Monthly Archives: July 2017

The Andromeda Galaxy

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The Andromeda Galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

  • Telescope: Stellarvue SVA130T-IS
  • Mount: Losmandy G-11 with Gemini 2 controller
  • Autoguiding: Yes (sub-arcsecond rms accuracy)
  • Optical Configuration: 0.72x field flattener & reducer (f/5)
  • Camera: Canon 60Da
  • Light Frames: 12, 5-min. exposures stacked
  • Calibration: None (no darks, no flats, no biases)
  • Exposure Time: 60 min. (12 x 5 min.)
  • ISO: 800
  • Processing: Photoshop CC
  • Imaging Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains (Altitude: 8,600 ft.)

The  Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is about 2 1/2 times larger than our Milky Way and contains an estimated 1 trillion stars. At a distance of 2.5 million light-years, it is our nearest galactic neighbor and getting closer to us every day at nearly 70 miles per second. But even at that speed, our galaxy won’t collide with Andromeda for at least another 4 billion years. So don’t hold your breath.

North America Nebula

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North America Nebula

North America Nebula (NGC7000)

  • Telescope: Stellarvue SVA130T-IS
  • Mount: Losmandy G-11 with Gemini 2 controller
  • Autoguiding: Yes (sub-arcsecond rms accuracy)
  • Optical Configuration: 0.72x field flattener & reducer (f/5)
  • Camera: Canon 60Da
  • Light Frames: 12, 6-min. exposures
  • Calibration: None (no darks, no flats, no biases)
  • Exposure Time: 72 min. (12 x 6 min.)
  • ISO: 800
  • Processing: Photoshop CC
  • Imaging Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains (Altitude: 8,600 ft.)

The aptly named North America Nebula (NGC7000) in the constellation Cygnus is an emission nebula containing gasses that glow red or blue. The red color comes from hydrogen gas that absorbs light from nearby stars and re-emits it in the red part of the spectrum (hydrogen-alpha emission). The blue light comes from oxygen gas, which also absorbs nearby starlight but re-emits it in the blue. The effect creates a purple haze glowing amid thousands of stars.

The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules

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The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules (M13)

The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules (M13)

  • Telescope: Stellarvue SVA130T-IS
  • Mount: Losmandy G-11 with Gemini 2 controller
  • Autoguiding: Yes (sub-arcsecond rms accuracy)
  • Optical Configuration: 2x Barlow lens (f/14)
  • Camera: Canon 60Da
  • Light Frames: 5, 5-min. and 5, 3-min. exposures stacked
  • Calibration: 12 dark frames (no flats, no biases)
  • Exposure Time: 40 min. (5 x 5 min. + 5 x 3 min.)
  • ISO: 800
  • Processing: Photoshop CC
  • Imaging Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains (Altitude: 8,600 ft.)

Like most globular clusters, The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules (M13) is one of the oldest structures in the universe–about 12.7 billion years old. Astronomers believe that  globular clusters formed very soon after the Big Bang. In fact, these star formations pose something of a dilemma for cosmologists, because the universe itself is thought to be about 13.7 billion years old and some globular clusters seem to be even older than that.

Located in the constellation Hercules, M13 is 25,000 light-years from Earth and contains about 300,000 stars.

Globular Cluster M92

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Globular Cluster M92

Globular Cluster M92

  • Telescope: Stellarvue SVA130T-IS
  • Mount: Losmandy G-11 with Gemini 2 controller
  • Autoguiding: Yes (sub-arcsecond rms accuracy)
  • Optical Configuration: 2x Barlow lens (f/14)
  • Camera: Canon 60Da
  • Light Frames: 5, 5-min. exposures stacked
  • Calibration: None (no darks, no flats, no biases)
  • Exposure Time: 25 min. (5 x 5 min.)
  • ISO: 800
  • Processing: Photoshop CC
  • Imaging Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains (Altitude: 8,600 ft.)

With an estimated age of 14 billion years, the globular cluster M92 is one of the most ancient structures in the universe. Astronomers believe that most globular clusters formed very soon after the universe began with the Big Bang. In fact, these star formations pose something of a dilemma for cosmologists, because the universe itself is thought to be about 13.7 billion years old, and some globular clusters like M92 appear to be even older.

Located in the constellation Hercules, M92 is 27,000 light-years from Earth and contains about 300,000 stars. It could be the oldest globular cluster in our Milky Way galaxy.