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Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree

Posted by | Dec 31, 2017 | , , |

Christmas tree is actually a nickname for NGC 2264 that officially identifies two astronomical objects: The Cone Nebula and the Christmas Tree Cluster. Unofficially other objects within this designation are: The Snowflake Cluster and the Fox Fur Nebula. No doubt something including a form of cone, Christmas and snowflakes is called a Christmas Tree by fellow astronomers and astro-photographers, who lack no imagination. All these nebulae and star clusters are located in the constellation Monoceros. For reference the Snowflake Cluster in the middle is 2700 light-years away from the Earth – not too much, but due to this region’s...

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Andromeda Galaxy

Andromeda Galaxy

Posted by | Nov 17, 2017 | , |

One of, if not the most famous deep sky objects is Messier 31 – as known as the Andromeda galaxy. At the proximity of only 2.5 million light-years to the Earth it get the well-deserved title of the closest neighbor of our galaxy – the Milky Way. Located in the constellation bearing its own name – Andromeda, the spiral galaxy like ours is actually moving on a highway towards us at the speed limit of about 110 kilometers per second. Astronomers have estimated that Andromeda will collide with the Milky Way in 4 billion years from now. However, by...

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Rosette Nebula

Rosette Nebula

Posted by | Nov 12, 2017 | , |

This cosmic flowery nebula is called Rosette after the red roses you are able to find in your backyard during spring. Inside the nebula lies an open cluster of young stars designated NGC 2244. They formed about 4 million years ago from the nebular material and their stellar winds are drilling a hole in nebula’s center, all of it insulated by cosmic dust and hot gases. The Rosette Nebula spans about 100 light-years across, at about 5000 light-years away from Earth. It is one of the few deep space objects that can be seen with even a small telescope...

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Orion Nebula

Orion Nebula

Posted by | Nov 3, 2016 | , |

The Orion Nebula (M42, or NGC 1976) is a diffuse nebula in the south of Orion’s Belt in the constellation of Orion. It is one of the brightest nebulae, and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky. M42 is located at a distance of about 1,344 light years and is the closest region of massive star formation to Earth. The M42 nebula is estimated to be 24 light years across. The Orion Nebula is one of the most scrutinized and photographed objects in the night sky, and is among the most intensely studied celestial features. The...

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Bubble Nebula

Bubble Nebula

Posted by | Oct 6, 2016 | , |

Bubble nebula (NGC 7635) is an emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia. It lies close to the direction of the open cluster Messier 52. The “bubble” is created by the stellar wind from a massive hot, 8.7 magnitude young central star, SAO 20575 (BD+60°2522). The nebula is near a giant molecular cloud which contains the expansion of the bubble nebula while itself being excited by the hot central star, causing it to glow. With an 8 or 10-inch (250 mm) telescope, the nebula is visible as an extremely faint and large shell around the star. The nearby 7th magnitude...

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