In the center of my image, embedded in clouds of glowing hydrogen and dark dust bands, lies one of the brightest and most beautiful star clusters in the southern sky, the Gem or Gemstone Cluster in the constellation Carina. Similar
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GEM Cluster – NGC3293
Vela Supernova Remnant
Around 11,000 years ago. A massive star explodes as a supernova, ejects its shell and ends up as a neutron star in the constellation Vela. The explosion was so bright that our ancestors could see it in the daytime sky.
Read moreThe Solar Eclipse 2024 in Hot Springs
After 2017, we are once again traveling to a solar eclipse in the USA. We had booked a hotel in San Antonio many months ago with the highest probability of clear skies. But on Saturday, two days before the eclipse,
Read moreEaster Comet 2024 – 12P/Pons-Brooks
It’s that time of year again this Easter. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, a chunk of ice and dust around 34 kilometers in size, is on its way to the closest point of its orbit to the sun, which it will reach on
Read moreOrion Nebula M42
A classic nebula in the night sky and an annual must-see! Located in the sword of Orion, this nebula is one of the brightest in the sky and under very good conditions can even be seen with the naked eye
Read moreBubble Nebula NGC7635
One of the most beautiful objects in the northern sky is the Bubble Nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia, the conspicuous “W” in the sky. Inside the nebula shines an extremely hot star, about 400,000 times as bright as our sun.
Read moreSeagull Nebula – IC2177
A seagull in the winter sky framed by extremely faint red wings leaves behind a small, bluish glowing, spider looking blob. The head of the gull is dominated by a single star which excites the surrounding gas and dust clouds
Read morePlanetary Nebula SH2-216
Sh2-216 is a planetary nebula in the constellation Perseus. With an apparent diameter of about 3 moons, it is one of the closest and largest planetary nebulae in the sky. However, it is difficult to photograph or observe due to
Read moreDark Doodat Nebula (Sandquist 149)
This comet-shaped molecular cloud, consisting of regions of dense gas and dust, lies in the constellation Muscat, the Fly. It is accompanied by the globular cluster NGC 4372. The Dark Doodat Nebula is one of the closest star-forming regions to
Read moreFlaming Star, Tadpole and Spaghetti Nebulae (IC405, IC410, SH2-240)
This ensemble of marvelous emission nebulae lies in the constellation of Auriga and Taurus. At the bottom right is the Spaghetti Nebula, at the top left the Flame Star Nebula and the Tadpole Nebula form the eyes of a nebula
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