Monthly Archives: January 2015

M7, Ptolemy Cluster

Messier 7 or M7, also designated NGC 6475 and sometimes known as the Ptolemy Cluster, is an open cluster of stars in theconstellation of Scorpius. The cluster is easily detectable with the naked eye, close to the “stinger” of Scorpius (also called Scorpion). With a declination of -34.8°, it is the southernmost Messier object.

M7 has been known since antiquity; it was first recorded by the 1st-century Greek-Roman astronomer Ptolemy, who described it as a nebula in 130 AD. Italian astronomer Giovanni Batista Hodierna observed it before 1654 and counted 30 stars in it. In 1764, French astronomer Charles Messier catalogued the cluster as the seventh member in his list of comet-like objects. English astronomer John Herschel described it as “coarsely scattered clusters of stars”.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Planewave Instruments 17″ CDK

Resolution: 2928×2915

Dates: Oct. 12, 2014

Frames: 24×120″

Integration: 0.8 hours

Avg. Moon age: 18.55 days

Avg. Moon phase: 84.67%

RA center: 268.453 degrees

DEC center: -34.805 degrees

Orientation: 178.704 degrees

Field radius: 0.634 degrees

Locations: Siding Spring Observatory (SSO), Coonabarabran, Australia

Author: Thomas

NGC7293, Helix Nebula – Eye of God

The Helix Nebula, also known as The Helix, NGC 7293, is a large planetary nebula (PN) located in the constellationAquarius. Discovered by Karl Ludwig Harding, probably before 1824, this object is one of the closest to the Earth of all the bright planetary nebulae. The estimated distance is about 215 parsecs or 700 light-years. It is similar in appearance to the Cat’s Eye Nebula and the Ring Nebula, whose size, age, and physical characteristics are similar to the Dumbbell Nebula, varying only in its relative proximity and the appearance from the equatorial viewing angle. The Helix Nebula has sometimes been referred to as the “Eye of God” in pop culture, as well as the “Eye of Sauron”.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Planewave Instruments 17″ CDK

Resolution: 3400×3360

Dates: Sept. 26, 2014

Frames: 54×600″

Integration: 9.0 hours

Avg. Moon age: 1.61 days

Avg. Moon phase: 2.91%

RA center: 337.405 degrees

DEC center: -20.839 degrees

Orientation: -91.001 degrees

Field radius: 0.421 degrees

Locations: Siding Spring Observatory (SSO), Coonabarabran, Australia

Author: Thomas

M42, Orion Nebula

The Orion Nebula (also known as Messier 42, M42, or NGC 1976) is a diffuse nebula situated in the Milky Way south of Orion’s Belt in the constellation of Orion. It is one of the brightest nebulae, and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky. M42 is located at a distance of 1,344 ± 20 light years and is the closest region of massivestar formation to Earth. The M42 nebula is estimated to be 24 light years across. It has a mass of about 2000 times the mass of the Sun. Older texts frequently refer to the Orion Nebula as the Great Nebula in Orion or theGreat Orion Nebula.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Takahashi TSA 102

Imaging cameras: Starlight Express SXVR-H18

Mounts: Sky-Watcher NEQ6 Pro

Guiding telescopes or lenses: Takahashi TSA 102

Guiding cameras: sx loadstar

Focal reducers: Takahashi TOA/FS Reducer

Software: Sequence Generator Pro, PHD, Photoshop CS5

Filters: Baader Ha 8.5nm

Accessories: Starlight Xpress USB filter wheel, Baader Planetarium 36mm narrowband filters

Resolution: 3328×2432

Dates: Jan. 13, 2015

Frames: Baader Ha 8.5nm: 10×1800″ -10C bin 1×1

Integration: 5.0 hours

Avg. Moon age: 21.78 days

Avg. Moon phase: 53.86%

RA center: 83.897 degrees

DEC center: -5.291 degrees

Pixel scale: 1.750 arcsec/pixel

Orientation: 106.504 degrees

Field radius: 1.002 degrees

Locations: Home observatory, Valencia, Spain

Author: moonrocks

IC 1871

IC1871 is a formation of gas and dust located in the much larger Soul Nebula. It lies in the constellation Cassiopeia at an estimated distance of 6,500 light-years from the Earth. Like clouds in our Earthly skies, the gas and dust in celestial nebulae often resemble familiar objects. The image above is centered on a prominent “mountainous” feature in IC1871.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: SkyWatcher 130/650 PDS Newton

