M78 is sometimes forgotten reflection nebula in the constellation of Orion and part of the Orion molecular cloud complex. It includes NGC 2064, NGC 2067 and NGC 2071 and other nebulae. This image is an LRGB composite with more than 15 hours of data taken at Deep Sky West. Again my first attempt at processing […]
A famous scenery, the Horsehead Nebula (B33), the Flame Nebula (NGC2024), and the blue supergiant star Alnitak the east-most star in the Belt of Orion surrounded by more subtle nebulosity. This is an LRGB composite image using a total of around 8 hours of data taken at the Deep Sky West observatory. The processing was […]
This is a HaRGB image of LDN1622, a striking dark nebula in the constellation Orion not far from M78. It has been dubbed Boogie Man nebula, but there are other more sinister interpretations as well. I used the Ha data together with all RGB to create a luminance channel and combined it with the RGB […]
A dramatic scenery of structures and colors – NGC 1333 and its surroundings. This is a star-forming region, about 1000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Perseus, home of hundreds of newly born stars. NGC 1333 is the blue reflection nebula, surrounded by dusty regions with contrasting red emissions from Herbig-Haro objects, jets and glowing […]
NGC1342 is an impressive open cluster in Perseus with more than 50 stars and an apparent diameter of 15 arc-minutes across and was discovered by William Herschel in 1799. The cluster is dominated by multiple magnitude 8-10 stars lying in a horizontal band. NGC1342 lies at a distance of 1,170 light-years away and is estimated […]
The Soul Nebula (IC1848, Sh2-199, LBN667), looks more like a toddler if you ask me. The companion of the Heart Nebula, both expansive emission nebula difficult to observe visually but a rewarding catch on chip. Unlike the usual narrowband composites, this is an RGB image with Ha used as luminance channel. I will have to […]
The Flaming Star Nebula (IC405) is illuminated by the bright variable star AE Aurigae. Although it is mostly an emission nebula, the Flaming Star Nebula also has a reflection nebula component which is seen as blue filaments near AE Aurigae. This nebula is estimated to be about 1500 light years away and about 5 light-years […]
The Pleiades M45 is an open star cluster containing middle-aged hot stars located in the constellation of Taurus. It is among the nearest star clusters to Earth and is the cluster most obvious to the naked eye in the night sky. It is dominated by hot blue and extremely luminous stars that have formed within […]
This is NGC7822, a young and star forming region in Cepheus, also containing Sh2-171. Usually a target for false-color narrowband imaging, which nicely highlights the structures and pillars within the cloud. This, however, is a pure LRGB image in ‘natural’ colors. During processing I reduced the green component somewhat, which leads to a cooler colour […]
The Baby Eagle or Vulture Nebula LBN777 is another example of a difficult bright nebula. It is part of the Taurus Molecular Cloud, consisting of cosmic dust and molecular gas with very low density. The clouds are cold and only scatter light from surrounding stars, so they appear as very faint reflection nebulae. The densest […]
The interesting part is the part that you do not see. Dark lanes in a dense field of stars… with some bright stars illumination blue reflection nebulae. The dark nebulae are LDN 767,768,769,… and the faint blue reflection nebulae in the foreground are VDB 126, LBN 134. This image is a LRGB composite with a […]
The Andromeda Galaxy M31 a truly magnificent sight. It is the sister of our own galaxy and the closest major galaxy. Our Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Triangulum Galaxy M33 are members of the Local Group. M31 contains about 1 trillion stars, twice as many as our home galaxy. It’s not only one of […]