2 Threaded Spouts
M16, The Eagle Nebula, is an emission nebula/star formation region located about 5700 ly away in the constellation of Serpens.
If you look carefully at the centre of this image, you'll see the "Pillars of Creation" made famous by the Hubble Space Telescope.
If you look carefully at the centre of this image, you'll see the "Pillars of Creation" made famous by the Hubble Space Telescope.
09:08 PM - May 14, 2024
M4 is a globular cluster located about 6000ly away in the constellation of Scorpius.
M4 is the closest globular cluster to the Earth. Its about 12 billion years old.
M4 is the closest globular cluster to the Earth. Its about 12 billion years old.
10:51 PM - May 13, 2024
We often find supernova (exploding stars) in other galaxies where they often rival their host galaxy for brightness.
Here is galaxy M101 with supernova (L) and without (R). The supernova (from 2011) reached magnitude 9.9 while the whole galaxy of stars is a bit brighter at 7.9.
Here is galaxy M101 with supernova (L) and without (R). The supernova (from 2011) reached magnitude 9.9 while the whole galaxy of stars is a bit brighter at 7.9.
08:45 PM - May 09, 2024
The Veil Nebula is part of a supernova remnant known as the Cygnus loop and is about 2400 ly away in the constellation of Cygnus.
The nebula was formed about 20 thousand years ago when a massive star used up its nuclear fuel and exploded in a supernova explosion.
The nebula was formed about 20 thousand years ago when a massive star used up its nuclear fuel and exploded in a supernova explosion.
09:57 PM - May 08, 2024
2 Threaded Spouts
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system.
Seen here with its 4 largest moons, Jupiter is made up of gas, primarily hydrogen, helium, methane and other gasses.
Just visible in this image (if you zoom in) is the Great Red Spot.
Seen here with its 4 largest moons, Jupiter is made up of gas, primarily hydrogen, helium, methane and other gasses.
Just visible in this image (if you zoom in) is the Great Red Spot.
09:29 PM - May 07, 2024
The Horsehead nebula is a dark nebula located about 1400 ly away in the constellation of Orion.
What the two images here show is the difference in using filters to provide colour as our eyes would see (L) vs using light from specific elements (H alpha, S[II}, and O[III])(R).
What the two images here show is the difference in using filters to provide colour as our eyes would see (L) vs using light from specific elements (H alpha, S[II}, and O[III])(R).
08:15 PM - May 06, 2024
M58 is a barred spiral galaxy located about 62 Mly away in the constellation Virgo.
As a barred spiral there is a bar of stars through its core. This is possibly caused by a density wave from the core. Whatever the cause most spirals are barred.
As a barred spiral there is a bar of stars through its core. This is possibly caused by a density wave from the core. Whatever the cause most spirals are barred.
09:28 PM - May 02, 2024
NGC 7293, the Helix nebula, is a planetary nebula located about 650 ly away in the constellation Aquarius.
At 650ly distance, NGC 7293 is one of the closest PN to us.
At 650ly distance, NGC 7293 is one of the closest PN to us.
08:53 PM - May 01, 2024
M75 is a globular cluster located about 67.5 kly away in the constellation of Sagittarius.
At its distance M75 is located such that our Galaxy's core is between us and M75.
At its distance M75 is located such that our Galaxy's core is between us and M75.
08:53 PM - Apr 30, 2024
What do you do when you need to demonstrate a choke as a filter for a dc power supply and don’t have a choke handy? Don’t laugh, it works…
Yes the students use a current limited AC source.
Yes the students use a current limited AC source.
07:06 PM - Apr 30, 2024
I should not be having to brush the snow off my car on the 30th of April…
08:42 AM - Apr 30, 2024
M65 (galaxy on the right) is a spiral galaxy located about 36 Mly away in the constellation of Leo.
Along with M66 (left) and NGC 3628 (off frame), M65 forms the Leo triplet of galaxies.
Along with M66 (left) and NGC 3628 (off frame), M65 forms the Leo triplet of galaxies.
06:58 PM - Apr 29, 2024
M48 is an open cluster located about 2500 ly away in the constellation of Hydra.
At about 450 million years old, it is a middle aged open cluster. Its stars have began to drift apart due to interactions with other matter in our Galaxy.
At about 450 million years old, it is a middle aged open cluster. Its stars have began to drift apart due to interactions with other matter in our Galaxy.
06:37 PM - Apr 25, 2024
The Virgo cluster of galaxies contains many members. This image which contains M60 (left centre) and M59 (right centre) has at least 11 other members, can you spot them without looking at the second image?
08:09 PM - Apr 24, 2024
NGC 2024, the Flame nebula (upper left) forms part of a larger cloud of gas and dust that includes the Horsehead nebula which is in front of IC 434.
The bright star is Alnitak, the easternmost star in Orion's belt.
The bright star is Alnitak, the easternmost star in Orion's belt.
