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'Aao' images and/or videos results page 1 of 3

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Images of 'Aao' found, 233

Halley Comete - Halley's Comet, March 12 1986 - Halley Comet, March 12, 1986
 
Halley Comete - Halley's Comet, March 12 1986 - Halley Comet, March 12, 1986

PIX4569994

Halley Comete - Halley's Comet, March 12 1986 - Halley Comet, March 12, 1986

PIX4569994

Barree spiral galaxy NGC 1300 in Eridan - NGC 1300, barred spiral galaxy in Eridanus - The galaxy NGC 1300 is located about 60 million years ago - light and extends over about 85 000 years - light. Spiral galaxies appear in a variety of guises, but none are more intriguing than the barred variety. As their name suggests, these galaxies are distinguished by a bar, extending (in this case) like two more of less straight assemblies of stars either side of the bright nucleus. Caught up in the bar are two dust lanes, emerging on either side of the nuclear mass. At some distance from the nucleus, the straight, almost structurreless bar and dust lanes abruptly turn at a sharp angle. It is here that the delicately curved arms of the spiral begin, and it is here that star formation is at its most concentrated. Many spirals have such bars, including the Milky Way, where it is a subtle feature, very difficult to detect. NGC 1300, in the southern constellation of Eridanus is among the finest examples. It is about 60 million light years distant and is an outlying member of a well - populated group of galaxies
 
Barree spiral galaxy NGC 1300 in Eridan - NGC 1300, barred spiral galaxy in Eridanus - The galaxy NGC 1300 is located about 60 million years ago - light and extends over about 85 000 years - light. Spiral galaxies appear in a variety of guises, but none are more intriguing than the barred variety. As their name suggests, these galaxies are distinguished by a bar, extending (in this case) like two more of less straight assemblies of stars either side of the bright nucleus. Caught up in the bar are two dust lanes, emerging on either side of the nuclear mass. At some distance from the nucleus, the straight, almost structurreless bar and dust lanes abruptly turn at a sharp angle. It is here that the delicately curved arms of the spiral begin, and it is here that star formation is at its most concentrated. Many spirals have such bars, including the Milky Way, where it is a subtle feature, very difficult to detect. NGC 1300, in the southern constellation of Eridanus is among the finest examp

PIX4609731

Barree spiral galaxy NGC 1300 in Eridan - NGC 1300, barred spiral galaxy in Eridanus - The galaxy NGC 1300 is located about 60 million years ago - light and extends over about 85 000 years - light. Spiral galaxies appear in a variety of guises, but none are more intriguing than the barred variety. As their name suggests, these galaxies are distinguished by a bar, extending (in this case) like two more of less straight assemblies of stars either side of the bright nucleus. Caught up in the bar are two dust lanes, emerging on either side of the nuclear mass. At some distance from the nucleus, the straight, almost structurreless bar and dust lanes abruptly turn at a sharp angle. It is here that the delicately curved arms of the spiral begin, and it is here that star formation is at its most concentrated. Many spirals have such bars, including the Milky Way, where it is a subtle feature, very difficult to detect. NGC 1300, in the southern constellation of Eridanus is among the finest examp

PIX4609731

Leo 1 dwarf galaxy in the Lion - Leo 1 dwarf galaxy - Leo 1 is located about 900,000 light years from Earth. It belongs to the local group, just like our galaxy or Andromede galaxy. It has only been known since the 1950s; it is difficult to observe due to the proximity of the Regulus star, thousands of times brighter. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring. The 'Local Group' of galaxies, to which the Milky Way belongs, contains more dwarf galaxies than any other type. The low surface brightness and lack of bright stars makes them difficult to study, even with a large telescope. Leo I presents particular problems because the galaxy appears only 20 arc minutes (less than the apparent diameter of the Moon) from the brilliant star Regulus and special precautions had to be taken to prevent scattered light from the star obliterating its feeble image. The plates from which this picture was made (the first in colour of a dwarf elliptical galaxy) will be used to learn more about the origins of star formation in these light - weight objects
 
Leo 1 dwarf galaxy in the Lion - Leo 1 dwarf galaxy - Leo 1 is located about 900,000 light years from Earth. It belongs to the local group, just like our galaxy or Andromede galaxy. It has only been known since the 1950s; it is difficult to observe due to the proximity of the Regulus star, thousands of times brighter. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring. The 'Local Group' of galaxies, to which the Milky Way belongs, contains more dwarf galaxies than any other type. The low surface brightness and lack of bright stars makes them difficult to study, even with a large telescope. Leo I presents particular problems because the galaxy appears only 20 arc minutes (less than the apparent diameter of the Moon) from the brilliant star Regulus and special precautions had to be taken to prevent scattered light from the star obliterating its feeble image. The plates from which this picture was made (the first in colour of a dwarf elliptical galaxy) will be used to learn more abou

PIX4613932

Leo 1 dwarf galaxy in the Lion - Leo 1 dwarf galaxy - Leo 1 is located about 900,000 light years from Earth. It belongs to the local group, just like our galaxy or Andromede galaxy. It has only been known since the 1950s; it is difficult to observe due to the proximity of the Regulus star, thousands of times brighter. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring. The 'Local Group' of galaxies, to which the Milky Way belongs, contains more dwarf galaxies than any other type. The low surface brightness and lack of bright stars makes them difficult to study, even with a large telescope. Leo I presents particular problems because the galaxy appears only 20 arc minutes (less than the apparent diameter of the Moon) from the brilliant star Regulus and special precautions had to be taken to prevent scattered light from the star obliterating its feeble image. The plates from which this picture was made (the first in colour of a dwarf elliptical galaxy) will be used to learn more abou

PIX4613932

Supernova 1987A before and after explosion - Supernova 1987A with precursor image overlaid - Image of the Supernova 1987A, obtained on March 8, 1987. The photo of the star Sanduleak - 69* 202, photographed two years ago. Images obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. The brightest star in the colour photograph is supernova 1987A, photographed with the AAT two months before it reached its maximum brightness. Superimposed in register on this image is a negative photograph of the region around the supernova copied from an AAT plate that was exposed in 1985, two years before the supernova was seen to explode. The precursor star appears to be a peculiar shape only because its image is blended with those of two other stars that happen to lie in the same line of sight. Many similar blended images can be seen in the colour photograph. However, it was soon found that the brighter of the three had exploded, and that was a star which had been previously observed and catalogued, as Sanduleak - 69* 202
 
Supernova 1987A before and after explosion - Supernova 1987A with precursor image overlaid - Image of the Supernova 1987A, obtained on March 8, 1987. The photo of the star Sanduleak - 69* 202, photographed two years ago. Images obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. The brightest star in the colour photograph is supernova 1987A, photographed with the AAT two months before it reached its maximum brightness. Superimposed in register on this image is a negative photograph of the region around the supernova copied from an AAT plate that was exposed in 1985, two years before the supernova was seen to explode. The precursor star appears to be a peculiar shape only because its image is blended with those of two other stars that happen to lie in the same line of sight. Many similar blended images can be seen in the colour photograph. However, it was soon found that the brighter of the three had exploded, and tha

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Supernova 1987A before and after explosion - Supernova 1987A with precursor image overlaid - Image of the Supernova 1987A, obtained on March 8, 1987. The photo of the star Sanduleak - 69* 202, photographed two years ago. Images obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. The brightest star in the colour photograph is supernova 1987A, photographed with the AAT two months before it reached its maximum brightness. Superimposed in register on this image is a negative photograph of the region around the supernova copied from an AAT plate that was exposed in 1985, two years before the supernova was seen to explode. The precursor star appears to be a peculiar shape only because its image is blended with those of two other stars that happen to lie in the same line of sight. Many similar blended images can be seen in the colour photograph. However, it was soon found that the brighter of the three had exploded, and tha