Imaging cameras: Atik 460EX Mono

Mounts: Sky-Watcher HEQ5 PRO

Guiding telescopes or lenses: SkyWatcher 130/650 PDS Newton

Guiding cameras: Starlight Xpress CoStar

Software: Photoshop, Nebulosity 3, AstroTortilla, PHD2, PixInsight 1.8, EQMod

Filters: Astrodon 3nm OIII, Astrodon Ha 5nm

Accessories: Baader MPCC MarkIII, Starlight Xpress Mini Filter wheel

Resolution: 2692×2108

Dates: Nov. 7, 2014, Nov. 9, 2014

Frames:
Astrodon 3nm OIII: 10×1800″ -10C
Astrodon Ha 5nm: 14×1800″ -10C

Integration: 12.0 hours

Avg. Moon age: 15.88 days

Avg. Moon phase: 97.45%

RA center: 44.324 degrees

DEC center: 60.540 degrees

Pixel scale: 1.432 arcsec/pixel

Orientation: 91.973 degrees

Field radius: 0.680 degrees

Author: Epicycle

M16 Eagle Nebula

The Eagle Nebula (catalogued as Messier 16 or M16, and as NGC 6611, and also known as the Star Queen Nebula and The Spire) is a young open cluster of stars in the constellation Serpens, discovered by Jean-Philippe de Cheseaux in 1745-46. Its name derives from its shape that is thought to resemble an eagle. It contains several active star-forming gas and dust regions, including the famous “Pillars of Creation”, photographed by the Hubble Space Telescope.

The Eagle Nebula is part of a diffuse emission nebula, or H II region, which is catalogued as IC 4703. This region of active current star formation is about 7000 light-years distant. The tower of gas that can be seen coming off the nebula is approximately 9.5 light-years or about 90 trillion kilometers long.

The brightest star in the nebula (HD 168076) has an apparent magnitude of +8.24, easily visible with good binoculars. It is actually a binary star formed of an O3.5V star plus an O7.5V companion.

The cluster associated with the nebula has approximately 460 stars, the brightest of spectral class O, a mass of roughly 80 solar masses, and a luminosity up to 1 million times that of the Sun. Its age has been estimated to be 1–2 million years. The descriptive names reflect impressions of the shape of the central pillar rising from the southeast into the central luminous area. The name “Star Queen Nebula” was introduced by Robert Burnham, Jr., reflecting his characterization of the central pillar as the Star Queen shown in silhouette.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Takahashi FSQ106
Imaging cameras: Atik 460 EX Mono
Mounts: Vixen New Atlux
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Takahashi FSQ106
Guiding cameras: QHY5L-II-M 5L-II M
Software: PHD Lab PhD Guiding 2, Main Sequence Software SequenceGeneratorPro, PixInsight
Filters: Astrodon Narrowband 3mn (Ha, OIII, SII, NII)
Accessories: Atik OAG, Atik EFW2 Filter Wheel
Resolution: 2675×2055
Dates: Aug. 3, 2013
Frames: 37×1800″
Integration: 18.5 hours
Avg. Moon age: 26.00 days
Avg. Moon phase: 13.48%
RA center: 274.745 degrees
DEC center: -13.900 degrees
Pixel scale: 1.764 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: 154.720 degrees
Field radius: 0.826 degrees
Locations: Bilgebay Observatory, Mugla, Marmaris, Turkey

Author: Bilgebay

The Lagoon Nebula, M8, NGC 6523

The Lagoon Nebula (catalogued as Messier 8 or M8, and as NGC 6523) is a giant interstellar cloud in the constellation Sagittarius. It is classified as an emission nebula and as a H II region.

The Lagoon Nebula was discovered by Giovanni Hodierna before 1654 and is one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the naked eye from mid-northern latitudes. Seen with binoculars, it appears as a distinct oval cloudlike patch with a definite core. A fragile star cluster appears superimposed on it.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Orion AstroView 6 EQ
Imaging cameras: Canon EOS T3i
Mounts: Orion EQ 3-2
Software: Luc Coiffier’s DeekSkyStacker (DSS), Photoshop CS6
Accessories: Orion EQ-3M Single Axis Drive
Resolution: 2685×3318
Dates: May 3, 2014
Frames: 141×30″
Integration: 1.2 hours
Avg. Moon age: 3.65 days
Avg. Moon phase: 14.35%
RA center: 271.087 degrees
DEC center: -24.319 degrees
Pixel scale: 1.181 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: 84.738 degrees
Field radius: 0.700 degrees
Locations: Observatório Caseiro Ibituruna, Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Author: Victor Brasil Sabbagh

