May 2009

M81 and M82

M81 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. It is also called Bode nebula, in honor of its discoverer Johann Elert Bode.
M82 is also a spiral galaxy. It was, however described as an irregular galaxy for quite a long time due to its peculiar shape. 

 

 
 
 Object Name:
 M81
 Object Type:
 Galaxy
 Object Position:
 
 Location/Date/Time:
 St. Pölten, 3.5.2009, 22:45 MESZ (3.5.2009 20:45 UTC)
 Parameters:
 11 x 30s - ISO 800

 Object Name:
 M82
 Object Type:
 Galaxy
 Object Position:
 
 Location/Date/Time:
 St. Pölten, 3.5.2009, 22:45 MESZ (3.5.2009 20:45 UTC)
 Parameters:
 11 x 30s - ISO 800


 

M57 - Ring nebula in Lyra

The so called ring nebula is located in the constellation Lyra. It was discovered by Antoine Darquier de Pellepoix [1] in 1779. In the same year Charles messier entered it into his catalog as number 57. Its NGC designation is NGC 6720.
The object is a so called planetary nebula, most likely the most well known.
Really good pictures can be found here [2]or here[3]

References:

[1] Wikipedia - Messier 57
[2] Astronomy Picture of the Day
[3] Verein Antares

 
 
 
 Object Name:
 M57 - Ring nebula in Lyra
 Object Type:
 Planetary Nebula
 Object Position:
 RA 18h53m57s DE +33°02' 44"
 Location/Date/Time:
 St. Pölten, 23.5.2009, 23:29 MESZ (23.5.2009 21:29 UTC)
 Parameters:
 12 x 30 s and 3 x 120 s  - ISO 1600



 

M13 - Globular Cluster in Hercules

M13 is a globular cluster, a spherical collection of gravity bound stars orbiting the galactic core as a sattelite[1] . It was discovered in 1714 by Edmond Halley [2]
Better pictures than the one on the left can be found eg.  here[3] or here[4]


References:

[1] Wikipedia - Globular Cluster
[2] Wikipedia - M13
[3] Bernhard Hubls page
[4] Astronomy Picture of the Day




 Object Name:
 M13 - Hercules Cluster
 Object Type:
 Globular cluster
 Object Position:
 RA 16h41m42s DE+36°28'00"
 Location/Date/Time:
 St. Pölten, 24.5.2009, 00:06 MESZ (23.5.2009 22:06 UTC)
 Parameters:
 14 x 30 s - ISO 1600



M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy

M51 in the constellation Canes Venatici is a spiral galaxy discovered by Charles Messier in 1773. It was however 1845 until Lord Rosse  first detected its spiral pattern[1]. It interacts with its its companion galaxy NGC 5195[2]
A rather nice amateur picture is shown here[3]

References:

[1] Robert Burnham jr., "Burnham's Celestial Handbook - Volume 1" (1978), p. 369
[2] Wikipedia - Whirlpool Galaxy
[3] Verein Antares

 
 
 
 
 Object Name:  M51 -Whirlpool galaxy
 Object Type:  Galaxy
 Object Position:  RA 13h29m54s DE +47°12'00"
 Location/Date/Time:  St. Pölten, 23.5.2009, 23:00 MESZ (23.5.2009 21:00 UTC)
 Parameters:  22 x 30 s - ISO 1600
 


NGC 6888 - Crescent Nebula

The Crescent Nebula is a so called emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus[1]
Have a look at a very nice picture from the Archives of Astronomy picture of the day[2]

References:

 

 

 Object Name:
 NGC 6888 - Crescent Nebula
 Object Type:
 Emission Nebula
 Object Position:
 RA 20h12m00s DE+38°20' 60"
 Location/Date/Time:
 St. Pölten, 24.5.2009, 00:23 MESZ (23.5.2009 22:23 UTC)
 Parameters:
 3 x 300 s - ISO 1600
 
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