Thor’s Helmet nebula (NGC 2359) in the constellation Canis Major, taken from my back patio. The emission nebula is approximately 12,000 light years away, and about 30 light years across. Total integration time: 27.83 hours, in Hubble palette narrowband.
Vikings did not wear horns or wings on their helmets -- well, not the practical helmets anyway. It’s possible, albeit uncertain, that there may have been winged or horned helmets used for ritualistic purposes in Viking age Scandinavia. The Oseberg Tapestry (dated to about 834AD) is a rare example that may depict a procession leader wearing what looks like a helmet with wings or horns; however, it’s difficult to interpret.
What is known from Viking mythology is that Thor had a piece of whetstone (sharpening stone) lodged in his skull. I’ll briefly, very briefly, summarize this story from Skáldskaparmál in the Prose Edda.
Odin met a giant named Hrungnir, who was made mostly (or at least partially) of stone. A spontaneous horse race ensued between the two on their horses from the land of giants to Asgard. Odin and his horse Sleipnir arrived at the gates of Asgard first. The gods invited Hrungnir into Val-hall for a drink. Apparently, there’s lots of drinking to do in Val-hall. Drinking, it seems, is a big part of what those in Asgard do. And while there, Hrungnir drank a lot. Like
a whole lot. Then he became quite belligerent.
Before I continue, this is really starting to remind me of an escapade I had myself, many, many years ago. One afternoon I took a break from my studies and went to the neighborhood pub for a late lunch. There was a horse race playing on the old television in the corner. An acquaintance ordered some shots. Another friend ordered a round of ale. And when it was my turn, I ordered both. Apparently, there was a lot of drinking to be done in the pub. Drinking, it seems, is a big part of what people in the bar do.
Equipment:
10” Meade LX200-ACF on a equatorial wedge
Optec Lepus 0.62 focal reducer
Astronomik narrowband filters (SII, Ha, Oiii)
ZWO ASI1600MM-COOL monochrome camera
Hrungnir started mouthing off, boasting and bragging, and mostly being very unpleasant. Freya kept serving him drinks and the rest of the gods at the table tolerated his outbursts because the gods are quite hospitable. This continued for some time. But when rude brags and boasts turned to threats, the gods called Thor into the hall. Thor had had enough and escorted him out of Val-hall. Enraged, Hrungnir challenged Thor to a duel as soon as Hrungnir could return with a giant whetstone, his favorite weapon, and his shield. Thor gladly accepted.
In my case, I didn’t make any boasts or threats, but after all the yelling and singing and dancing on the tables (my hip was OK back then), the bar staff made it pretty clear that I had overstayed my welcome.
Software:
Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy (N.I.N.A.)
PixInsight
Topaz Labs Denoise AI
At the duel, Thor threw his hammer, Mjölnir, at Hrungnir, and Hrungnir threw his whetstone at Thor. The two weapons met in mid-air with the whetstone shattering followed by Hrungnir’s head shattering by Mjölnir. Part of the whetstone hit the ground (from which all other whetstone’s come) and another shard of the whetstone lodged in Thor’s skull.
In my adventure, I didn’t battle a stone giant, but I did stub my toe and tripped, falling on the hard concrete of the sidewalk. There may have been a few small bits of gravel stuck in my scalp.
Integration:
SII: 7.8 hours
Ha: 8.08 hours
Oiii: 11.95 hours
Total: 27.83 hours
In an effort to remove the whetstone, Thor sought out a sorceress called Groa, wife of Aurvandil the Bold. Thor had recently carried Aurvandil back from the land of the giants in a basket. It was very cold and Aurvandil’s toe had frozen off. Thor took Aurvandil's toe and threw it up into the heavens, where it became a star. Later, when Groa started her spells to remove the whetstone, Thor told her about meeting her husband, Aurvandil, and that he would be home soon. Groa was so overjoyed that her husband would be returning that she forgot all her spells. And thus, the whetstone in Thor’s skull would forever remain.
In my case, on my walk home, I was certainly in no condition to throw anything “up into the heavens,” but I did throw up right then and there.
Sources:
EDDA, Snorri Sturluson, translated by Anthony Faulkes, Published by Everyman 1987, Reissued 1992, 1995, pp. 77-80.
My personal story is unworthy to source.
.
