M13 - The Hercules Globular Cluster

The Hercules Globular Cluster, located in the constellation Hercules, is one of the most famous Messier globular clusters. It is joined by a faint galaxy seen in the top right corner of the image.

M15 - The Pegasus Globular Cluster

The Pegasus Globular Cluster, located in the constellation Pegasus, is a large cluster of stars. Globular clusters form from a large concentration of stars being pulled together by gravity forming a very dense region.

M16 - The Eagle Nebula

The Eagle Nebula, located in the constellation Serpens, is a Southern Sky nebula found in the Milky Way. It's popularity stems from being the home of the famous Pillars of Creation (faintly seen in the center above). If you do not know what these are, I highly recommend googling some JWST or Hubble images of them.

M17 - The Omega Nebula

The Omega Nebula, located in the constellation Sagittarius, is a neighbor to the Eagle Nebula. It is also a Southern Sky nebula and is best photographed form latitudes near the Equator or south

M27 - The Dumbbell Nebula

The Dumbbell Nebula, located in the constellation Vulpecula, is a planetary nebula of red and blue-green coloring. It is very bright and easily seen with binoculars. 

M31, M32, M110 - The Andromeda Galaxy and Satellites

The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest Galaxy to Earth sitting only 2.5 million light years away. Located in the Andromeda Constellation, it takes up an area of about 6 times the size of the Moon. However, it is also 2.75 million times fainter than the moon, leaving only the core of the galaxy naked eye visible in unpolluted skies. Surrounded by 2 dwarf galaxies (Le Gentil and Nébuleuse D'Andromède), Andromeda is one of the most famous deep sky objects in the sky.

M33 - The Triangulum Galaxy

The Triangulum Galaxy, located in the constellation Triangulum, is a neighbor to the Andromeda Galaxy. Due to its relatively bright nature, it is easily photographed and like the Andromeda Galaxy is naked eye visible in unpolluted night skies.

M42 and M43 - The Great Orion Nebula

The Orion Nebula is one of the most famous deep sky objects in the night sky, and the king of winter targets. It is made up of two Nebulae, M42 and M43. Located in the constellation Orion, it is accompanied by the smaller Running Man Nebula to the left and surrounded by space dust. The vivid blue and purple coloring and intricate details make this target one of my favorites.

M45 - The Pleiades

The Pleiades Star Cluster, located in the constellation Taurus, is a group of 7 main stars (nicknamed the 7 sisters) with a faint blue nebula surrounding them. A popular winter target, the cluster is also famous in multiple cultures. Fun Fact: Subaru, the Japanese car company, is named after the cluster and its logo is an interpretation if what the cluster looks like.

M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy

The Whirlpool Galaxy, located in the constellation Canes Venatici, is actually 2 galaxies combining into each other. M51a, the main galaxy, is consuming M51b, creating the whirlpool look.

M57 - The Ring Nebula

The Ring Nebula, located in the constellation Lyra, is a Planetary Nebula created from a dying star ejecting gas into space. Although small (as seen in the photo above), more magnification proves this target to be very cool.

M65, M66, NGC 3628 - The Leo Triplet

This group of 3 galaxies is found in the constellation Leo. It is the first new target I have been able to capture all spring. The first imaging session was plagued by meridian flip issues and a full moon, but the second stab at it gave me much better results. Adding them together for just under 4 hours of exposure time, the resulting image is one of my better galaxy photos.

M78 - Casper the Friendly Ghost Nebula

M81 and M82 - Bode's Galaxy and The Cigar Galaxy

This iconic pair of galaxies, located in the Big Dipper, are connected in a gravitational lock that has affected both of their shapes. Bode's galaxy is more traditionally shaped (almost like a hurricane symbol) while the Cigar Galaxy is elongated and has a cloud of gas around it's center (faintly seen above)

M101 - The Pinwheel Galaxy

The Pinwheel Galaxy, located in the Big Dipper, is a spiral galaxy popular as a Spring and early Summer target. My original image was taken a few days after I got my star tracker, and now almost a year later I revisited the target with all of my new equipment. This image is worlds better than my first, and I hope to keep adding to it over the season. It is also the first deep sky object I've been able to image since 2/29/24, so I am glad it turned out.

NGC 1499 - The California Nebula

The California Nebula, located in the constellation Perseus, is an emission nebula that vaguely resembles the state of California. Although only red is seen in the photo above, it has yellow and blue that can be seen with the help of darker skies and better camera equipment.

NGC 2024 and B33 - The Flame and Horsehead Nebulae

The Flame and Horsehead Nebulae are two iconic winter targets located in the constellation Orion. They sit surrounding the star Alnitak (a part of Orion's Belt), but despite seeming to be next to each other are actually hundreds of light years apart. Surrounding the top of the Horsehead Nebula is a cloud of red, faintly seen in my image above. 

NGC 2175 - The Monkey Head Nebula

NGC 2244 - The Rosette Nebula

NGC 2359 - Thor's Helmet Nebula

NGC 6888 - The Crescent Nebula

The Crescent Nebula, located in the constellation Cygnus, is related to the emission nebula surrounding the star Sadr. It is somewhat faint and consists of different types of gases.

NGC 6992 - The Eastern Veil Nebula

The Eastern Veil Nebula, located in the constellation Cygnus, is part of a larger Veil Nebula group named 'The Cygnus Loop'. This nebula is the remnants of a supernova and is a popular summer target.

NGC 7000 - The North American Nebula

The North American Nebula, located in the constellation Cygnus near the star Deneb, is an emission nebula that resembles the North American continent. Like the California Nebula, it has more colors than just red that can be seen with better camera equipment.

IC1318 - The Sadr Region

The Sadr Region, located in the constellation Cygnus, is an emission nebula surrounding the star Sadr at the center of the Cygnus cross. It is also a part of the Cygnus region of the Milky Way Galaxy seen in dark night skies. 

IC1396A - The Elephant's Trunk Nebula

The Elephant's Trunk Nebula, located in the constellation Cepheus, is a portion of the broader star forming region of IC1396. This specific portion gets its name from the dense star clouds which have the vague appearance of a trunk (the right side of the image). The last time I attempted to photograph this target I didn't capture anything, so although it is not the best I'll take it. I hope to add more data as the Summer progresses.