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🌀 Into the Heart of the Virgo Cluster: M86 and Friends 📍 Target: M86 Region, Virgo Cluster 🌌 Constellation: Virgo 🔭 Imaged by: Dan Harabagiu 🖼️ The Image Annotated View Natural View 🔭 Equipment Used Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ5 Pro Telescope: TS-Optics 80PHQ (80mm f/6.8 Quintuplet APO, 544mm focal length) Camera: SVBONY SV605MC (IMX533 Mono, 3008×3008) Filter Wheel: Starlight Xpress Mini USB (5× 1.25", T2-T2) Filters: L, R, G, B Guide Scope: None – using OAG Guide Camera: veLOX 178 C (Color) Focuser: Motorized Autofocuser Software: NINA for acquisition, PHD2 for guiding, PixInsight + Photoshop for processing 📸 Acquisition Details Luminance: 40 × 180s @ gain 200 Red, Green, Blue: 20 × 180s each @ gain 200 Total Integration Time: ~5h 🌌 The Scene This deep-sky photo captures one of the most galaxy-rich regions visible from Earth — the Virgo Cluster. Dominated by elliptical galaxy M86 near the center, this field of view contains dozens of galaxies, including many members catalogued by Messier, NGC, and IC. ...

Messier 51 (M51) and its companion NGC 5195, forming one of the most iconic galaxy pairs in the night sky. 🌌 Overview Name: Whirlpool Galaxy Catalog: Messier 51 (M51), NGC 5194 Constellation: Canes Venatici Distance from Earth: ~23 million light-years Apparent Magnitude: ~8.4 Size: ~11 × 7 arcminutes Type: Interacting Spiral Galaxy (SA(s)bc pec) ✨ What We See This image captures the graceful spiral arms and intense interaction between: ...

NGC 7023, the Iris Nebula, surrounded by dust and star fields in Cepheus. 🌌 Overview Name: Iris Nebula Catalog: NGC 7023 (part of LBN 487) Constellation: Cepheus Distance from Earth: ~1,300 light-years Apparent Size: ~18 arcminutes Type: Reflection Nebula ✨ What We See NGC 7023 is one of the brightest and most photogenic reflection nebulae in the night sky. This image captures: The bright, blue-white central nebula, caused by scattered starlight Illuminating star: HD 200775, a young Herbig Be star Surrounding dark molecular clouds and interstellar dust, faintly lit by starlight A star field rich with contrast between reflection and absorption regions 🔭 Scientific Highlights Unlike emission nebulae, NGC 7023 reflects rather than emits light — mostly in the blue spectrum due to scattering It’s a prime region to study interstellar dust grain composition and evolution Lies in the Cepheus Flare molecular cloud complex, a site of active star formation 📷 Equipment Used Telescope: TS-Optics 80PHQ (544mm f/6.8 Quintuplet APO) Camera: SVBONY SV605MC (IMX533 Mono) Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ5 Pro Guiding: Off-Axis Guider with veLOX 178 C Filters: LRGB Software: NINA, PHD2, PixInsight, Photoshop Overlay: Watermarked signature 📝 Final Thoughts NGC 7023 (Iris Nebula) is a visual delight for both astrophotographers and stargazers. With its delicate color and soft dust lanes, it serves as a beautiful reminder of the quiet elegance scattered across the cosmos. ...

NGC 2403, a hidden northern spiral with active star formation. 🌌 Overview Name: NGC 2403 Type: Intermediate Spiral Galaxy (SAB(s)cd) Constellation: Camelopardalis Distance from Earth: ~8 million light-years Apparent Magnitude: ~8.9 Angular Size: ~21 × 12 arcminutes Group: M81 Group (same galaxy group as M81 and M82) ✨ What We See NGC 2403 is a bright, nearby spiral galaxy showcasing: Well-defined spiral arms dotted with H II regions Bright stellar associations and dust lanes A slightly tilted orientation revealing internal galactic structure Several large, pink star-forming regions, visible even in modest exposures 🔭 Scientific Highlights Part of the M81 galaxy group, though further out toward the outskirts Studied extensively due to its proximity and resemblance to our Milky Way Hosts numerous Cepheid variable stars — critical for distance scale calibration 📷 Equipment Used Telescope: TS-Optics 80PHQ (544mm f/6.8 Quintuplet APO) Camera: SVBONY SV605MC (IMX533 Mono) Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ5 Pro Guiding: Off-Axis Guider with veLOX 178 C Filters: LRGB Software: NINA, PHD2, PixInsight, Photoshop Signature: Custom watermark overlay 📝 Final Thoughts Often overlooked due to its obscure location, NGC 2403 is a gem of the northern sky. With a beautiful spiral form and bright H II knots, it’s a rich target both scientifically and visually — perfect for spring skies and wide-field imaging. ...

A full-frame capture of Messier 101 with spiral arms stretching into the cosmos. 🌌 Overview Name: Messier 101 (M101) Nickname: The Pinwheel Galaxy Catalog: NGC 5457 Constellation: Ursa Major Distance from Earth: ~21 million light-years Apparent Magnitude: ~7.9 Size: ~28 × 26 arcminutes (larger than the Moon!) Type: Grand design spiral galaxy (type SAB(rs)cd) ✨ What We See M101 is a spectacular face-on spiral galaxy, renowned for its: ...