Galaxies
Makarian’s Chain is a collection of galaxies in the Virgo Cluster between 50 and 55 million light years away. It contains the larger galaxies M84 and M86 right in the center and to the left. On top to the right you see M87, the large elliptical galaxy with a large black hole in its center, which has been imaged in 2018 (published in 2019) as the first one of its kind using a worldwide network of radio telescopes.
Read more “Makarian’s Chain”
Globular Clusters
M 13 in Hercules. One of the brightest Globular Clusters in the Northern Hemisphere. It is about 22000 light years from earth and contains several hundred thousand stars. Globular clusters are remnants from times where galaxies formed. Since there is not much gas left in these clusters, most stars are pretty old and young stars are rare.
Read more “M 13”
Globular Clusters
A wide field view of the corpse of Hercules presenting Globular Cluster M13.
Read more “Hercules Corps (including M13)”
Dark Nebulae
This is a relatively close star forming region (about 460 lightyears) in constellation Ophiuchus. Also visible below the nebulae Globular Cluster M4 at about 7200 light years distance and bright super giant star Antares in Scorpius just left to M4. On top the so called Blue Horsehead Nebula. Stripes of dark clouds at the left pointing to the core of our Milky Way.
Read more “Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex”
Galaxies
The Pinwheel Galaxy 21 million light years away in Ursa Major. And many more galaxies in the background.
Read more “M101 (Pinwheel Galaxy)”
Emission Nebulae
This is the brightest part of the huge nebula complex in Orion. It is a star nursery and young stars illuminate remaining gas and dust in that region which is pretty close to our solar system: only about 1350 light years away.
This image was taken from my location above the city lights of Winterthur without any filter. And it was the first picture I gave a try with PixInsight … and the result was amazing. Stars were so bright that I reduced the exposure time down to 60 seconds in order to avoid pixel saturation.
Read more “M 42 (Orion Nebula)”
Galaxies
A famous triplet of galaxies in Leo. The lower left is also known as the Hamburger Galaxy. They are about 35 million light years away and belong to the same group of galaxies.
Read more “Leo Triplet (M 65, M 66, NGC 3628)”
Emission Nebulae
Emission Nebula in Auriga 1500 light years away from earth. On the left IC 410 belonging to the same nebula complex.
Read more “IC 405 (Flaming Star Nebula)”
Galaxies
M 51 is a spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici about 31 million light years from earth. It interacts gravitationally with its smaller companion on the left (NGC 5195). The image shows quite some more galaxies in the background much further away.
Read more “M 51 (Whirlpool Galaxy)”
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)”