NGC 6302 (also known as the Bug Nebula, Butterfly Nebula, or Caldwell 69) is a bipolar planetary nebula in the constellation Scorpius. The structure in the nebula is among the most complex ever observed in planetary nebulae. The spectrum of NGC 6302 shows that its central star is one of the hottest stars known, with a surface temperature in excess of 250,000 degrees Celsius, implying that the star from which it formed must have been very large. The nebula is quite small in the field of view and requires a large telescope to resolve detail.
Imaged in SHO in our CDK 1000 at El Sauce, Obstech Chile
Integration Time: 30 hours
Image Processing: Mike Selby