top of page

Don Bouc Astrophotography

Distance: 1,400 light years
What is it?: It is quite possible that this is what our sun will look like in 4-5 billion years. As its nuclear fuel runs out, it will begin to "shed" some its gases and, eventually, envelop the solar system. Keep your insurance paid.
What is it?: It is quite possible that this is what our sun will look like in 4-5 billion years. As its nuclear fuel runs out, it will begin to "shed" some its gases and, eventually, envelop the solar system. Keep your insurance paid.

Distance: 3,300 light years
Radius: 3 light years
What is it?: As the star in the center of this nebula sheds its mass, it was surprising to find out this happens in "pulses" about every 1,500 years. The outer edges of this nebula are anywhere from 50,000 to 90,000 years old.
Radius: 3 light years
What is it?: As the star in the center of this nebula sheds its mass, it was surprising to find out this happens in "pulses" about every 1,500 years. The outer edges of this nebula are anywhere from 50,000 to 90,000 years old.

Distance: 694 light years
Radius: 2.87 light years
What is it?: This is the closest and brightest nebula to earth. Astronomers think this nebula is actually shaped like a tube, but from our perspective, it looks very flat. The white dwarf star in the center that caused this nebula is clearly visable in the center.
Radius: 2.87 light years
What is it?: This is the closest and brightest nebula to earth. Astronomers think this nebula is actually shaped like a tube, but from our perspective, it looks very flat. The white dwarf star in the center that caused this nebula is clearly visable in the center.

Distance: 2,600 light years
Radius: .9 light years
What is it?: It’s obvious why this is named the Owl Nebula. As with most planetary nebula, the star emitting the gas you see can be found at the center of the nebula.
Radius: .9 light years
What is it?: It’s obvious why this is named the Owl Nebula. As with most planetary nebula, the star emitting the gas you see can be found at the center of the nebula.

Distance: 4,200 light years
What is it?: The central star that is "shedding" its out layers is easily seen in the center of this image.
Our sun will go through this same process in about 5 billion years...
What is it?: The central star that is "shedding" its out layers is easily seen in the center of this image.
Our sun will go through this same process in about 5 billion years...

Distance: 5,200 light years
What is it?: As with most planetary nebula, the star emitting the gas you see can be found at the center of the nebula. This is how our sun might look in about 5 billion years.
What is it?: As with most planetary nebula, the star emitting the gas you see can be found at the center of the nebula. This is how our sun might look in about 5 billion years.

Distance: 6,500 light years
Radius: 1/3 light year
What is it?: The star at the center of this nebula started to eject gases about 10,000 years ago. This is a similar process we can expect our sun to go through in about 5 million years.
Radius: 1/3 light year
What is it?: The star at the center of this nebula started to eject gases about 10,000 years ago. This is a similar process we can expect our sun to go through in about 5 million years.

Distance: 2,283 light years
Radius: 1.3 light years
What is it?: The star that is "dying" is clearly visible in the center of this planetary nebula.
This star will be a "white dwarf", which means it is incredibly dense and has a temperature of about 180,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Because of its density, a 150 pound person on earth would weigh 50 million pounds on its surface.
Radius: 1.3 light years
What is it?: The star that is "dying" is clearly visible in the center of this planetary nebula.
This star will be a "white dwarf", which means it is incredibly dense and has a temperature of about 180,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Because of its density, a 150 pound person on earth would weigh 50 million pounds on its surface.

Distance: 1,600 light years
What is this?: The star in the center of this planetary nebula is HP3678. After it sheds the outer shells, it will become a white dwarf.
What is this?: The star in the center of this planetary nebula is HP3678. After it sheds the outer shells, it will become a white dwarf.

Distance: 5,500 light years
Radius: 15 light years
What is it?: This open cluster contains about 500 stars. Embedded in this open cluster is the planetary nebula NGC 2438. It’s the “strange” blueish-looking large “star” in the right side of this cluster. The planetary nebula is not really part of the open cluster. It is 2,900 light years away, half the distance of the open cluster.
Radius: 15 light years
What is it?: This open cluster contains about 500 stars. Embedded in this open cluster is the planetary nebula NGC 2438. It’s the “strange” blueish-looking large “star” in the right side of this cluster. The planetary nebula is not really part of the open cluster. It is 2,900 light years away, half the distance of the open cluster.

Distance: 2,500 light years
Radius: 1.2 light years
What is it?: This planetary nebula has not one but two stars causing its unusual shape. The clouds of gas are still expanding at a rate of about 25 miles/second.
Radius: 1.2 light years
What is it?: This planetary nebula has not one but two stars causing its unusual shape. The clouds of gas are still expanding at a rate of about 25 miles/second.

Distance: 1520 light years
What is this?: There are actually 2 orbiting stars at the center of this nebula. They orbit each other about every 10 years. That explains why this planetary nebula is so "lumpy".
What is this?: There are actually 2 orbiting stars at the center of this nebula. They orbit each other about every 10 years. That explains why this planetary nebula is so "lumpy".

Distance: 2,800 light years
Radius: .5 light years
What is it?: As with all sun-sized stars as they cool and die and become White Dwarf stars, the star at the center of this nebula is emitting clouds of gas.
Radius: .5 light years
What is it?: As with all sun-sized stars as they cool and die and become White Dwarf stars, the star at the center of this nebula is emitting clouds of gas.
bottom of page