Wednesday, September 23, 2026

The (SMC) Small Magellanic Cloud (Galaxy), NGC292, 200,000 Light Years Distant and 7000 Light Years Across in the Southern Hemisphere Sky Circumpolar to the South Celestial Pole

 The most striking features are the two blue reflection nebulae near the bottom left of the image, NGC346 and NGC371, 1149 and 444 light years across respectively.  Mid left and left bottom NGC361 and NGC416, seemingly smaller and insignificant visually in comparison but still with true scales of  91 and 71 light years across respectively.  Below also is an annotated image so you can know perhaps better what all that's about.




Sunday, September 20, 2026

Friday, September 18, 2026

Antares Nebula(Red, Bottom Left), Rho Ophiuchi(Blue, Top Right)and Globular Cluster Messier 4 taken with Canon 550D and Vixen ED80 Refractor. 22x 5 Minute Exposures Combined and Enhanced in Pixinsight and Further Processing in Affinity.

This is my first, for a long time, and fairly limited attempt to image this area.  In years past I have been limited by my ability to post process and enhance the nebula around and near the red giant star, Antares.  With access to and now skills in  Pixinsight and about 1 hour of telscope time this is a belated first try.
 

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

NGC6559, The Chinese Dragon Nebula in Sagittarius, 5000 Light Years Distance(Approx),


Taken with Sharpster Qii 100mm Refractor and ZWO ASI183 Camera, 52x 5 Minute Frames, combined and enhanced in Pixinsight.

 



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