Galaxies
Leo A ist a dwarf galaxy in our Local Group of galaxies. Its mass is only about 80 million times the mass of our sun, but about 80% (!) of it is dark matter.
Read more “Leo A (Leo III)”
Galaxies
The star (Mirach or β Andromedae) is a red giant about 200 light years away, pretty close by in the foreground, and hence its bright and orange appearence. It is a variable star, which becomes at some times the brightest star in constellation Andromeda. Of particular interest in this image is the bright cloud next to it on the top left side.
Read more “NGC 404 (Mirach‘s Ghost)”
Galaxies
Located about 24.3 million light years away from earth in constellation Canes Venatici, M51 and its companion NGC515 are two of the closest neighbors of our Milky Way Galaxy.
Read more “M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy)”
Galaxies
One of the most beautiful groups of galaxies in the spring sky.
Read more “Leo Triplet (M65, M66, NGC3628)”
Galaxies
A very beautiful edge-on spiral galaxy in constellation Andromeda.
Read more “NGC 891”
Dark Nebulae
One of my favorites – the Dark Shark in constellation Cepheus. A wonderful combination of dark and bright nebula 650 light years from earth.
Read more “LDN 1235, LBN 535 (Dark Shark Nebula)”
Galaxies
Our nearest galactic neighbor. About 2.5 million light years distant, somewhat larger than our own Milky Way galaxy, heading towards us with a speed of 300km/sec.
Read more “M 31 (Andromeda Galaxy)”
Galaxies
This is Messier 63 in constellation Canes Venatici, called the Sunflower Galaxy … for obvious reasons.
Read more “M 63 (Sunflower Galaxy)”
Galaxies
This image shows two completely different objects with distances of completely different scales: the Coma Galaxy Cluster in constellation Coma Berenices, mean distance is 321 million light years, and minor planet 679 Pax cruising through our solar system between Mars and Jupiter.
Read more “Coma Galaxy Cluster (Abell 1656)”
Galaxies
Two interacting galaxies in constellation Coma Berenices about 40 million light years away.
Read more “NGC 4725, NGC 4747”