Emission Nebulae
NGC 7822 is a huge star nursery in constellation Cepheus about 300 light years away. The glowing gas clouds are powered by one of the hottest stars in our neighborhood. Its surface temperature is about 45’000 degrees Kelvin and its luminosity outshines our sun by a factor of 100’000. This picture only shows the inner part of the cloud complex. The full object is by far too large for the field of view of my telescope.
Read more “NGC 7822”
Dark Nebulae
IC 5146 is a young star nursery in constellation Cygnus. It is about 2300 light years away and is illuminate by a very young star. Dark molecular clouds make it look like a fireball with a dark smoky tail …
Read more “Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146 )”
Emission Nebulae
The Pelican Nebula is a combination of hydrogen clouds with dust and molecular clouds in constellation Cygnus. It is associated to the well known North America Nebula (NGC 7000). Both are about 1800 light years away and contain may young stars.
Read more “IC 5070, IC 5067 (Pelican Nebula)”
Emission Nebulae
Huge HII region in Cepheus and Cassiopeia. Massive stars illuminate surrounding gas clouds. Wolf-Rayet stars power the blueish central part of the Lobster Claw and a massive star blows up the bubble, which is nothing else but a shockwave generated by fast stellar winds. The open star cluster just on the top in the center has a funny form … like the tip of an arrow.
Read more “Sh 2-157 (Lobster Claw Nebula), NGC 7635 (Bubble Nebula), NGC 7538 (Northern Lagoon Nebula), NGC 7510”
Emission Nebulae
NGC 6823 is a young star cluster in the center of this image. It illuminates a reflections nebula NGC 6820 (bluish) and powers the surrounding emission nebula Sh 2-86. This star nursery is about 6000 light years away in constellation Vulpecula.
Read more “NGC 6820, NGC 6823, Sh 2-86”
Emission Nebulae
A gas nebula powered by a Wolf-Rayet star in the center. The star has ejected several times the mass of the sun into the surrounding gas remaining from the formation of the star only several million years ago. The star is more than 20 times as massive as the sun and has almost burned its fuel. In about a million years from now it will go supernova providing a spectacular firework.
Read more “NGC 6888”
Emission Nebulae
A young open star cluster embedded in a cloud of gas, still stars forming deep inside the nebula. It is 8500 light years away in constellation Cepheus.
Read more “NGC 7380 (Wizard Nebula)”
Emission Nebulae
A closer view to IC 1396 with the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula. A star forming region about 2400 light years away. The trunk on top. Do you see the little running man?
Read more “NGC 1396 (Elephant’s Trunk Nebula)”
Emission Nebulae
This is an wide field image showing the southern part of Cepheus. Right in the Center IC 1396, which contains the famous Elephant’s Trunk Nebula.
Read more “NGC 1396 (Elephant’s Trunk Nebula)”
Emission Nebulae
Famous emission nebula in Cygnus. The form gives it its name. It is about 2600 light years away.
Read more “NGC 7000 (North America Nebula)”