31 million light years away sits M51, also known as the Whirlpool Galaxy. Its’ distinctive shape has made it a favorite galaxy to photograph for me since I started this hobby. Originally discovered in
In the constellation Orion there are three easily recognized stars that make up Orion’s Belt. Right below the easternmost star, Alnitak, lies the small nebula Barnard 33 (B33), better known as the Horsehead Nebula.
Our closest Galaxy neighbor is M31, the Andromeda Galaxy. It is a mere 2.5 million light years away from the Milky Way. At a dark enough site it is one of the most distant
M42, The Great Orion Nebula, is the first target for many astrophotographers. Easily located in the constellation Orion, it can be found with the naked eye. With a camera and a few seconds of
M42, the Great Orion Nebula, was the first target I imaged when starting astrophotography. If you want to dip your toes into the hobby it is the first subject I would recommend. A bright
2020 was a year of nebulae, galaxies, comets, star clusters, supernovae, and planetary conjunctions. There was little travel due to the pandemic, but the skies were active. I was able to use 2020 to
NGC2264 is the designation for an area with two astronomical objects, the Cone Nebula and the Christmas Tree Cluster. They are located in the Monoceros constellation 2,600 light years from Earth. That is 800
Approximately 1,500 light years away from the state on the West Coast is the California Nebula, NGC 1499. Discovered by E. E. Bernard in 1884, it gets its name from the similar shape to
IC1396, or the Elephant Trunk Nebula, can be found in the constellation Cepheus. This is an image I took over multiple nights in June and July. It is called the Elephant Trunk Nebula due
M51, the Whirlpool galaxy, is great example of a spiral galaxy. The spiral arms reaching out are star formation areas, compressing hydrogen gas and creating new star clusters. It is located near Alkaid, the