M74 (NGC 628) is is one of the best examples of a face-on Sc-type spiral galaxy in a distance about 36 million light years. The spiral arms are about 1000 light years broad. They are traced with clusters of blue young stars and pinkish colored diffuse gaseous nebulae (H II regions).
Pic du Midi Observatory
Copyright: Bruce Dayan, Eric Perrin (AltiFilms : http://www.altifilms.fr/), François Colas (IMCCE - Observatoire de Paris)
NGC 6751 - The Glowing Eye Nebula http://www.waid-observatory.com
Copyright: Donald Waid [attachment=0]NGC6751-2013-02-25-TRIColor-HLA-0715.jpg[/attachment]
Lunar Occultation of Jupiter
Copyright: Rafael Defavari
Click to play embedded YouTube video.
Re: Submissions: 2013 March
Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 1:00 pm
by Jeff Dai
Gems of winter sky
Gems of winter sky shine above the moonlit landscape of Mount Emei, a world mixed cultural and natural heritage in southwestern of China. Bright star Procyon is visible on the top left and prominent constellation Orion is at middle top. The south direction of the line connecting the three stars of Orion belt leads you to Sirius; the brightest star of the night sky. While its north direction reaches the red Aldebaran as the Bull’s eye at the upper right. What more interesting is a bright star rises by the side of the traditional chinese temple. It is Canopus, the second brightest star of the night sky, which is not as dazzling in this image because it is visible through dimming atmospheric layers through the horizon. Canopus is also known as “the star of the old man” , which means health and longevity in the culture of Chinese history.
A little more than one year ago, three planets decided to join the sunset show: Jupiter, Venus and of-course, Earth. The dark silhouette of Mount Teide, the highest volcano in the Atlantic ocean, is seen against the bright and colorful twilight after sunset. On the very top of the mountain, a faint streak of light follows the descent of the climbers brave enough to stay up there for sunset. All of this could be seen from the Teide astronomical Observatory, sometimes protected from the light pollution of nearby cities, which leave their yellow glowing stain on the clouds, as seen here for the cities on the western coast of Tenerife on the lower right part of the image.
Re: Submissions: 2013 March
Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 2:47 pm
by Sergio
Handsome Cluster (I) in Carina - NGC 3114
Scottish Astronomer James Dunlop discovered this fantastic cluster located in the northern side of the constellation of Carina, 5 degrees west from the Keyhole Nebula. It is a bright cluster and a very good target for binoculars and small telescopes or even to keen eyes observers. Due the fact it is located in the galactic plane, it has a very dense stellar background. Unfortunately because of the mentioned fact, its studies are difficult to perform.
The cluster which is about 100 million years old, contains three or may be four long curved chains of bright stars giving a peculiar appearance. Not many pictures found in the www, but there is no doubt is a very handsome object of the southern hemisphere.
NGC 3532 is one of the Southern finest jewels. It is also known as the "Wishing Well Open Cluster" because it resembles silver coins shimmering. This target is a joy to see through an eyepiece. For any summer star party, NGC 3532 is always booked as a "must to see" object. Most non frequent observers are hooked as much as with The Jewel Box. In light polluted skies the object is clearly visible with binoculars 12 degrees west of the Southern Cross
Jupiter on February 26,27th now 3 months after opposition and still looking good. The Great storm approaching the limb with its trailing end wakes and very pronounce dark spots on the northern regions and the northern small cyclonic storm very active.
(Equipment: LX200ACF 12 in. OTA, CGE mount, Flea3 Ccd, TeleVue 3x barlows, Astronomik RGB filter set.)
Saturn and 4 Moons
Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 4:22 pm
by Efrain Morales
Saturn on February 28th, 09:41ut and four of its moons (Rhea, Tethys,Dione,Enceladus) under ideal conditions.
(Equipment: LX200ACF 12 in. OTA, CGE mount, Flea3 Ccd, TeleVue 3x barlows, Astronomik LRGB filter set.)
March began with a cold front in Hungary and it sweeped out the cloudy-foggy weather which was over us in the whole winter. This was a perfect time for the quest for the zodiacal light, and the perfect place was Tihany, a nice village at Lake Balaton. The village is on a peninsula built by volcanic eruptions around 7-8 million years ago, inside the peninsula there are two former maar craters now filled with small lakes. One lake is almost completely grown with reeds and is a strictly protected area for its unique bird population, the other lake is clear with some small reed fields at its shores, near the village. This second lake was my place with an nice dark western sky and with the village at my back, just proper for the springtime observation of the zodiacal light. The lightcone pointing Jupiter appeared 1,5 hour after sunset, then brightened a lot, streched up to the Milky Way and was visible for about an hour before it began to fade.
Re: Submissions: 2013 March
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 11:30 am
by owlice
Enjoying the Passing of a Bright Star: The ISS Flies Overhead http://www.miguelclaro.com
Copyright: Miguel Claro [attachment=0]ISS-Monsaraz-net.jpg[/attachment]
Re: Submissions: 2013 March
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 9:07 pm
by termo
Dark Sky Delights: Zodiacal Light, the Milky Way and Aurora
Lyon Galaxy Group #455 http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/~onken/
Copyright: Ryan Soares (Trinity College), Travis Rector (U. Alaska Anchorage), and the Australian Gemini Office [attachment=5]Lyon.jpg[/attachment]
Ayers Rock and the Moon
Copyright: Mickey Milankov [attachment=4]Ayers Rock.jpg[/attachment]
