Planetary Nebulae
A faint planetary nebula in constellation Hercules. Distance estimates are between 3300 (latest data) and 6800 light years (older data). A wonderful almost perfectly round bubble.
Read more “PK 47+42.1 (Abell 39)”
Emission Nebulae
A faint nebula in constellation Cygnus, less frequently imaged.
Read more “Sh2-114, The Flying Dragon Nebula”
Emission Nebulae
LBN 321 et al., Kn24, Kn25
Another less imaged region in constellation Cygnus.
Several faint nebulae from Lynds Catalog of Bright Nebulae: LBN 321 and LBN 316 on the right – LBN 284, LBN 290, LBN 296, LBN 299 and LBN 304 on the left side.
Read more “LBN 321 et al., Kn24, Kn25”
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”
Galaxies
These two object accidentally fit into one frame. On the bottom the Owl Nebula, a planetary nebula 2000 light years away, on the top the so called Surfboard Galaxy 40 million light yeras away. Quite a difference …
Read more “M97, M108 (The Owl and the Surfboard)”
Planetary Nebulae
A Planetary Nebula in constellation Gemini about 1500 light years from earth. At first it was thought to be a Supernova remnant, but more recent measurements of the expansion velocity suggest it to be more likely a Planetary Nebula. These are the outer shells of a sun-like star which have been expelled at the end of the active live of the star.
Read more “SH 2-274 (Medusa Nebula)”