Monday, Dec 2, 2024

This image showcases the Wolf-Rayet star WR 102, one of the hottest known stars in the Milky Way, with temperatures exceeding 200,000 K. Located in the Sagittarius constellation, WR 102 is a rare Wolf-Rayet star classified as a WO2, a type characterized by high levels of oxygen in its spectrum. Such stars are in an advanced stage of stellar evolution, shedding their outer layers through powerful stellar winds, which contributes to the star’s spectacularly high luminosity and unique spectral properties. Accompanying WR 102 in this capture is the region G2.4 + 1.4. Imaging and processing this target was particularly challenging due to the dense star field surrounding it, which tends to obscure the target. The complexity of this field required careful work to isolate and emphasize WR 102 while preserving the intricate details of the surrounding stars and nebulae.