Our astronomy friend Marcel Drechsler has made a unique discovery.

A newly discovered nebula in the constellation Cygnus.

Object: Drechsler Zirke 1

Discoverer: Marcel Drechsler, Bärenstein Observatory

Photography: Andreas Zirke

The nature of this enigmatic object orbiting the relatively cool star HD 209204 is currently unclear.

The large amount of OIII gas and the nebula's dramatic shape with numerous loops and arcs defy precise definition.

The structure exhibits characteristics of a planetary nebula, but also features suggesting a different origin.

Possible ionization sources for the nebula include a white dwarf with a surface temperature of 8868.67 K and the central star HD 209204 itself. This star could potentially be a binary system consisting of a K0 star and a white dwarf.

Further analyses of HD 209204 and a spectrum of the entire structure will provide definitive answers.

Diameter including outer shells: approx. 40 arcminutes

Core diameter: approx. 10 arcminutes

Exposure time:
84 x 10 min H-alpha, 3nm
63 x 10 min OIII, 3nm
RGB, 20 x 10 min each
34.5 h total exposure