Tag Archives: Ayn Rand

Messier 81 & 82

From Wikipedia: “Messier 81 (also known as NGC 3031 or Bode’s Galaxy) is a spiral galaxy about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. Due to its proximity to Earth, large size and active galactic nucleus (which harbors a supermassive black hole), Messier 81 has been studied extensively by professional astronomers. The galaxy’sContinue reading “Messier 81 & 82”

Horsehead and Flame Nebulae

From Wikipedia: The Horsehead Nebula (also known as Barnard 33) is a dark nebula in the constellation Orion. The nebula is located just to the south of the star Alnitak, which is farthest east on Orion’s Belt, and is part of the much larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. The nebula was first recorded in 1888Continue reading “Horsehead and Flame Nebulae”

Boogie Man Nebula – Lynd’s Dark Nebula 1622

This Dark Nebula is located in the Constellation of Orion.  It is about 500 light years distant, versus about 1300 light years for the Orion Nebula.  This was taken through a 4 inch Takahashi refractor.  A total of 49 RGB filtered images were stacked with 21 H-Alpha images for a total of 22.8 hours ofContinue reading “Boogie Man Nebula – Lynd’s Dark Nebula 1622”

Rosette Nebula – Enhanced Resolution

I love this particular section of the Rosette Nebula.  I have managed to increase the magnification and resolution by not using a focal reducer with the AstroPhysics 130mm refractor, and replacing it with a field flattener.  For the price of a slower speed and reduced field of view, precise higher resolution images are easier toContinue reading “Rosette Nebula – Enhanced Resolution”

Pacman Nebula – NGC 281

“NGC 281 is known informally as the “Pacman Nebula” because of its appearance in optical images. In optical images the “mouth” of the Pacman character appears dark because of obsuration by dust and gas…” NASA Administrator 7/30/2015 This was imaged through the Takahashi 4 inch refractor. It is a stacked composite of 52 thirty minuteContinue reading “Pacman Nebula – NGC 281”

Flaming Star Nebula

“The Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405) is a diffuse emission/reflection nebula in Auriga constellation. It surrounds the irregular variable star AE Aurigae, a runaway star believed to originate in the Orion’s Belt area in Orion constellation. The nebula is approximately 1,500 light years distant. It has an apparent magnitude of 6.0 and measures about 37’x19′Continue reading “Flaming Star Nebula”

Jellyfish Nebula – IC 443

“IC 443 (also known as the Jellyfish Nebula and Sharpless 248 (Sh2-248)) is a Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) in the constellation Gemini. On the plan of the sky, it is located near the star Eta Geminorum. Its distance is roughly 5,000 light years from Earth. IC 443 may be the remains of a supernova thatContinue reading “Jellyfish Nebula – IC 443”

Andromeda – M31

Andromeda is a spiral galaxy that is 2.5 million light years distant and 220,000 light years across. It is the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way. Be forewarned, our Milky Way and Andromeda are expected to collide in 3.75 billion years. “Outside the zodiacal group of constellations, and with the possible exception of Orion,Continue reading “Andromeda – M31”