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Nebulae IC 1283 - 84 and NGC 6589 - 90 in Sagittarius - Nebulosity in Sagittarius, NGC 6589 - 90 - These nebulae are located in Sagittarius at a distance of about 5900 light years from Earth. Image made with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Our view towards the centre of the Galaxy is obscured by extensive clouds of interstellar dust in the direction of the constellation of Sagittarius. The large - scale, patchy nature of the obscuration can be seen with the unaided eye and it is evident on smaller scales from the uneven distribution of background stars across this picture. Light from bright stars within the dust produces the two blue reflection nebulae (NGC 6589 and 6590), and these stars are members of a loose open cluster of stars, NGC 6595 (Sharpless 37) which is at a distance of about 5,900 light years. A large, almost transparent cloud of hydrogen, mixed with traces of dust, glows with a characteristic magenta hue over most of the field of view. This is known as IC 1283, 1284 and 4700 and is likely at a similar distance to NCC 6595
 
Nebulae IC 1283 - 84 and NGC 6589 - 90 in Sagittarius - Nebulosity in Sagittarius, NGC 6589 - 90 - These nebulae are located in Sagittarius at a distance of about 5900 light years from Earth. Image made with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Our view towards the centre of the Galaxy is obscured by extensive clouds of interstellar dust in the direction of the constellation of Sagittarius. The large - scale, patchy nature of the obscuration can be seen with the unaided eye and it is evident on smaller scales from the uneven distribution of background stars across this picture. Light from bright stars within the dust produces the two blue reflection nebulae (NGC 6589 and 6590), and these stars are members of a loose open cluster of stars, NGC 6595 (Sharpless 37) which is at a distance of about 5,900 light years. A large, almost transparent cloud of hydrogen, mixed with traces of dust, glows with a characteristic magenta hue over most of the field of view. This is known as IC 1283, 1284 and

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Nebulae IC 1283 - 84 and NGC 6589 - 90 in Sagittarius - Nebulosity in Sagittarius, NGC 6589 - 90 - These nebulae are located in Sagittarius at a distance of about 5900 light years from Earth. Image made with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Our view towards the centre of the Galaxy is obscured by extensive clouds of interstellar dust in the direction of the constellation of Sagittarius. The large - scale, patchy nature of the obscuration can be seen with the unaided eye and it is evident on smaller scales from the uneven distribution of background stars across this picture. Light from bright stars within the dust produces the two blue reflection nebulae (NGC 6589 and 6590), and these stars are members of a loose open cluster of stars, NGC 6595 (Sharpless 37) which is at a distance of about 5,900 light years. A large, almost transparent cloud of hydrogen, mixed with traces of dust, glows with a characteristic magenta hue over most of the field of view. This is known as IC 1283, 1284 and

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Central region of the elliptical galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128) - Central part of the galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128) - The galaxy NGC 5128 is located about 13 million years away from Earth in the southern constellation of Centaurus. A broad dark band crosses it in the middle, a probable vestige of a collision with a spiral galaxy. This giant galaxy is a powerful radio source known as Centaurus A. It is an active galaxy whose energy comes from a supermassive black hole. The green dot visible in the dust strip is a supernova, the supernova 1986g. It appears green because the red filter image that made this trichromy image was only taken a year after the event and the supernova had weakened. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring, Australia. The nearby radio source Centaurus A (NGC 5128) looks like an elliptical galaxy, crossed by a broad, irregular dust lane. The dark band is probably the remains of a dusty spiral galaxy which is being absorbed by the giant elliptical. One of the nearer galaxies, 13 million light years away, Centaurus A is the most powerful nearby radio source and is also a copious source of X - and gamma rays as well as visible and infrared radiation.The three plates which were combined to make this colour picture have been copied to enhance the fine detail of the dust lane and to suppress the bright background of the elliptical galaxy. This process reveals many tiny red star - forming regions, especially prominent towards the end of the dust lane, and the clumps of young blue stars recently formed from them. The curious green star in the dust lane is because the blue and green - light plates were taken when supernova 1986g had just appeared, while the red - light plate was taken a year later when the supernova had faded
 
Central region of the elliptical galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128) - Central part of the galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128) - The galaxy NGC 5128 is located about 13 million years away from Earth in the southern constellation of Centaurus. A broad dark band crosses it in the middle, a probable vestige of a collision with a spiral galaxy. This giant galaxy is a powerful radio source known as Centaurus A. It is an active galaxy whose energy comes from a supermassive black hole. The green dot visible in the dust strip is a supernova, the supernova 1986g. It appears green because the red filter image that made this trichromy image was only taken a year after the event and the supernova had weakened. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring, Australia. The nearby radio source Centaurus A (NGC 5128) looks like an elliptical galaxy, crossed by a broad, irregular dust lane. The dark band is probably the remains of a dusty spiral galaxy which is being absorbed by the giant elliptical. One

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Central region of the elliptical galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128) - Central part of the galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128) - The galaxy NGC 5128 is located about 13 million years away from Earth in the southern constellation of Centaurus. A broad dark band crosses it in the middle, a probable vestige of a collision with a spiral galaxy. This giant galaxy is a powerful radio source known as Centaurus A. It is an active galaxy whose energy comes from a supermassive black hole. The green dot visible in the dust strip is a supernova, the supernova 1986g. It appears green because the red filter image that made this trichromy image was only taken a year after the event and the supernova had weakened. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring, Australia. The nearby radio source Centaurus A (NGC 5128) looks like an elliptical galaxy, crossed by a broad, irregular dust lane. The dark band is probably the remains of a dusty spiral galaxy which is being absorbed by the giant elliptical. One

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Halley Comete - Halley's Comet on December 9, 1985 - Halley Comete December 9, 1985
 
Halley Comete - Halley's Comet on December 9, 1985 - Halley Comete December 9, 1985

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Halley Comete - Halley's Comet on December 9, 1985 - Halley Comete December 9, 1985

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Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) in Aquarius - Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) - This nebula is located 690 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope This faint object is the nearest planetary nebula to the Sun and on deep photographs has a diameter of about half a degree - - the same apparent size as the Sun in the sky. The AAT colour picture shows the brighter parts of the nebula, revealing various ionization levels within the shell of matter ejected from the central star. The greenish middle portion is evidence of excited oxygen atoms, while the outer red is predominantly light from nitrogen and hydrogen. The smallest of the radial blobs inside the red shell are about 150 astronomical units across (150 times the Earth - Sun distance) and they give this beautiful object its alternative name, the Sunflower Nebula. The Helix is about 400 light years away, or about 100 times more distant than the nearest stars
 
Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) in Aquarius - Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) - This nebula is located 690 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope This faint object is the nearest planetary nebula to the Sun and on deep photographs has a diameter of about half a degree - - the same apparent size as the Sun in the sky. The AAT colour picture shows the brighter parts of the nebula, revealing various ionization levels within the shell of matter ejected from the central star. The greenish middle portion is evidence of excited oxygen atoms, while the outer red is predominantly light from nitrogen and hydrogen. The smallest of the radial blobs inside the red shell are about 150 astronomical units across (150 times the Earth - Sun distance) and they give this beautiful object its alternative name, the Sunflower Nebula. The Helix is about 400 light years away, or about 100 times more distant than the nearest stars

