IC4604 Rho Ophiuchi Nebula
Fun facts The Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex is a complex of interstellar clouds with different nebulae, particularly a dark nebula which is centered 1° south of the star ρ Ophiuchi, which it among others extends to, of the constellation Ophiuchus. At an estimated distance of about 140 parsecs, or 460 light years, it is one […]
Vela Supernova Remnant (SNR) – Crest & Bridge
Fun facts The Vela supernova remnant is a supernova remnant in the southern constellation Vela. Its source Type II supernova exploded approximately 11,000 years ago (and was about 900 light-years away). The association of the Vela supernova remnant with the Vela pulsar, made by astronomers at the University of Sydney in 1968, was direct observational […]
LDN1773 Pipe Stem & Bowl Nebulae
Fun facts In keeping with the tradition of bird constellations in the southern sky and birds made from dark-lanes as with the Emu, a few decades ago a southern observer noticed a familiar shape sitting in amongst the bright star clouds near the galactic center. It was none other than the flightless bird the Kiwi! […]
Chamaeleon II – Haast Eagle & Possum Nebulae
Fun facts Chamaeleon constellation: Chamaeleon is a small constellation in the deep southern sky. It is named after the Chamaeleon, a kind of lizard. It was first defined in the 16th century. STARS: There are four bright stars in Chamaeleon that form a compact diamond-shape approximately 10 degrees from the south celestial pole and about […]
M42 Orion Nebula
M42 Orion & NGC1975 Running Man Nebula; captured with BB-Mono from HCH Colorado Springs, Colorado on 24Dec2025 and 29-30Jan2026 FUN FACTS The Orion Nebula (also known as Messier 42, M42, or NGC 1976) is a diffuse nebula in the Milky Way situated south of Orion’s Belt in the constellation of Orion, and is known as […]
CTB1 Garlic Nebula
Fun facts Target Fun Facts: The CTB1 Garlic Nebula is approximately 100 light-years across, located about 10,000 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia, appearing roughly the size of a full moon in the sky. CTB 1, also nicknamed the Medulla or Popped-balloon Nebula, is a supernova remnant. It was discovered as a radio source in 1960 […]
B33/IC434 Horsehead & NGC2024 Flame Nebulae
Target Fun facts The Horsehead Nebula (also known as Barnard 33 or B33) is a small dark nebula located about 1,375 light-years (422 pc) from Earth in the constellation of Orion. The nebula is located just to the south of Alnitak, the easternmost star of Orion’s Belt, and is part of the much larger Orion […]
NGC2264 Christmas Tree Cluster & Cone Nebula
Fun facts NGC 2264 is the New General Catalogue designation number identifying two astronomical objects as a single object: the Cone Nebula and the Christmas Tree Cluster. Two other objects are also within this designation but not officially included, the Snowflake Cluster and the Fox Fur Nebula. All the objects are located in the Monoceros […]
NGC6960 West Veil (Witch’s Broom) Nebula
Fun facts The Veil Nebula is a cloud of heated and ionized gas and dust in the constellation Cygnus. NGC6960, the Western Veil’s Witch’s Broom Nebula spans about 35 light-years. The bright star in the frame is 52 Cygni, visible with the unaided eye from a dark location but unrelated to the ancient supernova remnant. […]
SH2-240 Spaghetti Nebula
First light and data collection with my new ZWO ASI6200MM mono camera and ZWO 7×2” Electronic Filter Wheel was on 15 November, collecting data on the SH2-240 Spaghetti Nebula shown in the “Previously captured images of SH2-240 Spaghetti Nebula” below. That night, I split my time between first gathering data with the mono camera and […]