IC 443 - Supernova Remnant in Gemini
Copyright 2001 Hap Griffin
IC 443 is what is left of a star that exploded several thousand years ago. Our ancestors may have seen the explosion as a bright new "star" in the night sky that glowed brightly for a time and then faded from view. Today all we see are the remains expanding outward from the original location of the star.
This is a portrait of a star in its death throws "seeding" the galaxy with the heavier elements necessary for the later creation of new stars and planets. Since the chemical elements heavier than hydrogen and helium are only synthesized in the nuclear furnaces of stars, and the heaviest of elements only inside the extreme environments of supernovae, it is evident that the heavy elements that make up the earth, and us, were once created inside of an ancient generation of stars. The singer Joni Mitchell wrote in her song, Woodstock..."we are stardust". We truly are.
IC 443 appears in the constellation Gemini, near the star Propus, seen in the lower right of this photo.
Date/Location:
November 9, 2001 Griffin/Hunter
Observatory Bethune, SC
Instrument: Meade f6.3 10" LX-200
Focal Ratio: Approx. f4 (utilizing focal reducer in GEG)
Guiding: Auto via ST4 through GEG
Conditions: Visually clear
Weather: 35 F, calm
Film: Kodak Elite Chrome 200
Exposure: Composite of two exposures: 2 x 60 minutes
Filters: None
Processing: Combined in Registar 1.0, finished in Photoshop 5