WR 8

Constellation: Puppis

WR 8 (HD 62910) is a Wolf-Rayet star in the constellation of Puppis. Link to interactive sky chart.

Related scientific publication (accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal):

Deep Optical Images of the Ejecta Nebula Around the Wolf-Rayet Star WR 8 (HD 62910)

Robert A. Fesen, Daniel Patnaude, Wei-Hao Wang, You-Hua Chu, Jason Sun, Manuel C. Peitsch, Martin Pugh, Scott Garrod, Michael Selby, Alex Woronow

We report the results of deep Hα and [O III] images of the bright WN6/WC4 Wolf-Rayet star WR~8 (HD 62910). These data show considerably more surrounding nebulosity than seen in prior imaging. The brighter portions of the nebula span ≃6′ in diameter and exhibit considerable fine-scale structure including numerous emission clumps and bright head-tail like features presumably due to the effects of the WR star’s stellar winds. Due to the overlap of a relatively bright band of unrelated foreground diffuse interstellar Hα emission, WR~8’s nebula is best viewed via its [O III] emission. A faint 9′×13′ diffuse outer nebulosity is detected surrounding the nebula’s main ring of emission. Comparison of the nebula’s optical structure with that seen in WISE 22 μm data shows a similarly clumpy structure but in a better defined emission shell of thermal continuum from dust. The infrared shell is coincident with the nebula’s southern [O III] emissions but is mainly seen in the fainter outer portions of the northern [O III] emission clumps. It is this greater radial distance of dust emission in the nebula’s northern areas that leads to a striking off-center position of the WR star in the IR shell. (Link)

[Oiii]

Hα and [O III] images of the WR 8 nebula showing a comparison of the nebula’s relative brightness in these line emissions. The broad band of diffuse emission seen in the Hα image is unrelated background/foreground ISM emission. North is up, east to the left.

Telescope & Mount:

Planewave CDK24 (F6.5) on a Planewave L600 mount.

Imaging:

Camera: Moravian G3-61000 (bin 2×2)

Data:
Nebula:
Astrodon Ha: 28x1200s
Astrodon O3: 49x1200s

Stars:
Astrodon R: 10x180s
Astrodon G: 10x180s
Astrodon B: 10x180s

Total integration time: 27h 10′