NGC 1435 - Merope Nebula

 

The beautiful Merope Nebula in M45, the Pleiades star cluster. The nebula reflects the blue light from the 4th magnitude star, Merope, embedded within it. It consists mostly of hydrogen gas and carbon dust particles. It is only one section of the much larger nebula encasing the entire Pleiades star cluster. Once thought to be the birth cloud of the stars within the cluster, studies of the velocities of the stars compared to the nebula reveal that we are seeing a lucky coincidence of the star cluster simply passing through the cloud at the present time. 

Imaging Telescope: Vixen VC200L f/6.4

Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Synscan Pro (belt mod)

Camera: QHY 533M

Guiding camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini (mono)

Guidescope: SkyWatcher EvoGuide 50ED

Filters: LRGB

Constellation: Taurus

Date: October 26, 2024

Location: Korinthos - Greece - Albireo Observatory 1

Exposure Time:

L: 30x120 sec (gain: 50.00, offset: 60.00) 0°C bin 1×1 

R: 20x120 sec (gain: 50.00, offset: 60.00) 0°C bin 1×1 

G: 20x120 sec (gain: 50.00, offset: 60.00) 0°C bin 1×1 

B: 40x120 sec (gain: 50.00, offset: 60.00) 0°C bin 1×1 

Calibration Frames: Darks, Flats, Bias, Dark Flats

Acquisition: N.I.N.A

Processing: Pixinsight, Photoshop

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

 

The Oort Cloud comet, called C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, was discovered in 2023, approaching the inner solar system on its highly elliptical orbit for the first time in documented human history. It was identified by observers at China’s Tsuchinshan – or “Purple Mountain” – Observatory and an ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) telescope in South Africa. The comet was officially named in honor of both observatories. New photos of comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS appear to show a faint "anti-tail" pointing away in the wrong direction. The puzzling extra limb is the result of a rare illusion that is only possible when our planet is in a certain position.

Imaging Lens: Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L 

Tripod: Digipod A 2541P Tripod, Manfrotto 496 RC2 Ball Head

Camera: Canon EOS 450d

Date: 15 Oct 2024 

Location: Agios Stefanos, Attiki, Greece

Exposure Time: 

6x4 sec ISO 400 

Processing: Pixinsight, Photoshop