Astrophotographer Bing Xin has completed imaging all 313 objects in the Sharpless Catalog of H II Regions, according to NASA Science.
The photographic project required observations across Eastern China and Inner Mongolia. Xin logged approximately 800 hours of exposure time to record the full catalog, with individual objects each taking between two and six hours to capture.
Xin recorded the targets using narrowband filters for ionized hydrogen and oxygen, paired with red-green-blue filters to capture color details across the field.
Objects Documented
While compiled as an index of ionized hydrogen regions, the Sharpless collection contains a mix of astronomical objects, including planetary nebulas and supernova remnants. Among the 313 targets documented in the series are well-known structures such as the Eagle Nebula (cataloged as Sh2-49), the Heart Nebula (Sh2-190), and the Orion Nebula (Sh2-281). The survey also covers more diffuse and complex remnants, including the Medusa Nebula (Sh2-274) and the Spaghetti Nebula (Sh2-240).
