Wide Field Images continued
The wide field image above is an area mainly in the constellation Sagittarius. It was taken in August,
2010 with a modified Canon XSi camera equipped with an 85mm lens. The image shows an area with
numerous Messier and other objects, many of which have been cataloged. M16 (Eagle Nebula, larger
image here) and M17 (Swan Nebula, larger image here) are probably the most famous objects in this
area. These are clouds of interstellar hydrogen which glow red from radiation coming from nearby
stars. There are also three blue reflection nebula (IC1287, NGC6590, and NGC 6595) in this image.
Quite a few of the labeled objects are open star clusters (NGC6604, M25, NGC6645, NGC6664, and
NGC6649). M24 is an unusual Messier object since it is not an "object" in the true sense of the word,
but rather an area of the Milky Way which has a very high density of stars. It is often referred to as a
star cloud. The "B" objects are from Bernard's catalog of about 350 dark nebula. These are very
dense areas of interstellar dust which block starlight coming from behind the nebula. Many thanks to
my astronomer friend Fred Pilcher who helped identify these objects.
2010 with a modified Canon XSi camera equipped with an 85mm lens. The image shows an area with
numerous Messier and other objects, many of which have been cataloged. M16 (Eagle Nebula, larger
image here) and M17 (Swan Nebula, larger image here) are probably the most famous objects in this
area. These are clouds of interstellar hydrogen which glow red from radiation coming from nearby
stars. There are also three blue reflection nebula (IC1287, NGC6590, and NGC 6595) in this image.
Quite a few of the labeled objects are open star clusters (NGC6604, M25, NGC6645, NGC6664, and
NGC6649). M24 is an unusual Messier object since it is not an "object" in the true sense of the word,
but rather an area of the Milky Way which has a very high density of stars. It is often referred to as a
star cloud. The "B" objects are from Bernard's catalog of about 350 dark nebula. These are very
dense areas of interstellar dust which block starlight coming from behind the nebula. Many thanks to
my astronomer friend Fred Pilcher who helped identify these objects.
The images shown below were taken with the same equipment described above. It shows an area of
the Milky Way in the constellation Scorpio. This constellation is easy to identify in the southern sky
during the summer due to the bright orange-red star Antares. At the other end of Scorpio are the
"cat's eyes".... two bright stars that are fairly close together. This image shows the area next to the
"cat's eyes." Even though this was taken on a very nice night, this area of the sky is quite close to the
horizon and that leads to atmospheric distortions and color issues. Click on the images for full-size.
the Milky Way in the constellation Scorpio. This constellation is easy to identify in the southern sky
during the summer due to the bright orange-red star Antares. At the other end of Scorpio are the
"cat's eyes".... two bright stars that are fairly close together. This image shows the area next to the
"cat's eyes." Even though this was taken on a very nice night, this area of the sky is quite close to the
horizon and that leads to atmospheric distortions and color issues. Click on the images for full-size.
