The Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33)

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Dec 212017
 

The Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) [L:79x60s;TR:26x60s;TG:24x60s;TB:25x60s]

There are 3 basic types of nebulae. This image of an area near Orion’s belt features all three. At lower left, the blue nebula (NGC 2023) is a reflection nebula. Lit by star HD 37903, the gas and dust simply reflect the star’s light. The red background nebula (IC 434) is an emission nebula. Located about 1,500 Ly from the Sun it receives enough energy from Sigma Orionis that the hydrogen in the cloud glows like a neon sign. The Horsehead nebula (Barnard 33) is a dark nebula. This cloud of gas is dense enough to completely block the light from IC 434. The spray of blue light from the left is scattered light from Alnitak, the eastern most star in the belt of Orion.

First discovered by Williamina Fleming on a photographic plate in 1888, the dark cloud remains a very difficult visual object to view in a telescope. It takes a very dark clear sky and a fairly large telescope to just make out the outline of the horse’s head.

 Posted by at 14:29

The UFO Galaxy (NGC 2683)

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Mar 022017
 

The UFO Galaxy (NGC 2683)[C:199x60s]

 
This galaxy may or may not be a barred spiral. There is evidence supporting a classical spiral as well as a barred spiral. The galaxy lies about 20 million light years distant in the Lynx constellation. Note the numerous dark dust lanes silhouetted against the combined light of billions of stars. The small spiral galaxy left of the galaxy’s core is PGC 2030408.
 

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 Posted by at 00:22

Heart of the Heart (IC 1805)

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Nov 182016
 

Once again the diminutive FOV of my system does not lend itself to extended objects. Thus, it does not do the Heart Nebula justice. In fact this image only shows the central part of the heart shaped portion of IC 1805. However, it does show the small very young cluster of stars (Melotte 15) that ‘lights up’ the nebula. Several of the stars have estimated masses in excess of 50 times that of the Sun and it is those stars whose extreme output provides the energy to excite the surrounding hydrogen cloud into emitting the familiar red light. The energy is also what is sculpting the surrounding cloud into the fanciful shapes visible in the image.

The Heart Nebula (IC 1805 detail) [Ha:67x120s ]

The Heart Nebula (IC 1805 detail) [Ha:67x120s ]


This image is taken through a Hydrogen-Alpha filter that limits the light passing through to that with a wavelength of 656.28 nm. In addition to distinctly showing where the energized hydrogen is located, it also is one way to limit the effect of a nearly full Moon and common light pollution. This image was taken on a full Moon night.
 
Chart generated with Cartes du Ciel

Chart generated with Cartes du Ciel

 Posted by at 14:48

IC 1318

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Sep 172016
 
The constellation Cygnus (the Swan) has 5 bright stars that forms the shape of the bird in flight. The star at the intersection of the swan’s wings and body is named Sadr; the Arabic word for chest. The Bayer designation is Gamma Cygni (γ Cyg, γ Cygni).

The constellation is bright and easy to identify in the Northern sky. What is not so easy to see is the very large emission nebula located near γ Cyg.

Although γ Cyg lies near the center of the nebula, it is only a chance alignment. The star lies about 1,500 ly’s from Earth but the estimated distances to the nebula average about 3,000 ly’s.

By IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) via Wikimedia Commons

By IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg)
via Wikimedia Commons
(IC 1318)[C:60x60s]

(IC 1318)[C:60x60s]

Since γ Cyg is so bright, I positioned it out of the FOV to prevent it overwhelming the image. Also, this image is only a small part of the nebula since my telescopic field of view is much too small to view the entire object. The dark area that crosses the image is not a lack of stars but is instead a very dense part of the nebula which blocks the background light from reaching us.

Chart generated with Cartes du Ciel

Chart generated with Cartes du Ciel

 Posted by at 12:52

NGC 281 – Pacman Nebula

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Sep 112016
 

NGC 281 is an HII nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia. Named only ‘recently’, it has been given the common name of “Pacman Nebula” due to its remote resemblance (if rotated correctly) to the video game character. The nebula is about 80 light years in diameter at its estimated distance of 10,000 light years.

Pacman Nebula (NGC 281) [Ha:60x120s]

Pacman Nebula (NGC 281) [Ha:60x120s]


Also visible are several small dark areas known as Bok globules. These are areas of very dense dust and gas and can be the location of new star birth. Additionally, visible in the upper right quadrant are several sculpted columns slowly eroding from the intense output of IC 1590; the star cluster illuminating the nebula.
 
Chart generated with Cartes du Ciel

Chart generated with Cartes du Ciel

 Posted by at 18:41
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