Aetherios - The Northern Hemisphere Oxygen-iii Nebula Detection Survey
8 panels, 9/2023: 20° 34' 38.0" +45° 43' 17.0"
Working in collaboration with partner observatories and ground-based telescopes worldwide, my objective is to construct a high-resolution multi-panel mosaic of the northern hemisphere, focused on the Oxygen-III emission line at 500 nanometers. Through this effort, I aim to identify previously undetected structures, such as planetary nebulae and supernova remnants, paving the way for further research by the scientific community.
Additionally, I seek to deepen our understanding of unconfirmed objects and other targets of interest, all while continuing to produce aesthetic photographs of the night sky to inspire public interest in astronomy!
538 hrs
of Oxygen-iii signal already collected
Why Oxygen-iii?
While exhaustive surveys have mapped emission lines such as Hydrogen-alpha, relatively few comprehensive sky surveys have focused on the Oxygen-III wavelength. By imaging at this wavelength, we can explore regions of the sky that have been comparatively overlooked. Hence, focusing on the O-III wavelength, in which many deep-sky objects are still prevalent, also provides a greater potential for new discoveries.
The Observatory
While I collaborate with several partner observatories, the primary imaging site for this project is located in Andalusia, Spain—a Bortle-Scale 2 zone where light pollution is minimal and atmospheric seeing conditions are highly favourable. This allows me to gather much higher-quality data. Using remote imaging software, I can control the setup from anywhere in the world, also enabling me to share access to this advanced equipment with other like-minded students and amateurs.
The primary imaging rig is hosted by RemoteObservatory.com in partnership with PixelSkiesAstro