09:41 PM - Apr 23, 2024
M49 is an elliptical galaxy located about 56 Mly away in the constellation Virgo.
Elliptical galaxies like M49 are thought to be the result of galactic mergers with two or more galaxies coming together to form the elliptical.
Elliptical galaxies like M49 are thought to be the result of galactic mergers with two or more galaxies coming together to form the elliptical.
07:37 PM - Apr 22, 2024
M82 is a spiral galaxy located about 12 Mly away in the constellation of Ursa Major.
M82 is a starburst galaxy, that is undergoing massive amounts of star formation. This is likely due to gravitational interaction with nearby galaxy M81.
M82 is a starburst galaxy, that is undergoing massive amounts of star formation. This is likely due to gravitational interaction with nearby galaxy M81.
06:55 PM - Apr 18, 2024
M59 is an elliptical galaxy located about 50 Mly away in the constellation of Virgo.
Like our Galaxy, M59 also has globular clusters orbiting it. M59 has a lot of globulars, over 2000.
Like our Galaxy, M59 also has globular clusters orbiting it. M59 has a lot of globulars, over 2000.
06:58 PM - Apr 17, 2024
M86 (centre) is an elliptical galaxy located about 52 Mly away in the constellation of Virgo.
M86 exhibits a blue shift despite its distance meaning that it is approaching our Galaxy.
M86 exhibits a blue shift despite its distance meaning that it is approaching our Galaxy.
06:41 PM - Apr 15, 2024
NGC 3628 is an edge-on spiral galaxy located about 35 Mly away in the constellation of Leo.
It is part of the Leo triplet of galaxies. As can been seen in the image the it has prominent dust lanes along the edge of the galaxy. This dust is common to spiral galaxies.
It is part of the Leo triplet of galaxies. As can been seen in the image the it has prominent dust lanes along the edge of the galaxy. This dust is common to spiral galaxies.
09:56 PM - Apr 11, 2024
M87 is an elliptical galaxy located about 16 Mly away in the constellation Virgo.
One of the largest galaxies that is relatively close to our Galaxy, M87 contains an active supermassive black hole which is causing the jet visible in the second image.
One of the largest galaxies that is relatively close to our Galaxy, M87 contains an active supermassive black hole which is causing the jet visible in the second image.
11:40 PM - Apr 10, 2024
M97, the Owl Nebula, is a planetary nebula located about 2000 ly away in the constellation Ursa Major.
It is the remnant of a star not unlike the Sun, having used up its fuel and puffing its atmosphere into space. Once the nebula is gone, a white dwarf will be all that's left.
It is the remnant of a star not unlike the Sun, having used up its fuel and puffing its atmosphere into space. Once the nebula is gone, a white dwarf will be all that's left.
09:00 PM - Apr 09, 2024
NGC 7217 is a spiral galaxy located about 50 Mly away in the constellation of Pegasus.
An unusual feature of this galaxy is that it has many stars in its disk rotating retrograde (opposite the main mass of stars). This could be due to a merger in the galaxy's past.
An unusual feature of this galaxy is that it has many stars in its disk rotating retrograde (opposite the main mass of stars). This could be due to a merger in the galaxy's past.
08:48 PM - Apr 08, 2024
M25 is an open cluster located about 2000 ly away in the constellation of Sagittarius.
It is a reasonably young cluster, at only about 68 million years old.
It is a reasonably young cluster, at only about 68 million years old.
10:55 PM - Apr 03, 2024
M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy located about 2.5 Mly away in the constellation of Andromeda.
The closest large galaxy that looks like our Galaxy, M31 is the largest member of the Local Group of galaxies.
The closest large galaxy that looks like our Galaxy, M31 is the largest member of the Local Group of galaxies.
10:50 PM - Apr 02, 2024
M56 is a globular cluster located about 33 kly away in the constellation of Lyra.
Using the globular clusters that orbit our Galaxy like M56, Harlow Shapley was able to determine the direction and distance to our Galaxy's core.
Using the globular clusters that orbit our Galaxy like M56, Harlow Shapley was able to determine the direction and distance to our Galaxy's core.
07:01 PM - Mar 28, 2024
NGC 5492 (near centre) is an edge-on spiral galaxy located about 119 Mly away in the constellation Bootes.
It is suspected to be an Active Galaxy Nucleus (AGN) galaxy. This means there is likely an active supermassive black hole in it's core.
It is suspected to be an Active Galaxy Nucleus (AGN) galaxy. This means there is likely an active supermassive black hole in it's core.
09:15 PM - Mar 27, 2024
IC 4593 is a planetary nebula located about 7900 ly away in the constellation Hercules.
Its further distance makes it hard to see in the image on the right through a 20cm telescope. Left image is a crop.
Its further distance makes it hard to see in the image on the right through a 20cm telescope. Left image is a crop.
08:59 PM - Mar 26, 2024
