Tuesday, October 20, 2009

October 18, 2009

IC 405 - The Flaming Star Nebula

This is both an emission and reflection nebula surrounding the variable star AE Aurigae, whose emissions cause the nebula's pinkish-red glow, while dust in the nebula reflects other wavelenghts of light adding blue highlights to the nebula's structure, which appears as waves racing out from AE Aurigae. IC 405 is part of larger nebula complex and is located about 1,500 light years away.


The above image shows IC 405 amid its rich starfield. Below is a closeup crop of the nebula itself.


The above images were composed from 14, 300-second sub-exposures, for a total exposure time of one hour and ten minutes.

NGC 2237 - Rosette Nebula and Cluster

One of the most beautiful objects in the night sky, the Rosette Nebula - located 5,200 light years away in the constellation Monoceros - is a large emission nebula, which stretches almost 130 light years in diameter. The nebula is lit by hot, young stars from the open cluster NGC 2244, which lies inside the nebula. Stellar wind from the stars inside the nebula has sculpted the gas into the nebula's circular shape, which many observers describe as rose-like, giving the nebula its name.

The Rosette is extremely difficult to observe visually, though the cluster of stars at its center is easily visible with binoculars or a small telescope. Long exposure photographs are needed to reveal the nebula's structure.



This is a particularly satisfying image. The Rosette is large enough to almost completely fill the camera's field of view. This image is composed of 16, 300-second sub-exposures. A total exposure time of one hour and twenty minutes.


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