Cygnus Without Stars 4.4

For this week, I chose to do the picture of a 12 degree view of northern Cygnus, using a filter that transmits only red light emitted by hydrogen atoms (An h-alpha filter). The picture has clouds of cosmic hydrogen gas, and most of the stars have been removed by digital processing. However, we can see Deneb because it is so bright, and also visible are the North America, Pelican, Butterfly, and Crescent Nebulae.

IC 2948: The Running Chicken Nebula 4.3

This week I chose to do the picture of the nebula that is in and around the constellation Centaurus, IC 2948. Located near the star Lambda Centauri, it is not far from the better-known Eta Carina nebula. We can also see Thackeray's Globules, small clouds of interstellar dust that are believed to be candidates for star formation.

A Large Magellanic Cloud Deep Field 4.2

This week I chose to do the picture of the Large Magellanic Cloud, the largest satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, classified as a dwarf irregular galaxy. The galaxy lies about 180, 000 light years away and is in the constellation Dorado, and it spans abot 15, 000 light years. It was the sight of the closest and brightest supernova of modern times, and is visible with the naked eye in the souther hemisphere.