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Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) in Aquarius - Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) - This nebula is located 690 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope This faint object is the nearest planetary nebula to the Sun and on deep photographs has a diameter of about half a degree - - the same apparent size as the Sun in the sky. The AAT colour picture shows the brighter parts of the nebula, revealing various ionization levels within the shell of matter ejected from the central star. The greenish middle portion is evidence of excited oxygen atoms, while the outer red is predominantly light from nitrogen and hydrogen. The smallest of the radial blobs inside the red shell are about 150 astronomical units across (150 times the Earth - Sun distance) and they give this beautiful object its alternative name, the Sunflower Nebula. The Helix is about 400 light years away, or about 100 times more distant than the nearest stars

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Spiral galaxy of Sombrero M104 in the Virgin - The Sombrero galaxy (M104) in Virgo - Image of the spiral galaxy M104 (Sombrero galaxy), located about 28 million years ago - light. Image obtained with the 3.9m Anglo - Australian Telescope from Siding Spring. The Sombrero, named after the broad - brimmed Mexican hat it superficially resembles, is probably the most famous galaxy in the sky. The light from this remarkable spiral system is dominated by the billions of old, faint stars that form the vast 'bulge' around its tiny hidden nucleus. Most spirals, including the Milky Way, have clouds of old, faint stars around their nuclei, but in M104 the galaxy's light is dominated by them. This effect is enhanced because disk of the galaxy is seen nearly edge - on and dust in its outer parts is in silhouette as it crosses the picture. The galaxy is about 28 million light years distant
 
Spiral galaxy of Sombrero M104 in the Virgin - The Sombrero galaxy (M104) in Virgo - Image of the spiral galaxy M104 (Sombrero galaxy), located about 28 million years ago - light. Image obtained with the 3.9m Anglo - Australian Telescope from Siding Spring. The Sombrero, named after the broad - brimmed Mexican hat it superficially resembles, is probably the most famous galaxy in the sky. The light from this remarkable spiral system is dominated by the billions of old, faint stars that form the vast 'bulge' around its tiny hidden nucleus. Most spirals, including the Milky Way, have clouds of old, faint stars around their nuclei, but in M104 the galaxy's light is dominated by them. This effect is enhanced because disk of the galaxy is seen nearly edge - on and dust in its outer parts is in silhouette as it crosses the picture. The galaxy is about 28 million light years distant

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Spiral galaxy of Sombrero M104 in the Virgin - The Sombrero galaxy (M104) in Virgo - Image of the spiral galaxy M104 (Sombrero galaxy), located about 28 million years ago - light. Image obtained with the 3.9m Anglo - Australian Telescope from Siding Spring. The Sombrero, named after the broad - brimmed Mexican hat it superficially resembles, is probably the most famous galaxy in the sky. The light from this remarkable spiral system is dominated by the billions of old, faint stars that form the vast 'bulge' around its tiny hidden nucleus. Most spirals, including the Milky Way, have clouds of old, faint stars around their nuclei, but in M104 the galaxy's light is dominated by them. This effect is enhanced because disk of the galaxy is seen nearly edge - on and dust in its outer parts is in silhouette as it crosses the picture. The galaxy is about 28 million light years distant

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M87 elliptical galaxy in Virgo - M87 elliptical galaxy in Virgo - The M87 galaxy (NGC 4486) is located about 60 million years ago - light from Earth, in the heart of the Virgin's cluster. M87 is the brightest radio source in the constellation, it is also called Virgo A. Image made with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Messier 87 (NGC 4486) lies near the centre of the nearby cluster of galaxies in Virgo at a distance of about 60 million light years. Although the physical boundaries of elliptical galaxies are not well defined, their mass can be, and by any standards M87 is enormous. It contains several thousand billion stars. Associated with this giant galaxy are large numbers of globular clusters, visible in this photograph as the cloud of slightly fuzzy objects around it. Like all ellipticals, M 87 is composed mainly of old stars and is largely devoid of the materials needed to make new ones. The galaxy is not inert however; high energy X - rays have been detected from an extensive outer halo and the galaxy itself is also known as Virgo A, the strongest radio source in the Virgo cluster. The source for this extreme behavior is probably a massive black hole at the center of the galaxy
 
M87 elliptical galaxy in Virgo - M87 elliptical galaxy in Virgo - The M87 galaxy (NGC 4486) is located about 60 million years ago - light from Earth, in the heart of the Virgin's cluster. M87 is the brightest radio source in the constellation, it is also called Virgo A. Image made with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Messier 87 (NGC 4486) lies near the centre of the nearby cluster of galaxies in Virgo at a distance of about 60 million light years. Although the physical boundaries of elliptical galaxies are not well defined, their mass can be, and by any standards M87 is enormous. It contains several thousand billion stars. Associated with this giant galaxy are large numbers of globular clusters, visible in this photograph as the cloud of slightly fuzzy objects around it. Like all ellipticals, M 87 is composed mainly of old stars and is largely devoid of the materials needed to make new ones. The galaxy is not inert however; high energy X - rays have been detected from an extensive oute

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M87 elliptical galaxy in Virgo - M87 elliptical galaxy in Virgo - The M87 galaxy (NGC 4486) is located about 60 million years ago - light from Earth, in the heart of the Virgin's cluster. M87 is the brightest radio source in the constellation, it is also called Virgo A. Image made with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Messier 87 (NGC 4486) lies near the centre of the nearby cluster of galaxies in Virgo at a distance of about 60 million light years. Although the physical boundaries of elliptical galaxies are not well defined, their mass can be, and by any standards M87 is enormous. It contains several thousand billion stars. Associated with this giant galaxy are large numbers of globular clusters, visible in this photograph as the cloud of slightly fuzzy objects around it. Like all ellipticals, M 87 is composed mainly of old stars and is largely devoid of the materials needed to make new ones. The galaxy is not inert however; high energy X - rays have been detected from an extensive oute

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Supernova 1987A before and after explosion - Supernova 1987A before and after the explosion - Images of the Supernova 1987A, on the left, obtained on March 8, 1987, and of the same photograph field on the right on February 5, 1984. Images obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. Sometime during 23 February 1987 a supernova exploded in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a nearby galaxy. However, the LMC is about 170,000 light years distant, so the supernova exploded 170,000 years ago. It was discovered the following day and brightened rapidly to become the first supernova to be easily visible to the unaided eye for almost 400 years. This photograph shows the field around the site of the supernova in great detail, both before the supernova exploded (right) and about 10 days afterwards, when it was still brightening
 
Supernova 1987A before and after explosion - Supernova 1987A before and after the explosion - Images of the Supernova 1987A, on the left, obtained on March 8, 1987, and of the same photograph field on the right on February 5, 1984. Images obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. Sometime during 23 February 1987 a supernova exploded in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a nearby galaxy. However, the LMC is about 170,000 light years distant, so the supernova exploded 170,000 years ago. It was discovered the following day and brightened rapidly to become the first supernova to be easily visible to the unaided eye for almost 400 years. This photograph shows the field around the site of the supernova in great detail, both before the supernova exploded (right) and about 10 days afterwards, when it was still brightening

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Supernova 1987A before and after explosion - Supernova 1987A before and after the explosion - Images of the Supernova 1987A, on the left, obtained on March 8, 1987, and of the same photograph field on the right on February 5, 1984. Images obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. Sometime during 23 February 1987 a supernova exploded in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a nearby galaxy. However, the LMC is about 170,000 light years distant, so the supernova exploded 170,000 years ago. It was discovered the following day and brightened rapidly to become the first supernova to be easily visible to the unaided eye for almost 400 years. This photograph shows the field around the site of the supernova in great detail, both before the supernova exploded (right) and about 10 days afterwards, when it was still brightening

