
Images
M17 | Sh2-45
Messier 17, commonly referred to as the Omega Nebula or Swan Nebula, is an emission nebula in the constellation Sagittarius. Spanning approximately 30 light-years in the longest direction, Messier 17 is located roughly 5,000 to 6,000 light-years from Earth. It is one of the most massive molecular clouds in our Galaxy.
Caldwell 21
Caldwell 21 is an irregular galaxy located approximately 12.5 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. It is part of the M94 Group, a collection of galaxies in the vicinity of the Milky Way. Caldwell 21 is notable for its active star formation, which is evident from the numerous young, blue star clusters and pinkish star-forming regions scattered throughout the galaxy.
M51 | Arp 85
Messier 51, also known as the Whirlpool Galaxy, is one of the most striking and well-known galaxies in the night sky. What makes it special is the interaction with nearby galaxy NGC 5195, distorting its otherwise symmetric spiral pattern. This gravitational pull has triggered waves of star formation in the Whirlpool's arms, lighting them up with clusters of hot, young, blue stars. Here in a long >60h exposure.
M58
Messier 58 is one of the brightest galaxies in the constellation Virgo. Located roughly 62 million light-years from Earth, M58 is the most distant Messier object. The core contains high rates of star formation, known as starburst activity. It also houses a supermassive black hole around 70 million times the mass of our Sun.
Arp 25, Arp 114
Arp 25 and Arp 114 are a spiral and an elliptical galaxy respectively in the constellation Cepheus, at a distance of about 120 million lightyears away from Earth. Their gravitational interaction causes distortions in their morphology.
M89
Messier 89 is an elliptical galaxy located in the Virgo Cluster, within the constellation Virgo. M89 is approximately 50 to 55 million light-years away from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of about 9.8 to 10.73. The galaxy contains around 100 billion stars and over 2,000 globular clusters.
Sh2-261
Sharpless 2-261, also known as Lower's Nebula, is a faint emission nebula located in the constellation Orion. Sh2-261 is an ionised hydrogen (HII) region energised by the ultraviolet radiation of nearby hot stars. This nebula lies roughly 3,300 light-years from Earth and spans about 50 light-years in diameter.
Caldwell 39
Caldwell 39 (NGC2392) is a bipolar double-shell planetary nebula (PN) in the constellation Gemini. The Sun-like central red star is surrounded by gas that it has emitted from its outer layers. The visible inner filaments are ejected by a strong wind of particles from the central star.
Virgo Cluster
The Virgo cluster is a large area in the sky, packed with galaxies. The famous Markarian Chain may be the best known part of it, but there are many more pretty well visible galaxies around in the area. Explore this very wide-field recording of this exciting part of the night-sky.