M101 Super Nova

This image of M101 was taken at the Loon Lake dark-sky sight on Sept. 2nd and 3rd by Chuck Webb, Walter Davies and me.  The super nova is the bright star-like object in the 8 o'clock position on the outer edge of the galaxy. For us this was a once-in-a-life-time opportunity.  The super nova was in its 11th day of its existence, close to its brightest moment.


It is extremely rare that a super nova would occur in a galaxy that is close enough to be imaged by amateur equipment.  And for it to have occurred 24 million light years and 11 days before we were to be at Loon Lake makes even more remarkable.  As I post this, in a matter of days super nova will dim and not be visible.  The timing couldn't have been better.

Elephant Trunk Nebula (IC 1396)

This image of the Elephant Trunk Nebula is a stack of 61 4-minute exposures taken over two nights in Abbotsford. IC 1396 is a large open star cluster in Cepheus with a faint nebulous background.  The bright star near the bottom of the image is the triple Struve 2819.  The Elephant Trunk is a concentration of interstellar gas and dust within IC 1396 - outlined in red in the top middle of the image. 

Pelican Nebula (IC 5070)

This image of the Pelican Nebula is a stack of 67 4-minute exposures taken over two nights in Abbotsford.  The nebula is a large emission nebula which resembles a pelican in shape.  It is located in Cygnus and is 2,000 light years away.

Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC 6995)

This image of the Eastern Veil Nebula was taken from my deck in Abbotsford and consists of a stack of 60 4-minute exposures taken over two successive nights.  The Eastern and Western Veil Nebulae are remnants of a supernova explosion between 5,000 and 8,000 years ago.  They are located in Cygnus and are about 2600 light years from Earth.

Western Veil Nebula (NGC 6960)

This image of the Veil Nebula was taken over two nights from my back deck in Abbotsford.  It is a stack of 46 4-minute exposures.  The Veil Nebula is located in the constellation Cygnus and is about 2,600 light years from Earth.

Black Eye Galaxy (M64)

This image consists of 40 4-minute exposures taken from my deck in Abbotsford.  M64 is a spiral galaxy located in Coma Berenices and is 24 million ly from Earth.  It derives its name from the dark dust lane to the right of its center.  

Black Eye Galaxy (M64)

Markarian's Chain

This image was taken in Tucson in March and consists of 30 4-minute exposures.  There are nine galaxies in this image which form part of the Virgo cluster.  Markarian's Chain is 60 million light years from Earth.  The brightest galaxy in the center is M86, the galaxy to the right is M84, The two galaxies in the upper right are The Eyes (NGC 4438 and 4435).

Bode's Galaxy (M81) & Cigar Galaxy (M82)

This image was taken in Tucson in March and  consists of 85 4-minute exposures.  These galaxies are located in Ursa Major about 12 million light years from Earth.  M81 is the spiral galaxy to the right.

M3 Globular Cluster

This image of M3 consists of a stack of 18 4-minute exposures taken on March 5th at the Chiricahua Astronomy Complex.  CAC is south east of Tucson in the foothills of the Chiricahua range (31 deg 52 min N; 109 deg 31 min W; elevation 4,800 ft).  M3 is located in Canes Venatici and is about 34 kly from Earth.  It is one of the brightest globulars in the northern sky.

Heart Nebula (IC 1805)

This image was taken on Jan. 26 & 29 in Tucson and consists of 47 4-minute exposures.  The Heart nebula is located in Cassiopeia and is 7,500 ly from Earth.  The open cluster Melotte 15 lies at the nebula centre and its radiation drives the nebula's colour.

Rosette Nebula & Open Cluster (NGC 2237 & 2244)

This image consists of 25 4-minute exposures taken in Tucson on Jan. 14th.  The Rosette is a bright nebula located in the constellation Monoceros.  The nebula surrounds an open cluster of hot, young stars (centre of image).  It is 5,500 ly from Earth.   

Orion Nebula (M42)

This image consists of 25 4-minute exposures and was taken in Tucson on Jan. 12th.  This is another image captured last January and shown in an earlier post.  As I gain more experience with Photoshop (in this case CS5) I am finding that I can stretch the image to a finished form without introducing noise.  I also note this image was captured from a city lot and the Badder UHC filter removes any light pollution effects.    

Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) & Horsehead Nebula

This image consists of 25 4-minute exposures taken in Tucson on Jan. 10.  This was one of the first images I shot last year.  The above image is less noisy than my first image.  The Flame nebula is to the left of the bright star Alnitak (the left-most star in Orion's belt).  It is about 900 ly from Earth and is part of the Orion molecular complex and includes the Horsehead nebula to the right of Alnitak.