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Spiral Galaxy M100 in Berenice's Hair - Spiral galaxy M100 in Coma Berenices - The spiral galaxy M100 is located about 60 million years ago - light from Earth. It belongs to the Virgin's galaxy cluster. Several dwarf elliptic galaxies are visible in this image, one just above M100 probably interacting. This image was obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. In this deep image fainter galaxies appear. One seems to be involved with the faint outskirts of the large spiral. The somewhat distorted shape of the dwarf galaxy suggests it could be both influencing and being influenced by M100, and may be the cause of the asymmetry in the spiral arms. Nearby is an even fainter, elongated dwarf galaxy and elsewhere in the picture are several others, all probably members of the Virgo cluster, which spills over into the adjoining constellation of Coma Berenices
 
Spiral Galaxy M100 in Berenice's Hair - Spiral galaxy M100 in Coma Berenices - The spiral galaxy M100 is located about 60 million years ago - light from Earth. It belongs to the Virgin's galaxy cluster. Several dwarf elliptic galaxies are visible in this image, one just above M100 probably interacting. This image was obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. In this deep image fainter galaxies appear. One seems to be involved with the faint outskirts of the large spiral. The somewhat distorted shape of the dwarf galaxy suggests it could be both influencing and being influenced by M100, and may be the cause of the asymmetry in the spiral arms. Nearby is an even fainter, elongated dwarf galaxy and elsewhere in the picture are several others, all probably members of the Virgo cluster, which spills over into the adjoining constellation of Coma Berenices

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Spiral Galaxy M100 in Berenice's Hair - Spiral galaxy M100 in Coma Berenices - The spiral galaxy M100 is located about 60 million years ago - light from Earth. It belongs to the Virgin's galaxy cluster. Several dwarf elliptic galaxies are visible in this image, one just above M100 probably interacting. This image was obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. In this deep image fainter galaxies appear. One seems to be involved with the faint outskirts of the large spiral. The somewhat distorted shape of the dwarf galaxy suggests it could be both influencing and being influenced by M100, and may be the cause of the asymmetry in the spiral arms. Nearby is an even fainter, elongated dwarf galaxy and elsewhere in the picture are several others, all probably members of the Virgo cluster, which spills over into the adjoining constellation of Coma Berenices

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Barree spiral galaxy NGC 1365 in the Furnace - Barred spiral galaxy NGC 1365 in Fornax - NGC 1365 is a barree spiral galaxy that extends over 200,000 years - light. Located 60 million years ago - light, it belongs to the cluster of galaxies of the Furnace. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. NGC 1365, the largest spiral in the southern constellation of Fornax, is located at a distance of about 60 million light years. This beautiful galaxy is about as massive as the Milky Way, itself a substantial galaxy. Not much is known about how galaxies take on their beautiful forms, but a good deal is known about their internal organisation. The obvious 'bar' has the nucleus of the galaxy at its hub and is surrounded by masses of cooler stars that appear yellow on colour photographs. The bar itself is also yellowish, and has distinct dust lanes but it terminates abruptly in slender, curved arms that are lit by blue stars and the pink star - forming regions from which they spring
 
Barree spiral galaxy NGC 1365 in the Furnace - Barred spiral galaxy NGC 1365 in Fornax - NGC 1365 is a barree spiral galaxy that extends over 200,000 years - light. Located 60 million years ago - light, it belongs to the cluster of galaxies of the Furnace. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. NGC 1365, the largest spiral in the southern constellation of Fornax, is located at a distance of about 60 million light years. This beautiful galaxy is about as massive as the Milky Way, itself a substantial galaxy. Not much is known about how galaxies take on their beautiful forms, but a good deal is known about their internal organisation. The obvious 'bar' has the nucleus of the galaxy at its hub and is surrounded by masses of cooler stars that appear yellow on colour photographs. The bar itself is also yellowish, and has distinct dust lanes but it terminates abruptly in slender, curved arms that are lit by blue stars and the pink star - forming regions from which they spring

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Barree spiral galaxy NGC 1365 in the Furnace - Barred spiral galaxy NGC 1365 in Fornax - NGC 1365 is a barree spiral galaxy that extends over 200,000 years - light. Located 60 million years ago - light, it belongs to the cluster of galaxies of the Furnace. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. NGC 1365, the largest spiral in the southern constellation of Fornax, is located at a distance of about 60 million light years. This beautiful galaxy is about as massive as the Milky Way, itself a substantial galaxy. Not much is known about how galaxies take on their beautiful forms, but a good deal is known about their internal organisation. The obvious 'bar' has the nucleus of the galaxy at its hub and is surrounded by masses of cooler stars that appear yellow on colour photographs. The bar itself is also yellowish, and has distinct dust lanes but it terminates abruptly in slender, curved arms that are lit by blue stars and the pink star - forming regions from which they spring

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Nebula NGC 6188 in the Altar - The NGC 6188 nebula and NGC 6193 in Ara - Nebula NGC 6188 is located about 4000 years from Earth. It is home to a cluster of young stars NGC 6193, formed three million years ago. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Here we see two bright stars whose radiant energy is beating down on to the surface of a dark cloud, very similar to the Horsehead in Orion. The cloud itself is opaque and because of that, very cold inside. These conditions are ideal for the formation of organic molecules on the surfaces of the chilled dust particles. The opacity of the cloud protects the fragile molecules within from the energetic radiation of nearby stars, but as its surface is gradually warmed and eroded, the delicate organic molecules are destroyed and the hydrogen released glows as a distinctive red emission nebula
 
Nebula NGC 6188 in the Altar - The NGC 6188 nebula and NGC 6193 in Ara - Nebula NGC 6188 is located about 4000 years from Earth. It is home to a cluster of young stars NGC 6193, formed three million years ago. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Here we see two bright stars whose radiant energy is beating down on to the surface of a dark cloud, very similar to the Horsehead in Orion. The cloud itself is opaque and because of that, very cold inside. These conditions are ideal for the formation of organic molecules on the surfaces of the chilled dust particles. The opacity of the cloud protects the fragile molecules within from the energetic radiation of nearby stars, but as its surface is gradually warmed and eroded, the delicate organic molecules are destroyed and the hydrogen released glows as a distinctive red emission nebula

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Nebula NGC 6188 in the Altar - The NGC 6188 nebula and NGC 6193 in Ara - Nebula NGC 6188 is located about 4000 years from Earth. It is home to a cluster of young stars NGC 6193, formed three million years ago. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Here we see two bright stars whose radiant energy is beating down on to the surface of a dark cloud, very similar to the Horsehead in Orion. The cloud itself is opaque and because of that, very cold inside. These conditions are ideal for the formation of organic molecules on the surfaces of the chilled dust particles. The opacity of the cloud protects the fragile molecules within from the energetic radiation of nearby stars, but as its surface is gradually warmed and eroded, the delicate organic molecules are destroyed and the hydrogen released glows as a distinctive red emission nebula

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Tarantula nebula before the appearance of supernova 1987A - The Tarantula Nebula, before supernova SN1987A - Tarantula Nebula photographed in 1984. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. By great good fortune, the star (Sanduleak - 69* 202) which exploded as the supernova, had been observed some years previously and was found to be a typical young, bluish star, much hotter and brighter than stars like the Sun. There are many similar stars in this part of the LMC which is dominated by the spectacular red cloud of the Tarantula Nebula. It in such nebulae that stars are formed, often in compact groups such as those scattered across this photograph, which was taken in 1984
 
