Hi all,

An infrequent view of two otherwise boring elliptical galaxies, M84 and M86, has been uploaded. This image shows very faint (and seldom shown) Hydrogen II clouds between M86 and NGC 4438 (Eyes Galaxies). There is still debate as whether these clouds are the result of a previous gravitational encounter between M86 and NGC 4438 or they could also be galactic cirri belonging to our own galaxy and placed, by coincidence in this field of view. Over 37 hours of Ha images were needed to show them. You can find the image as well as some more info at:

Messier 84, Messier 86 and the Eyes Galaxies

Enjoy,
Josep

Hi all,

An image of Pre-8 has been uploaded. Pre-8 is an extremely faint planetary nebula that was discovered in 2016 by Trygve Prestgard. In order to be able to grab enough signal for the image, multiple (22) one-hour exposures (binned 2×2) had to be taken.

You can find the image and some more details at:

Pre-8. A seldom imaged planetary

Enjoy,
Josep

Hi all,

Today, we enjoy another open cluster belonging to the Messier Catalog, M25. It is rather old (90 million years old) and it is large (over 600 stars). You can see the image, as well as some more information at:

Messier 25. IC 4725

Enjoy,
Josep

Hi all,

An image of a globular cluster, Messier 28, has been uploaded. This cluster is special, because it contains up to 12 identified millisecond pulsars. You can find the image as well as some more information at:

Messier 28. NGC 6626

Enjoy,
Josep

Hi all,

An image of another open cluster, Messier 21, has been uploaded. This is a very young cluster (less than 5 million years old) and its stars seem to belong to the Sagittarius OB1 Association. You can find the image and some more information at:

Messier 21. NGC 6531

Enjoy,
Josep

Hi all,

Another globular from the Messier catalog, M56, has been uploaded. This time, a cluster presenting two oddities: retrograde movement as it orbits the Milky Way, as well as its theorized origin, being the remainder of an “absorbed” (by the Milky Way) small galaxy that once was captured by the gravitational pull of our galaxy. You can find the image as well as some more information at:

Messier 56. NGC 6779

Enjoy,
Josep

Hi all,

An image of the open cluster Messier 26 has been uploaded. This is an inconspicuous cluster located in the constellation Scutum. It contains about 90 stars. You can find the image as well as some more information at:

Messier 26. NGC 6694

Enjoy,
Josep

Hi all,

An image of a globular cluster, Messier 19 has been uploaded. It is a distant cluster, located in the constellation Ophiuchus and farther away than the galactic center. You can find the image and some more information at:

Messier 19. NGC 6273

Enjoy,
Josep

Hi all,

An image of Messier 18, an open cluster, has been uploaded. This is a very young but small cluster. Most of its 40-50 stars belong to the spectral classes B and A. You can find the image as well as some more information at:

Messier 18. NGC 6613

Enjoy,
Josep

Hi all,

An image of the Squid Nebula has been uploaded. This is a very special nebula. Because of its faintness, and despite its large size, it was not discovered until June 2011 by amateur astronomer Nicolas Outters. The image shows the central region and needed more than 40 hours to show the best part of it. You can see the image and find some more information at:

 

Ou4. The Giant Squid Nebula

Enjoy,

Josep