Astr110 Photography Projects, Spring 2006

Thor's Helmet (NGC 2359), Jori Mitchell

The name "Thor's Helmet" immediately implies a persona of power and strength. Thor's Helmet is a nebula that has been blown off by winds from Wolf Rayet star HD 56925, and appears to be the power source for this complex nebula. Wolf Rayet is an unusual star that is both extremely bright and hot. Wolf Rayet Stars are rare massive blue giants which develop stellar winds with speeds of millions of kilometers per hour.

Through interactions with a nearby molecular cloud Thor's Helmet became more complex in shape. It is round in shape and appears to look like a bubble. It is about 15,000 light-years away and it lies in the constellation Canis Major. It has an angular size of 8' x 12' and from top to bottom it is about 53 light years. Through the complexity of this amazing nebula we truly can see God's power and creativity.

References:
NGC 2359: Thor's Helmet

Astronomy Picture of the Day