Tarantula nebula before the appearance of supernova 1987A - The Tarantula Nebula, before supernova SN1987A - Tarantula Nebula photographed in 1984. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. By great good fortune, the star (Sanduleak - 69* 202) which exploded as the supernova, had been observed some years previously and was found to be a typical young, bluish star, much hotter and brighter than stars like the Sun. There are many similar stars in this part of the LMC which is dominated by the spectacular red cloud of the Tarantula Nebula. It in such nebulae that stars are formed, often in compact groups such as those scattered across this photograph, which was taken in 1984

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Tarantula nebula before the appearance of supernova 1987A - The Tarantula Nebula, before supernova SN1987A - Tarantula Nebula photographed in 1984. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. By great good fortune, the star (Sanduleak - 69* 202) which exploded as the supernova, had been observed some years previously and was found to be a typical young, bluish star, much hotter and brighter than stars like the Sun. There are many similar stars in this part of the LMC which is dominated by the spectacular red cloud of the Tarantula Nebula. It in such nebulae that stars are formed, often in compact groups such as those scattered across this photograph, which was taken in 1984

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Tarantula Nebula and Supernova 1987A - The Tarantula Nebula and supernova 1987a in the LMC - Tarantula Nebula photographed in 1987, two weeks after the appearance of the 1987A supernova. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. The brightest star in this picture is the first supernova to be visible to the unaided eye for almost 400 years. It occured in a region rich in young, blue stars and it was one of these which destroyed itself. When this picture was taken, about 2 weeks after the supernova was discovered, at the end of February, 1987, the expanding shell of material had already changed from blue to orange - red as it cooled. The location of the supernova in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) means that it can only be seen from the southern hemisphere
 
Tarantula Nebula and Supernova 1987A - The Tarantula Nebula and supernova 1987a in the LMC - Tarantula Nebula photographed in 1987, two weeks after the appearance of the 1987A supernova. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. The brightest star in this picture is the first supernova to be visible to the unaided eye for almost 400 years. It occured in a region rich in young, blue stars and it was one of these which destroyed itself. When this picture was taken, about 2 weeks after the supernova was discovered, at the end of February, 1987, the expanding shell of material had already changed from blue to orange - red as it cooled. The location of the supernova in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) means that it can only be seen from the southern hemisphere

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Tarantula Nebula and Supernova 1987A - The Tarantula Nebula and supernova 1987a in the LMC - Tarantula Nebula photographed in 1987, two weeks after the appearance of the 1987A supernova. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. The brightest star in this picture is the first supernova to be visible to the unaided eye for almost 400 years. It occured in a region rich in young, blue stars and it was one of these which destroyed itself. When this picture was taken, about 2 weeks after the supernova was discovered, at the end of February, 1987, the expanding shell of material had already changed from blue to orange - red as it cooled. The location of the supernova in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) means that it can only be seen from the southern hemisphere

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Southern Crown Nebula - The CRA reflection nebula - R Coronae Australis is a region of star formations visible in the southern hemisphere. It is located about 500 light years away from Earth. On the right, the globular cluster NGC 6723, located 30 000 light years from Earth in Sagittarius. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. Corona Australis (the southern crown, CRA) is in the far southern sky but visible from the southern states of the USA. The constellation is small but distinctive. The conspicuous globular cluster NGC 6723 is at the western (right) edge of the photograph, but it is in Sagittarius, and is about 30,000 light years distant. Almost all the nebulosity here is starlight, reflected from minute grains of dust, some of which gather into darker condensations ('molecular clouds'), blotting out the background stars. Fainter features can be seen here. Shiny NGC 6726 - 27 near middle of image contains both a visual binary and a variable star. Other wispy nebulae in the western part of the dark cloud betray the presence of young, hidden stars
 
Southern Crown Nebula - The CRA reflection nebula - R Coronae Australis is a region of star formations visible in the southern hemisphere. It is located about 500 light years away from Earth. On the right, the globular cluster NGC 6723, located 30 000 light years from Earth in Sagittarius. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. Corona Australis (the southern crown, CRA) is in the far southern sky but visible from the southern states of the USA. The constellation is small but distinctive. The conspicuous globular cluster NGC 6723 is at the western (right) edge of the photograph, but it is in Sagittarius, and is about 30,000 light years distant. Almost all the nebulosity here is starlight, reflected from minute grains of dust, some of which gather into darker condensations ('molecular clouds'), blotting out the background stars. Fainter features can be seen here. Shiny NGC 6726 - 27 near middle of image contains both a visual binary and a variable star. Othe

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Southern Crown Nebula - The CRA reflection nebula - R Coronae Australis is a region of star formations visible in the southern hemisphere. It is located about 500 light years away from Earth. On the right, the globular cluster NGC 6723, located 30 000 light years from Earth in Sagittarius. Image made with the 1.2m Telescope of Schmidt UK from Siding Spring. Corona Australis (the southern crown, CRA) is in the far southern sky but visible from the southern states of the USA. The constellation is small but distinctive. The conspicuous globular cluster NGC 6723 is at the western (right) edge of the photograph, but it is in Sagittarius, and is about 30,000 light years distant. Almost all the nebulosity here is starlight, reflected from minute grains of dust, some of which gather into darker condensations ('molecular clouds'), blotting out the background stars. Fainter features can be seen here. Shiny NGC 6726 - 27 near middle of image contains both a visual binary and a variable star. Othe

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Irregular Galaxy of the Little Magellan Cloud (NGC 292) - The Small Magellanic Cloud - The galaxy of the Little Magellan Cloud is about 240,000 light years from Earth in the southern constellation of Toucan. It's one of the closest galaxies of the Lactee Way. Two globular clusters are visible in this image, on the right the Toucan cluster, at the top of the galaxy the NGC 362 cluster. Image obtained by the 1.2m UK Schmidt telescope from Siding Spring, Australia. The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is the second nearest galaxy to the Milky Way, (the LMC being the nearest) and is at the distance of about 240,000 light years, quite close enough for it to be resolved into individual stars on this colour picture made from plates taken on the UK Schmidt Telescope. The shape of the SMC defies description and it is therefore classified as an 'irregular' galaxy. The large globular cluster at right is 47 Tucanae, while a smaller one at the top of the picture is NGC 362. It is about 30,000 light years distant, twice as far away as 47 Tuc
 
Irregular Galaxy of the Little Magellan Cloud (NGC 292) - The Small Magellanic Cloud - The galaxy of the Little Magellan Cloud is about 240,000 light years from Earth in the southern constellation of Toucan. It's one of the closest galaxies of the Lactee Way. Two globular clusters are visible in this image, on the right the Toucan cluster, at the top of the galaxy the NGC 362 cluster. Image obtained by the 1.2m UK Schmidt telescope from Siding Spring, Australia. The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is the second nearest galaxy to the Milky Way, (the LMC being the nearest) and is at the distance of about 240,000 light years, quite close enough for it to be resolved into individual stars on this colour picture made from plates taken on the UK Schmidt Telescope. The shape of the SMC defies description and it is therefore classified as an 'irregular' galaxy. The large globular cluster at right is 47 Tucanae, while a smaller one at the top of the picture is NGC 362. It is about 30,000 light yea

