229477, Unkown to SIMBAD, 2MASX J16030576-6223572). Also visible in this image is the galaxy LEDA 337704, located south of WR 71. Link to interactive sky chart.
Related scientific publication (submitted for review):
The Ejecta Nebula Around the Wolf-Rayet Star WR 71
Robert A. Fesen, Manuel C. Peitsch, Martin Pugh, Bray Falls and Marcel Drechsler
We present deep Hα and [OIII] images of the ejecta rich nebulosity associated with the suspected runaway and binary Wolf-Rayet star WR71 (HD 143414). In Hα the nebula appears as a partial, broken ring of emission clumps off center from the WR star, with the bulk of the emission lying to the south and west in a crescent shape 9′×13′ in angular size. At a Gaia estimated distance of 4.27 kpc, the nebula has physical dimensions of 11×16 pc making it one of the larger known ejecta rich WR ring nebulae. Our [OIII] image also show considerable surrounding faint nebulosity much of which appears unrelated to the WRstar. A comparison of the nebula’s optical appearance with that seen in WISE 22µm data shows infrared coincidence with the nebula’s brighter [OIII] emission features.
H-alpha
[Oiii]
Hα and [O III] images of the WR 71 nebula showing a comparison of the nebula’s relative brightness in these line emissions. North is up, east to the left.
Dates:
This is derived from the outstanding data taken by Martin Pugh during March and April 2025 (Martin’s website: Remote Astrophotography with Martin Pugh (martinpughastrophotography.space).
His telescope is located in Chile (Observatory: El Sauce).
Colour palette is HOO.
This target was suggested by Robert A Fesen with the aim to obtain a deeper optical image of the Ha ejecta nebula around WR 71, and identify a potential Oiii signal. This nebula was initially identified by DJ Stock and MJ Barlow using the SHS Hα survey as described in Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 409, 1429–1440 (2010). Figure 16 of this article is shown below.
Telescope & Mount:
Planewave CDK24 with 0.66x reducer (F/4.37) on a Planewave L600 mount.
Imaging:
Camera: Moravian C1-61000 (bin 2×2)
Data:
Nebula:
Astrodon Ha: 59x600s
Astrodon O3: 57x600s
Stars:
Astrodon R: 14x180s
Astrodon G: 14x180s
Astrodon B: 14x180s
Total integration time: 21h 26′