RCW 104 is a remarkable and enigmatic astronomical object located in the southern sky, within the constellation Norma. It is a nebula of significant scientific interest, closely associated with a rare type of massive, evolved star known as a Wolf-Rayet star. This celestial structure stands out for its complex morphology and intriguing interplay between the star and its surrounding material.
At the heart of RCW 104 lies WR 75, a Wolf-Rayet star, which is a highly luminous, hot, and massive stellar remnant in the final stages of its evolution before becoming a supernova. Wolf-Rayet stars are known for their intense stellar winds, which expel large amounts of material into space, enriching the surrounding interstellar medium with heavy elements like carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen. Located approximately 6500 to 8500 light years from Earth, the nebula’s central regions are also a source of X-rays, produced as the stellar winds collide at high speeds, generating shock waves and heating the gas to extreme temperatures. These winds shape the nebula around WR 75, giving RCW 104 its distinctive appearance.
RCW 104 exhibits a nearly perfect spiral or pinwheel-shaped structure when observed in infrared and radio wavelengths. This spiral morphology is believed to result from the interaction between the stellar wind from WR 75 and its binary companion, which orbits WR 75. As the two stars move in their orbit, the powerful wind from WR 75 is modulated, creating a corkscrew-like pattern of ejected material. This makes RCW 104 one of the most visually striking examples of such a phenomenon.
The images was completed using data from a remote hosting facility.
Planwave CDK24
PW L600
Moravian C3-61000 Pro
R, G, B, Ha, SII and OIIIfilters
ca. 20 hrs, Gain 0/2750, F6.5, 3962mm