October, 2024 - Astrophotography with Seastar S50

M34 open cluster

October 31, 2024October 31, 2024 - by George Kosch

M34, or Messier 34, is an open star cluster located in the constellation Perseus, about 1,500 light-years away from Earth. It’s one of the nearest and best-studied open clusters and is relatively young, with an estimated age of around 200 to 250 million years.

Containing about 100 stars, M34 is visible to the naked eye in dark skies and easy to observe through binoculars or small telescopes. The cluster’s stars are loosely bound by gravity, which is typical for open clusters, and they share a common origin, having formed from the same molecular cloud. M34 spans about 15 light-years across, and its brighter stars are mostly main-sequence stars, though it does contain a few red giants.

Due to its brightness, proximity, and wide star distribution, M34 is popular among amateur astronomers and offers a good opportunity for studying stellar evolution and dynamics within open clusters.

NGC 2175.

October 31, 2024October 31, 2024 - by George Kosch

NGC 2175 is a beautiful star-forming region located in the constellation Orion, about 6,400 light-years away from Earth. This region, often referred to as the “Monkey Head Nebula” due to its shape in images, is a part of a larger nebula complex filled with glowing gas and newly formed stars.

NGC 2175 is an emission nebula, which means it’s made of ionized gas that emits light of various colors. The ionization comes from high-energy radiation from hot, young stars embedded within the nebula, causing the surrounding hydrogen gas to glow, predominantly in red. This process also helps reveal the intricate structures of dust and gas, sculpted by stellar winds and radiation pressure.

This nebula is a popular target for astronomers due to its interesting structures and the opportunity to observe star formation up close. Its intricate detail and relatively close distance make it a rich field of study in understanding the birth of stars and how they interact with their surrounding environment.

M1 is easy with my s50

October 31, 2024October 31, 2024 - by George Kosch

The Crab Nebula, or M1, is a famous supernova remnant and pulsar wind nebula located in the constellation Taurus. This nebula is the remains of a star that exploded in a supernova event, recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054 AD. It lies about 6,500 light-years away from Earth and spans approximately 11 light-years across.

The Crab Nebula’s structure is fascinating due to its complex web of filaments, which are remnants of the star’s outer layers, glowing from energy injected by a central pulsar. This pulsar, known as the Crab Pulsar, is a highly magnetized neutron star spinning about 30 times per second. It emits radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, making the Crab Nebula one of the most studied celestial objects.

This nebula is also a favorite target for astronomers because of its brightness and the wealth of information it offers about supernova remnants, neutron stars, and cosmic evolution.

M33 Triangulum Galaxy

October 31, 2024October 31, 2024 - by George Kosch

M33, also known as the Triangulum Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Triangulum. It’s the third-largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, which includes the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, and about 54 other smaller galaxies. M33 is about 3 million light-years away from Earth and is approximately 60,000 light-years in diameter. It’s known for its well-defined spiral structure and contains a high number of H II regions, which are large clouds of ionized hydrogen where new stars are forming. It’s a popular target for amateur astronomers due to its brightness and relatively close proximity.