NGC 2237-8, 44, 46Rosette Nebula in Monoceros 10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC with 0.5 focal reducer and Optolong L-eNhance filterExposure = 10-15-20 sec, Live Stacked frames = 15-15-15 (45 total), Gain = 40 of 250 The Rosette Nebula, also known as Caldwell 49, is a very large diffuse galactic nebula, about 1.3 degrees across in the…

M79 Globular cluster in Lepus 10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC Exposure = 8 sec, Live Stacked frames = 55, Gain = 6 of 250 This globular cluster is in an unusual part of the sky directly opposite the galactic center, 42,000 light years away and 118 light years across, both farther and smaller than M13. M79…

M78 Reflection nebula in Orion 10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC Exposure = 7-13-20 sec, Live Stacked frames = 15-15-45 (75 total), Gain = 6 of 250 One of the few reflection nebula in the Messier catalog, M78 (also known as NGC 2068 and “Casper the Friendly Ghost” nebula) is the brightest portion in the image here,…

M38Open cluster in Auriga 10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC with 0.5 focal reducerExposure = 5 sec, Live Stacked frames = 20, Gain = 40 of 250 M38 is a large loose open cluster, about 120 stars spanning approximately 20 arc minutes. Burnham’s mentions “It is a scattered group of irregular form, with the brightest stars in…

M37 Open cluster in Auriga 10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC with 0.5 focal reducerExposure = 5 sec, Live Stacked frames = 20, Gain = 40 of 250 M37 is a beautiful large, compressed star cluster that looks almost like a loose globular cluster (see M4 for comparison). Burnham’s says it “contains about 150 stars down to…

M36Open cluster in Auriga 101.” f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC Exposure = 5 sec, Live Stacked frames = 15, Gain = 25 of 250 M36 is a bright, large star cluster with little compression. Burnham’s says it “contains about 60 stars of magnitude 9 to 14”. The cluster appears to be approximately 10 arc minutes across. At…

M77Seyfert galaxy in Cetus 10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC with Astronomik UHC filter Exposure = 10-20-29 sec, Live Stacked frames = 35-20-15 (70 total), Gain = 50 of 250 M77 (bottom) appears here in this view alongside galaxy NGC 1055, at top. M77 is a Seyfert galaxy, the only one of its kind in the Messier…

Albireo (Beta Cygni) 10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC, single frame snapshot with high saturation Albireo is a beautiful optical binary showcasing a brilliant yellow primary next to a blue secondary star. The two stars are separated by 35 arc seconds, and are 420 light years away. North at 10 o’clock, East at 7 o’clock

IC 434Horsehead Nebula in Orion 10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC with 0.5 focal reducer and Astronomik UHC filterExposure = 10 sec, Live Stacked frames = 15, Gain = 33 of 250 The Horsehead Nebula’s (Barnard 33) distinct shape appears quite readily against the ionized hydrogen-red backdrop of IC 434. The dark nebula is about 1400 light…

M1Crab Nebula in Taurus 10.1″ f/4.5, Mallincam DS432cTEC Exposure = 15-19 sec, Live Stacked frames = 30-20 (50 total), Gain = 14 of 250 The Crab Nebula is about 11 light years across and approximately 6500 light years away. In this view it appears about 5 arc minutes across. Lots of subtle rose-coloured cords and…