Trifid Nebula, M20, NGC 6514

The Trifid Nebula (catalogued as Messier 20 or M20 and as NGC 6514) is an H II region located in Sagittarius. It was discovered by Charles Messier on June 5, 1764. Its name means ‘divided into three lobes’. The object is an unusual combination of an open cluster of stars; an emission nebula (the lower, red portion), a reflection nebula (the upper, blue portion) and a dark nebula (the apparent ‘gaps’ within the emission nebula that cause the trifurcated appearance; these are also designated Barnard 85). Viewed through a small telescope, the Trifid Nebula is a bright and peculiar object, and is thus a perennial favorite of amateur astronomers.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Orion AstroView 6 EQ
Mounts: Orion EQ 3-2
Software: Luc Coiffier’s DeekSkyStacker (DSS), Photoshop CS6
Accessories: Orion EQ-3M Single Axis Drive
Resolution: 1600×1378
Dates: April 8, 2013
Frames: 68×30″
Integration: 0.6 hours
Avg. Moon age: 27.16 days
Avg. Moon phase: 6.23%
RA center: 270.600 degrees
DEC center: -22.917 degrees
Orientation: 124.184 degrees
Field radius: 0.528 degrees
Locations: Observatório caseiro, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Author: Victor Brasil Sabbagh

The Carina Nebula (the Eta Carinae Nebula, NGC 3372)

The Carina Nebula (also known as the Great Nebula in Carina, the Eta Carinae Nebula, NGC 3372, as well as the Grand Nebula) is a large bright nebula that has within its boundaries several related open clusters of stars. It contains the two large OB associations Carina OB1 and Carina OB2. Carina OB1 contains the two star clusters Trumpler 14 and Trumpler 16. Trumpler 14 is one of the youngest known star clusters, at half a million years old. Trumpler 16 is the home of WR 25, currently the most luminous star known in our Milky Way galaxy, together with the less luminous but more massive and famous Eta Carinae star system, and HD 93129A. The nebula lies at an estimated distance between 6,500 and 10,000 light years from Earth. It appears in the constellation of Carina, and is located in the Carina–Sagittarius Arm. The nebula contains multiple O-type stars.

The nebula is one of the largest diffuse nebulae in our skies. Although it is some four times as large and even brighter than the famous Orion Nebula, the Carina Nebula is much less well known, due to its location in the southern sky. It was discovered by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1751–52 from the Cape of Good Hope.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: William Optics Megrez 80 APO Triplet

Imaging cameras: Canon EOS T3i

Mounts: Orion EQ 3-2

Guiding telescopes or lenses: Orion 50mm deluxe guidescope

Guiding cameras: QHYCCD QHY5L-II Color

Software: Luc Coiffier’s DeekSkyStacker (DSS), Photoshop CS6

Accessories: SkyWatcher Dual Axis Motor Drive with ST4

Resolution: 3921×3440

Dates: Jan. 10, 2015

Frames: 8×300″

Integration: 0.7 hours

Avg. Moon age: 19.11 days

Avg. Moon phase: 80.14%

RA center: 161.099 degrees

DEC center: -59.778 degrees

Pixel scale: 1.487 arcsec/pixel

Orientation: 132.756 degrees

Field radius: 1.077 degrees

Locations: Observatório Caseiro Ibituruna, Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Author: Victor Brasil Sabbagh

Cigar Galaxy, M82

Messier 82 (also known as NGC 3034, Cigar Galaxy or M82) is a starburst galaxy about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. It is about five times more luminous than the whole Milky Way and one hundred times more luminous than our galaxy’s center. The starburst activity is thought to be triggered by interaction with neighboring galaxy M81, and M82 is a member of the M81 Group. As the closest starburst galaxy to our own, M82 is the prototypical example of this type of galaxy. SN 2014J, a Type Ia supernova, was observed in the galaxy on 21 January 2014. In 2014, in studying M82, scientists discovered the brightest pulsar yet known, designated M82 X-2.

