RCW-58 Cosmic Flower

mage Title: RCW-58 Cosmic Flower

Copyright: Daniel Stern

Date image was taken: March 11, 2025

Location: Rio Hurtado, Chile

Image Description and Details: RCW 58 exhibits an intricate network of filaments, clouds, and clumps of glowing gas. The nebula's structure is shaped by the powerful stellar winds emanating from its progenitor, WR-40, a Wolf-Rayet star. Wolf-Rayet stars are massive stars that produce powerful stellar winds that expel material from their surfaces at high velocities. The interaction between the fast-moving wind and slower-moving surrounding gas generates varying densities, producing its textured appearance. These winds blow away surrounding material and carve out cavities that are so prominent in this image. The intense radiation from the star also ionizes the surrounding gas, causing it to glow brightly.

Equipment Details: CDK-24 / L-600
Moravian C5-100

Name: Daniel Stern