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Irregular Galaxy of the Little Magellan Cloud (NGC 292) - The Small Magellanic Cloud - The galaxy of the Little Magellan Cloud is about 240,000 light years from Earth in the southern constellation of Toucan. It's one of the closest galaxies of the Lactee Way. Two globular clusters are visible in this image, on the right the Toucan cluster, at the top of the galaxy the NGC 362 cluster. Image obtained by the 1.2m UK Schmidt telescope from Siding Spring, Australia. The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is the second nearest galaxy to the Milky Way, (the LMC being the nearest) and is at the distance of about 240,000 light years, quite close enough for it to be resolved into individual stars on this colour picture made from plates taken on the UK Schmidt Telescope. The shape of the SMC defies description and it is therefore classified as an 'irregular' galaxy. The large globular cluster at right is 47 Tucanae, while a smaller one at the top of the picture is NGC 362. It is about 30,000 light yea

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Comete Hyakutake - Comet Hyakutake - View on March 18, 1996
 
Comete Hyakutake - Comet Hyakutake - View on March 18, 1996

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Comete Hyakutake - Comet Hyakutake - View on March 18, 1996

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Star Field in Puppis - Image obtained by Siding Sprin's 3.9m telescope
 
Star Field in Puppis - Image obtained by Siding Sprin's 3.9m telescope

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Star Field in Puppis - Image obtained by Siding Sprin's 3.9m telescope

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Comete of Halley - Halley's comet - View on April 10, 1986
 
Comete of Halley - Halley's comet - View on April 10, 1986

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Comete of Halley - Halley's comet - View on April 10, 1986

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Planetary nebula NGC 6781 - A planetary nebula, NGC 6781 - This fairly inconspicuous planetary nebula is in Aquila and it marks the end of the long life of a sun - like star. Despite the longevity of their parent stars and the very brief lifetime of the nebula (typically less than 100,000 years) such sights are common because sun - like stars are common. The nebula has nothing to do with planet formation, indeed the formation of the nebula would effectively destroy any planets the parent star had, rather the name refers to the telescopic appearance of the nebula. Some planetaries are very bright and their discs look like solar system planets. A close look at this picture shows some structure in the expanding shell of gas around the star, reminiscent of the much more complex Helix nebula. The nebula we see is the ejected surface of the star expanding into material left from an earlier stage in its decline, when it briefly expanded as a 'red giant'. Irregularities in the earlier ejecta, asymmetrical outburst of the central star and motion of the new nebula through the interstellar medium as well as the star's orientation in space all affect the physical form of planetary nebulae, so a detailed interpretation of the outburst is difficult. The common factor is the central star, which is externemly hot. However, it is stripped of its energy source and destined to cool into oblivion long after the nebula has dispersed
 
Planetary nebula NGC 6781 - A planetary nebula, NGC 6781 - This fairly inconspicuous planetary nebula is in Aquila and it marks the end of the long life of a sun - like star. Despite the longevity of their parent stars and the very brief lifetime of the nebula (typically less than 100,000 years) such sights are common because sun - like stars are common. The nebula has nothing to do with planet formation, indeed the formation of the nebula would effectively destroy any planets the parent star had, rather the name refers to the telescopic appearance of the nebula. Some planetaries are very bright and their discs look like solar system planets. A close look at this picture shows some structure in the expanding shell of gas around the star, reminiscent of the much more complex Helix nebula. The nebula we see is the ejected surface of the star expanding into material left from an earlier stage in its decline, when it briefly expanded as a 'red giant'. Irregularities in the earlier ejecta,

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Planetary nebula NGC 6781 - A planetary nebula, NGC 6781 - This fairly inconspicuous planetary nebula is in Aquila and it marks the end of the long life of a sun - like star. Despite the longevity of their parent stars and the very brief lifetime of the nebula (typically less than 100,000 years) such sights are common because sun - like stars are common. The nebula has nothing to do with planet formation, indeed the formation of the nebula would effectively destroy any planets the parent star had, rather the name refers to the telescopic appearance of the nebula. Some planetaries are very bright and their discs look like solar system planets. A close look at this picture shows some structure in the expanding shell of gas around the star, reminiscent of the much more complex Helix nebula. The nebula we see is the ejected surface of the star expanding into material left from an earlier stage in its decline, when it briefly expanded as a 'red giant'. Irregularities in the earlier ejecta,

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Planetary nebula Shapley 1 in the Rule - The planetary nebula Shapley 1 - This planetary nebula is located about 1000 years ago - light. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring This is an unusual annular planetary nebula in Norma. The nebula itself appears quite small at a little over an arc minute in diameter, while its central star is a magnitude 14 white dwarf. This object is unusual because those planetaries that are not bipolar are more or less spherical shells of material thrown off by the central star as it undergoes an internal rearrangement. We often see them as thick annuli because we look through a greater thickness at the edge of the shell. However, Shapley 1 seems to be a true torus, a doughnut - shaped ring of material that we happen to see face - on around the central star. Sp - 1 is about 1000 light years distant
 
Planetary nebula Shapley 1 in the Rule - The planetary nebula Shapley 1 - This planetary nebula is located about 1000 years ago - light. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring This is an unusual annular planetary nebula in Norma. The nebula itself appears quite small at a little over an arc minute in diameter, while its central star is a magnitude 14 white dwarf. This object is unusual because those planetaries that are not bipolar are more or less spherical shells of material thrown off by the central star as it undergoes an internal rearrangement. We often see them as thick annuli because we look through a greater thickness at the edge of the shell. However, Shapley 1 seems to be a true torus, a doughnut - shaped ring of material that we happen to see face - on around the central star. Sp - 1 is about 1000 light years distant

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Planetary nebula Shapley 1 in the Rule - The planetary nebula Shapley 1 - This planetary nebula is located about 1000 years ago - light. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring This is an unusual annular planetary nebula in Norma. The nebula itself appears quite small at a little over an arc minute in diameter, while its central star is a magnitude 14 white dwarf. This object is unusual because those planetaries that are not bipolar are more or less spherical shells of material thrown off by the central star as it undergoes an internal rearrangement. We often see them as thick annuli because we look through a greater thickness at the edge of the shell. However, Shapley 1 seems to be a true torus, a doughnut - shaped ring of material that we happen to see face - on around the central star. Sp - 1 is about 1000 light years distant

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Galaxy NGC 5101 in Hydra - Galaxy NGC 5101 in Hydr
 
Galaxy NGC 5101 in Hydra - Galaxy NGC 5101 in Hydr

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Galaxy NGC 5101 in Hydra - Galaxy NGC 5101 in Hydr

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Barree spiral galaxy M95 in the Lion - Barred spiral galaxy M95 in Leo - M95 (NGC 3351), is a barree spiral of type SBB. It belongs to the Leo I galaxy group, also known as the M96 group. It also contains M96, M105 and a number of weaker galaxies. This galaxy is located about 38 million light years away from Earth. The SBB barred spiral galaxy M95, is a member of the Leo I galaxy grouping, which includes M96 and M105 as well as various other galaxies, all at a distance of about 37 million light - years
 
Barree spiral galaxy M95 in the Lion - Barred spiral galaxy M95 in Leo - M95 (NGC 3351), is a barree spiral of type SBB. It belongs to the Leo I galaxy group, also known as the M96 group. It also contains M96, M105 and a number of weaker galaxies. This galaxy is located about 38 million light years away from Earth. The SBB barred spiral galaxy M95, is a member of the Leo I galaxy grouping, which includes M96 and M105 as well as various other galaxies, all at a distance of about 37 million light - years

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Barree spiral galaxy M95 in the Lion - Barred spiral galaxy M95 in Leo - M95 (NGC 3351), is a barree spiral of type SBB. It belongs to the Leo I galaxy group, also known as the M96 group. It also contains M96, M105 and a number of weaker galaxies. This galaxy is located about 38 million light years away from Earth. The SBB barred spiral galaxy M95, is a member of the Leo I galaxy grouping, which includes M96 and M105 as well as various other galaxies, all at a distance of about 37 million light - years

