Hubble's Variable Nebula

All the changes detected during this study were confined to the bright region below (south-west of) the red line in the images shown below. Faint areas to the north and east did not change and, as far as can be seen in this study's low resolution images, appear to have the same structure as recorded in the 1994 image taken by D.F. Malin with the Anglo-Australian Telescope. Furthermore, Lightfoot compared the 1984 AAT plate to one taken by Hubble with the 100 inch Mount Wilson telescope in 1920 and found that "the pattern has not changed noticeably in 64 yr."
 
 

AAT Feb 2, 1984

GAO Nov 24, 1998 (JD 2,451,142)

AAT Image: 3.9 m telescope, 30 minute exposure, GG385 filter, IIaO emulsion (B band).
GAO Image: 0.4 m telescope, 20 minute exposure, Clear filter, SBIG ST6 CCD camera.

"F"  points to the most distinct filaments north of the bright nebula. These and other filements in the region can be seen to be in the same positions in both images. Apparent changes have been marked with a "C". The upper "C" points to the slight northwestward extension of a filament since 1984. The lower "C" points to a region that was relatively brighter in 1998. These changes may be due in part to the different wavelengths of the two images. The AAT image was made in the B band while the GAO image was made through a clear filter with a CCD camera that is most sensitive in the R band.
 
 

Last modified March 13, 1999