The Trifid Nebula (M20) is a rare combination of a red emission nebula, a blue reflection nebula, and dark dust lanes. An extremely hot, young multiple star at its center has so much energy that it causes hydrogen gas to
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Trifid Nebula – M21
Part of the Dark-Wolf-Nebula
My image shows a small section of the Dark Wolf Nebula. This nebula, in turn, is part of the large molecular cloud in the constellation Lupus (the Wolf), about 500 times the size of our full moon and only about
Read moreMermaid Nebula – ESO 217-25
An impressive sea creature in the constellation Centaurus. My image shows the ghostly remnant of a stellar explosion, often referred to as the “Mermaid Nebula.” What appears here as an elegant web of luminous blue filaments and red shock fronts
Read moreWishing Well Cluster – NGC3532
Because of the arrangement of its stars, it is called the Wishing Well Star Cluster—the sparkling cluster on the left side of my photo. The roughly 150 bright stars look like silver coins tossed into the bottom of a wishing
Read moreDark Wolf Nebula – SL17
The Wolf Nebula, also known as the Fenrir Nebula (SL17), is a fascinating dark nebula in the constellation Scorpio, located just about 6,200 light-years away. It is a striking accumulation of cosmic dust that blocks the light of thousands of
Read moreThread-like Network of Filaments in Vela SNR
It looks like a neural network. Its delicate branches resemble the system of arteries and capillaries in the human body. Or it resembles the underground, thread-like networks of fungi in the forest floor. Actually, my image shows a fascinating section
Read morePearl Cluster – NGC3766
Set against the colorful Milky Way above Namibia, the Pearl Cluster glows softly in the lower left corner. It contains blue-white stars that, at about 20 million years old, are very young by astronomical standards. What makes this special, however,
Read moreSkull and Bones Nebula NGC2467
In my image, nebulae, numerous colorful stars, and star clusters form a vibrant portrait of the cosmos, also known as the Skull Nebula. At its center, in the bright white region at the top, lies a gigantic star. Just like
Read moreSouthern Milkyway
The Earth rotates, and with it, the stars appear to circle the celestial South Pole above Namibia. In my composition, I captured the Milky Way and the two neighboring galaxies, the Magellanic Clouds, at the start of the session and
Read moreCosmic Bat Nebula NGC1788
Two column-like dark clouds composed mainly of dust dominate my image. They are framed by glowing red hydrogen clouds. These dark clouds are illuminated by the many stars of the Milky Way, reflecting their light and thus becoming visible to
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