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Planetary nebula NGC 2346 in Unicorn - The planetary nebula NGC 2346 - This nebula is located about 2000 years - light from Earth. A binary star resides in its center. Image obtained by the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring NGC 2346 is a fine bipolar planetary nebula which is on the celestial equator in the constellation of Monoceros. It is bright and conspicuous and has been extensively studied. Among its most remarkable characteristics is its unusually cool central star, which is a 'spectroscopic binary'. The two components are identified by the effect of their movement around each other on the lines of their spectrum. The double star, which has a period of about 16 days, is also variable, probably due to dust in orbit around it. The dust itself is heated by the central star and so NGC 2346 is unusually bright in the infrared part of the spectrum
 
Planetary nebula NGC 2346 in Unicorn - The planetary nebula NGC 2346 - This nebula is located about 2000 years - light from Earth. A binary star resides in its center. Image obtained by the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring NGC 2346 is a fine bipolar planetary nebula which is on the celestial equator in the constellation of Monoceros. It is bright and conspicuous and has been extensively studied. Among its most remarkable characteristics is its unusually cool central star, which is a 'spectroscopic binary'. The two components are identified by the effect of their movement around each other on the lines of their spectrum. The double star, which has a period of about 16 days, is also variable, probably due to dust in orbit around it. The dust itself is heated by the central star and so NGC 2346 is unusually bright in the infrared part of the spectrum

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Planetary nebula NGC 2346 in Unicorn - The planetary nebula NGC 2346 - This nebula is located about 2000 years - light from Earth. A binary star resides in its center. Image obtained by the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring NGC 2346 is a fine bipolar planetary nebula which is on the celestial equator in the constellation of Monoceros. It is bright and conspicuous and has been extensively studied. Among its most remarkable characteristics is its unusually cool central star, which is a 'spectroscopic binary'. The two components are identified by the effect of their movement around each other on the lines of their spectrum. The double star, which has a period of about 16 days, is also variable, probably due to dust in orbit around it. The dust itself is heated by the central star and so NGC 2346 is unusually bright in the infrared part of the spectrum

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Planetary nebula NGC 1360 in the Furnace - NGC 1360, the diffuse planetary nebula in Fornax - Image obtained by Siding Spring Planetary nebulae 3.9m telescope usually have well - defined boundaries, sometimes even a shell - like structure. For reasons that are not understood, NGC 1360 defies all these conventions, yet its colour still clearly identifies it as a planetary nebula. The green hue is oxygen, excited by the hot central star, and to the north - east of the nebula is a faint red smudge, probably traces of material ejected before the star became a true planetary nebula
 
Planetary nebula NGC 1360 in the Furnace - NGC 1360, the diffuse planetary nebula in Fornax - Image obtained by Siding Spring Planetary nebulae 3.9m telescope usually have well - defined boundaries, sometimes even a shell - like structure. For reasons that are not understood, NGC 1360 defies all these conventions, yet its colour still clearly identifies it as a planetary nebula. The green hue is oxygen, excited by the hot central star, and to the north - east of the nebula is a faint red smudge, probably traces of material ejected before the star became a true planetary nebula

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Planetary nebula NGC 1360 in the Furnace - NGC 1360, the diffuse planetary nebula in Fornax - Image obtained by Siding Spring Planetary nebulae 3.9m telescope usually have well - defined boundaries, sometimes even a shell - like structure. For reasons that are not understood, NGC 1360 defies all these conventions, yet its colour still clearly identifies it as a planetary nebula. The green hue is oxygen, excited by the hot central star, and to the north - east of the nebula is a faint red smudge, probably traces of material ejected before the star became a true planetary nebula

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Spiral galaxy NGC 908 in the Whale - Spiral galaxy NGC 908 in Cetus - NGC 908 is about 65 million years away - light from Earth. This galaxy undergoes a star-forming flames; clusters of young and massive stars are visible in the spiral arms. It is 75,000 years long - light years long and its shape suggests that it is subject to the gravitational influence of another galaxy yet unidentified. NGC 908 is a starburst galaxy, one that is undergoing a period of intense star formation. This is why it has numerous clumps of bright stars in its spiral arms and appears so bright on this photograph. It is also asymmetrical, with a peculiar split in the spiral arm on the left (eastern) side of the galaxy. Both these characteristics usually mean the galaxy has been disturbed by some massive intruder, usually another galaxy, but none is evident on the photograph or in the wider field around NGC 908
 
Spiral galaxy NGC 908 in the Whale - Spiral galaxy NGC 908 in Cetus - NGC 908 is about 65 million years away - light from Earth. This galaxy undergoes a star-forming flames; clusters of young and massive stars are visible in the spiral arms. It is 75,000 years long - light years long and its shape suggests that it is subject to the gravitational influence of another galaxy yet unidentified. NGC 908 is a starburst galaxy, one that is undergoing a period of intense star formation. This is why it has numerous clumps of bright stars in its spiral arms and appears so bright on this photograph. It is also asymmetrical, with a peculiar split in the spiral arm on the left (eastern) side of the galaxy. Both these characteristics usually mean the galaxy has been disturbed by some massive intruder, usually another galaxy, but none is evident on the photograph or in the wider field around NGC 908

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Spiral galaxy NGC 908 in the Whale - Spiral galaxy NGC 908 in Cetus - NGC 908 is about 65 million years away - light from Earth. This galaxy undergoes a star-forming flames; clusters of young and massive stars are visible in the spiral arms. It is 75,000 years long - light years long and its shape suggests that it is subject to the gravitational influence of another galaxy yet unidentified. NGC 908 is a starburst galaxy, one that is undergoing a period of intense star formation. This is why it has numerous clumps of bright stars in its spiral arms and appears so bright on this photograph. It is also asymmetrical, with a peculiar split in the spiral arm on the left (eastern) side of the galaxy. Both these characteristics usually mean the galaxy has been disturbed by some massive intruder, usually another galaxy, but none is evident on the photograph or in the wider field around NGC 908

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Planetary nebula ESO 166 - 21 dans les Voiles - The faint planetary nebula ESO 166 - 21 - This planetary nebula was discovered in the rich southern constellation of Vela in 1966, which is why it does not have an NGC number. The 'Ack' designation refers to its identification in the catalogue of planetary nebulae edited by Agnes Acker. This beautifully structured delicate sphere of glowing gas is about 2 arc minutes in diameter and is extremely faint. Both these characteristics have contributed to the conspicuous grain 'noise' in the photograph, and attempts to emphasise the faint nebulosity also bring out the many faint stars in this direction, including the markedly blue central star of visual magnitude 18 which is seen here sandwiched between two other, brighter stars
 
Planetary nebula ESO 166 - 21 dans les Voiles - The faint planetary nebula ESO 166 - 21 - This planetary nebula was discovered in the rich southern constellation of Vela in 1966, which is why it does not have an NGC number. The 'Ack' designation refers to its identification in the catalogue of planetary nebulae edited by Agnes Acker. This beautifully structured delicate sphere of glowing gas is about 2 arc minutes in diameter and is extremely faint. Both these characteristics have contributed to the conspicuous grain 'noise' in the photograph, and attempts to emphasise the faint nebulosity also bring out the many faint stars in this direction, including the markedly blue central star of visual magnitude 18 which is seen here sandwiched between two other, brighter stars

