A while ago, I made a post describing the process I go through in planning an image. In said post I used an image of Rho Ophiuchi I was planning on taking as an example. I planned to take the picture at the Golden State Star Party, and promised to provide an update once it […]
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The Planning of an Image
As one might imagine, taking a picture of a galaxy on the other side of the observable universe takes some planning. A LOT of planning. The whole shebang starts with one simple question: What do I want to take a picture of? Choosing a Target Choosing what I want to shoot is possibly the hardest step in […]
Why Near IR and IR Astronomy is Important
Consider for a moment this new image of M16 by the Hubble Space Telescope. This photo of M16 is taken in optical wavelengths. The kind of light you can see with your eyes (albeit enhanced). M16 is a star forming region meaning the gas inside the nebula is compressing into new stars. These new stars are […]
NGC 253- The Sculptor Galaxy
Ngc 253 or the Sculptor Galaxy is a treasure of the southern sky. Visible for a very short time in the late Fall for the northern hemisphere, this nearly edge-on spiral galaxy ranks as one of the brightest galaxies in our skies. The Sculptor Galaxy is undergoing a period of intense star formation earning it […]
Ic 434- The Horsehead and the Flame
Ic 434, better known as the Horsehead Nebula, is perhaps one of the most stunning views in the Autumn/Winter sky. This massive star forming region in Orion is also one of the most recognizable due to its dark horse head silhouette in the center. This tower of dark dust known as B33 casts a multi-light year […]
M8- The Lagoon Nebula
The Lagoon Nebula is one of the brightest HII regions visible in our skies. This interstellar cloud of gas in the constellation Sagittarius is home to multitudes of newly created stars. This image is part of my “Lagoon of Stars” data set that I took back in June. 22x5min iso 800 Vixen Ed80sf (600mm) Orion […]
Barnard 78: The Pipe Nebula, and other Dark Nebulae
Lurking along the plane of our Milky Way galaxy are invisible monsters comprised of dark gas and dust of epic proportions. These “monsters” are dark clouds of dust that are so dense that they absorb the light of the stars behind them. Astronomers refer to these cosmic silhouettes as “Dark Nebulae”. Many Dark Nebulae are regions […]
