Sunday, September 19, 2010

June 2010

M20 - The Trifid Nebula

The Trifid Nebula is a large nebular complex that combines dark, reflection and emission nebulae, easily visible in the constellation Sagittarius (just north of the teapot's spout). It is one of the most beautiful objects in the summer sky.




This image combines exposures taken on April 19 and 24, May 6, and June 15, for a total exposure time of just over two hours.

M22
First noticed by astronomers as early as 1665, this globular cluster, which appears in the constellation Sagittarius, contains tens of thousands of stars spread over a mere 200 light year diameter. The cluster is about 10,400 light years from Earth and can be easily seen in binoculars or a small telescope.



This image comprises just three, 120-second exposures, for a total exposure time of just six minutes.


NGC 6960

This filamentary whisp of dust and gas in Cygnus is part of the Veil Nebula, a broken ring of nebulous arcs, all that remains of a massive star that went supernova between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago.

This image comprises eight, 120-second exposures, taken on May 10, and seventeen, 180-second exposures taken on June 6, for a total exposure time of 67 minutes.


The above image shows a wider field, capturing more of the surrounding star field. This image comprises 17, 180-second exposures, taken on June 6.

M8 - The Lagoon Nebula

Located about 6,000 light years away, the mighty Lagoon Nebula is a great stellar nursery visible to the naked eye under dark skies in the constellation Sagittarius.


This image is a 39 minute exposure, composed of thirteen, 180-second exposures.

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