Sh2-308 - Dolphin Head Nebula

Sh2-308 is a large ionized gas bubble located in the constellation Canis Major, about 5,000 light-years from Earth. It is created by the powerful Wolf-Rayet star EZ Canis Majoris, whose strong stellar winds have swept up the surrounding material, forming this nearly spherical structure. The nebula is mainly composed of ionized oxygen (OIII), giving it its characteristic bluish appearance, while hydrogen is present in smaller amounts. Its regular shape and thin shell make it a classic example of stellar wind interaction with the interstellar medium. This image is a composition of data acquired from remote TelescopeNetwork observatories in Spain, China, and Australia, combined to achieve deep and consistent integration. During processing, the Hα channel was intentionally stretched to enhance the faint background nebulosity, which would otherwise remain barely visible compared to the main structure.