2019 Sept. 28 ~ Hydrogen gas clouds & star clusters in the Milky Way
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Photographed 40 km south of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia, between 21.53 and 22.01 CAST (Central Australia Standard Time)
* Observing site: Long. 133.69° E. | Lat. 23.98° S. | Elev. 612m
* Altitude of centre of frame at time of exposures: ~41°
* Total exposure time: 7 minutes
* 120 mm focal length lens
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Description:
In this view of the Milky Way in the constellations Scutum (The Shield), Serpens Cauda (the Serpent's Tail) and Sagittarius (The Archer), we see four prominent pink gas clouds of glowing ionized hydrogen gas. these are all celebrated telescope targets for observational astronomers. From left to right they are:
* M16, Eagle Nebula: 1-2 million years old; ~7000 light years distant, 15 light years diameter; location of the famous "Pillars of Creation" image from the Hubble Space Telescope
For a much closer view of this object, photographed from Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/29539735285
* M17, Omega Nebula: 5-6000 LY distant, 15 light years diameter; one of the brightest and most massive star-forming regions in Milky Way galaxy.
For a much closer view of this object, photographed from Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/29787603455
* M20, Trifid Nebula: This small nebula but bright is actually comprised of four components: a pink-red emission nebula; a blue reflection nebula; a cluster of young stars; and a foreground three-pronged dark nebula that trifurcates the bright components into three apparent sections (hence the name Trifid"). Distance: ~4100 LY.
For a closer in view of this beautiful nebula, photographed on the previous evening, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/49103383493
* M8, Lagoon Nebula: This largest of the four nebulae is faintly visible to the unaided eye from a dark sky location, and lies between 4000 and 6000 light years from us. It measures 55 by 20 LY across.
For a much closer view of this object, photographed from Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/29786914355
For a version of this photo WITH LABELS, click on your screen to the RIGHT of the photo, or click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/49184174647
Here is a photo of the gear that used for astrophotography on this trip:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/49017804808
___________________________________________
Technical information:
Nikkor AF-S 70-200 mm f/2.8 G ED VRII lens on Nikon D810a camera body, mounted on iOptron CEM40 equatorial mount
Fourteen stacked frames; each frame:
120 mm focal length
ISO 8000; 30 seconds at f/4; unguided
Stacked in Registar; processed in Photoshop CS6 (brightness, contrast, levels, colour balance)
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2019 Sept. 28 ~ Hydrogen gas clouds & star clusters in the Milky Way
***************************************************************************
Photographed 40 km south of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia, between 21.53 and 22.01 CAST (Central Australia Standard Time)
* Observing site: Long. 133.69° E. | Lat. 23.98° S. | Elev. 612m
* Altitude of centre of frame at time of exposures: ~41°
* Total exposure time: 7 minutes
* 120 mm focal length lens
___________________________________________
Description:
In this view of the Milky Way in the constellations Scutum (The Shield), Serpens Cauda (the Serpent's Tail) and Sagittarius (The Archer), we see four prominent pink gas clouds of glowing ionized hydrogen gas. these are all celebrated telescope targets for observational astronomers. From left to right they are:
* M16, Eagle Nebula: 1-2 million years old; ~7000 light years distant, 15 light years diameter; location of the famous "Pillars of Creation" image from the Hubble Space Telescope
For a much closer view of this object, photographed from Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/29539735285
* M17, Omega Nebula: 5-6000 LY distant, 15 light years diameter; one of the brightest and most massive star-forming regions in Milky Way galaxy.
For a much closer view of this object, photographed from Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/29787603455
* M20, Trifid Nebula: This small nebula but bright is actually comprised of four components: a pink-red emission nebula; a blue reflection nebula; a cluster of young stars; and a foreground three-pronged dark nebula that trifurcates the bright components into three apparent sections (hence the name Trifid"). Distance: ~4100 LY.
For a closer in view of this beautiful nebula, photographed on the previous evening, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/49103383493
* M8, Lagoon Nebula: This largest of the four nebulae is faintly visible to the unaided eye from a dark sky location, and lies between 4000 and 6000 light years from us. It measures 55 by 20 LY across.
For a much closer view of this object, photographed from Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/29786914355
For a version of this photo WITH LABELS, click on your screen to the RIGHT of the photo, or click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/49184174647
Here is a photo of the gear that used for astrophotography on this trip:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/49017804808
___________________________________________
Technical information:
Nikkor AF-S 70-200 mm f/2.8 G ED VRII lens on Nikon D810a camera body, mounted on iOptron CEM40 equatorial mount
Fourteen stacked frames; each frame:
120 mm focal length
ISO 8000; 30 seconds at f/4; unguided
Stacked in Registar; processed in Photoshop CS6 (brightness, contrast, levels, colour balance)
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