Located about 7,500 light-years from Earth are IC 1805 and IC 1848, the Heart and Soul Nebulae. Also shown is IC 1795, the Fish Head nebula. These nebulae are large star-forming complexes making up
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
NGC7000, the North America Nebula, is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus. It received the name due to the distinctive shape resembling the North America continent. Sitting next to NGC7000 is the Pelican
Globular Clusters are collections of stars that orbit a galactic core. They are spherical in shape due to gravity tightly bounding the stars together. These star clusters are fairly common, with over 150 known
In the last post, M27: The Dumbbell, I wrote about a stars’ finite life. M27 is a planetary nebula, the result of a dying star of intermediate size. A massive star goes from star
Stars have a finite life, eventually they will end. A massive star goes from star to red supergiant, followed by a supernova. In a supernova ~75% of the star’s mass is ejected into space.
Within the constellation Virgo there are over 2000 galaxies known as the Virgo Cluster. One subgroup, near the tail of Leo, is known as Markarian’s Chain. Discovered by Armenian astrophysicist Benjamin Markarian, this string
In the constellation Leo there sits a trio of galaxies known as the M66 group. It is often referred to as the Leo Triplet. The three galaxies are M65, M66, and NGC 3628. All
M101, also known as the Pinwheel Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. To find it locate the star Alkaid, the last star in the handle of the Big Dipper.