M82 was previously believed to be an irregular galaxy. In 2005, however, two symmetric spiral arms were discovered in near-infrared (NIR) images of M82. The arms were detected by subtracting an axisymmetric exponential disk from the NIR images. Even though the arms were detected in NIR images, they are bluer than the disk. The arms were previously missed due to M82’s high disk surface brightness, our nearly edge-on view of this galaxy (~80°), and confusion by a complex network of dusty filaments in its optical images. These arms emanate from the ends of the NIR bar and can be followed for the length of 3 disc scales. Assuming that the northern part of M82 is nearer to us, as most of the literature does, the observed sense of rotation implies trailing arms.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: GSO RC12
Imaging cameras: Atik 4000
Mounts: Software Bisque Paramount MX
Guiding cameras: Lodestar
Focal reducers: AP CCDT67
Software: PixInsight
Filters: Baader Planetarium L 36mm, Baader Planetarium B 36mm, Baader Planetarium G 36mm, Baader Planetarium R 36mm, Baader Planetarium H-Alpha 7nm
Resolution: 2047×2047
Dates: Dec. 25, 2014, Dec. 26, 2014, Dec. 27, 2014, Dec. 28, 2014, Dec. 29, 2014
Frames:
Baader Planetarium B 36mm: 13×450″ bin 2×2
Baader Planetarium G 36mm: 13×450″ bin 2×2
Baader Planetarium H-Alpha 7nm: 11×1800″ bin 1×1
Baader Planetarium L 36mm: 62×900″ bin 1×1
Baader Planetarium R 36mm: 13×450″ bin 2×2
Integration: 25.9 hours
Avg. Moon age: 5.45 days
Avg. Moon phase: 31.06%
RA center: 148.975 degrees
DEC center: 69.684 degrees
Pixel scale: 0.956 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: -3.604 degrees
Field radius: 0.384 degrees
Locations: Observatorio remoto Tomas Lopez en AstroCamp, Nerpio, Albacete, Spain

Author: Samuel

M8, M20, M21, NGC 6559

All four objects on this awesome image are located in Sagittarius:

– The Lagoon Nebula (catalogued as Messier 8 or M8, and as NGC 6523) is a giant interstellar cloud. It is classified as an emission nebula and as a H II region. The Lagoon Nebula was discovered by Giovanni Hodierna before 1654 and is one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the naked eye from mid-northern latitudes. Seen with binoculars, it appears as a distinct oval cloudlike patch with a definite core. A fragile star cluster appears superimposed on it.

– The Trifid Nebula (catalogued as Messier 20 or M20 and as NGC 6514) is an H II region. It was discovered by Charles Messier on June 5, 1764. Its name means ‘divided into three lobes’. The object is an unusual combination of an open cluster of stars; an emission nebula (the lower, red portion), a reflection nebula (the upper, blue portion) and a dark nebula (the apparent ‘gaps’ within the emission nebula that cause the trifurcated appearance; these are also designated Barnard 85). Viewed through a small telescope, the Trifid Nebula is a bright and peculiar object, and is thus a perennial favorite of amateur astronomers.

– Messier 21 or M21 (also designated NGC 6531) is an open cluster of stars. It was discovered and catalogued by Charles Messier on June 5, 1764. M21 is a relatively young cluster of a mere 4.6 million years of age. It is tightly packed but contains about 57 stars. A few blue giant stars have been identified in the cluster, but Messier 21 is composed mainly of small dim stars. With a magnitude of 6.5, M21 is not visible to the naked eye; however, with the smallest binoculars it can be easily spotted on a dark night.

– NGC 6559 is a star forming region located at a distance of about 5000 light-years from Earth, showing both emission (red) and reflection (bluish) regions.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Pentax 75 SDHF

Mounts: Losmandy G11 Gemini 3

Software: Pleiades Astrophoto, S.L. PixInsinght 1.8 RC7

Filters: Baader Planetarium SII 8nm, Baader Planetarium Ha 7nm , Baader Planetarium OIII 8.5nm 2″

Resolution: 3987×2650

Dates: June 21, 2014, July 22, 2014, July 23, 2014

Frames:
Baader Planetarium Ha 7nm : 18×900″ bin 1×1
Baader Planetarium OIII 8.5nm 2″: 13×900″ bin 2×2
Baader Planetarium SII 8nm: 9×900″ bin 2×2

Integration: 10.0 hours

Avg. Moon age: 24.78 days

Avg. Moon phase: 24.09%

Locations: La Secuita, La Secuita, Spain

Author: Daniel_Trueba

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