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Planetary nebula ESO 166 - 21 dans les Voiles - The faint planetary nebula ESO 166 - 21 - This planetary nebula was discovered in the rich southern constellation of Vela in 1966, which is why it does not have an NGC number. The 'Ack' designation refers to its identification in the catalogue of planetary nebulae edited by Agnes Acker. This beautifully structured delicate sphere of glowing gas is about 2 arc minutes in diameter and is extremely faint. Both these characteristics have contributed to the conspicuous grain 'noise' in the photograph, and attempts to emphasise the faint nebulosity also bring out the many faint stars in this direction, including the markedly blue central star of visual magnitude 18 which is seen here sandwiched between two other, brighter stars

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Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) in Aquarius - Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) - This nebula is located 690 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope This faint object is the nearest planetary nebula to the Sun and on deep photographs has a diameter of about half a degree - - the same apparent size as the Sun in the sky. The AAT colour picture shows the brighter parts of the nebula, revealing various ionization levels within the shell of matter ejected from the central star. The greenish middle portion is evidence of excited oxygen atoms, while the outer red is predominantly light from nitrogen and hydrogen. The smallest of the radial blobs inside the red shell are about 150 astronomical units across (150 times the Earth - Sun distance) and they give this beautiful object its alternative name, the Sunflower Nebula. The Helix is about 400 light years away, or about 100 times more distant than the nearest stars
 
Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) in Aquarius - Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) - This nebula is located 690 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope This faint object is the nearest planetary nebula to the Sun and on deep photographs has a diameter of about half a degree - - the same apparent size as the Sun in the sky. The AAT colour picture shows the brighter parts of the nebula, revealing various ionization levels within the shell of matter ejected from the central star. The greenish middle portion is evidence of excited oxygen atoms, while the outer red is predominantly light from nitrogen and hydrogen. The smallest of the radial blobs inside the red shell are about 150 astronomical units across (150 times the Earth - Sun distance) and they give this beautiful object its alternative name, the Sunflower Nebula. The Helix is about 400 light years away, or about 100 times more distant than the nearest stars

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Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) in Aquarius - Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) - This nebula is located 690 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope This faint object is the nearest planetary nebula to the Sun and on deep photographs has a diameter of about half a degree - - the same apparent size as the Sun in the sky. The AAT colour picture shows the brighter parts of the nebula, revealing various ionization levels within the shell of matter ejected from the central star. The greenish middle portion is evidence of excited oxygen atoms, while the outer red is predominantly light from nitrogen and hydrogen. The smallest of the radial blobs inside the red shell are about 150 astronomical units across (150 times the Earth - Sun distance) and they give this beautiful object its alternative name, the Sunflower Nebula. The Helix is about 400 light years away, or about 100 times more distant than the nearest stars

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Planetary nebula NGC 5189 in the Fly - NGC 5189, a weird planetary nebula - This nebula is located about 3000 years from Earth in the southern constellation of Fly. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring The peculiarity of NGC 5189 lies in its astonishingly complex structure, first noted by Sir John Herschel, who discovered it in 1835. Seen through the telescope it seems to have an 'S' shape, reminiscent of a barred spiral galaxy, hence its popular name. This is seen in the colour photograph as the central greenish part. Deep photographs such as this show many filaments, rather more reminiscent of the Crab nebula, a supernova remnant, than a planetary nebula. Unlike the Crab nebula, NGC 5189 is remarkably symmetrical. Distances to planetary nebulae are notoriously difficult to measure, but this one is estimated to be about 3000 light years away
 
Planetary nebula NGC 5189 in the Fly - NGC 5189, a weird planetary nebula - This nebula is located about 3000 years from Earth in the southern constellation of Fly. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring The peculiarity of NGC 5189 lies in its astonishingly complex structure, first noted by Sir John Herschel, who discovered it in 1835. Seen through the telescope it seems to have an 'S' shape, reminiscent of a barred spiral galaxy, hence its popular name. This is seen in the colour photograph as the central greenish part. Deep photographs such as this show many filaments, rather more reminiscent of the Crab nebula, a supernova remnant, than a planetary nebula. Unlike the Crab nebula, NGC 5189 is remarkably symmetrical. Distances to planetary nebulae are notoriously difficult to measure, but this one is estimated to be about 3000 light years away

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Planetary nebula NGC 5189 in the Fly - NGC 5189, a weird planetary nebula - This nebula is located about 3000 years from Earth in the southern constellation of Fly. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring The peculiarity of NGC 5189 lies in its astonishingly complex structure, first noted by Sir John Herschel, who discovered it in 1835. Seen through the telescope it seems to have an 'S' shape, reminiscent of a barred spiral galaxy, hence its popular name. This is seen in the colour photograph as the central greenish part. Deep photographs such as this show many filaments, rather more reminiscent of the Crab nebula, a supernova remnant, than a planetary nebula. Unlike the Crab nebula, NGC 5189 is remarkably symmetrical. Distances to planetary nebulae are notoriously difficult to measure, but this one is estimated to be about 3000 light years away

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Spiral Galaxy NGC 3628 in the Lion - Spiral galaxy NGC 3628 in Leo - NGC 3628 is a spiral galaxy seen by the slice located at a distance of about 35 million years - light. With its neighbors M65 and M66, it forms a remarkable triplet of galaxies, called the Lion Triplet or the M66 Group. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This picture has been specially enhanced to reveal NGC 3628, which is seen as an edge - on spiral galaxy, crossed by a dust lane. Galaxies seen edge - on are rare, but this example has other peculiarities. The dust lane is distinctly askew and the ends of the spiral arms are obviously puffed out, with evidence of star formation. The bright bulge of the galaxy also has an unusual 'peanut' shape. This suggests that the galaxies of the Leo group are interacting, gradually pulling each other apart as they orbit each other. Image obtained with the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring
 
Spiral Galaxy NGC 3628 in the Lion - Spiral galaxy NGC 3628 in Leo - NGC 3628 is a spiral galaxy seen by the slice located at a distance of about 35 million years - light. With its neighbors M65 and M66, it forms a remarkable triplet of galaxies, called the Lion Triplet or the M66 Group. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This picture has been specially enhanced to reveal NGC 3628, which is seen as an edge - on spiral galaxy, crossed by a dust lane. Galaxies seen edge - on are rare, but this example has other peculiarities. The dust lane is distinctly askew and the ends of the spiral arms are obviously puffed out, with evidence of star formation. The bright bulge of the galaxy also has an unusual 'peanut' shape. This suggests that the galaxies of the Leo group are interacting, gradually pulling each other apart as they orbit each other. Image obtained with the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring

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Spiral Galaxy NGC 3628 in the Lion - Spiral galaxy NGC 3628 in Leo - NGC 3628 is a spiral galaxy seen by the slice located at a distance of about 35 million years - light. With its neighbors M65 and M66, it forms a remarkable triplet of galaxies, called the Lion Triplet or the M66 Group. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This picture has been specially enhanced to reveal NGC 3628, which is seen as an edge - on spiral galaxy, crossed by a dust lane. Galaxies seen edge - on are rare, but this example has other peculiarities. The dust lane is distinctly askew and the ends of the spiral arms are obviously puffed out, with evidence of star formation. The bright bulge of the galaxy also has an unusual 'peanut' shape. This suggests that the galaxies of the Leo group are interacting, gradually pulling each other apart as they orbit each other. Image obtained with the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring

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Planetary nebula NGC 2899 dans les Voiles - A distorted planetary nebula, NGC 2899 - This nebula is located about 3000 years from Earth. Image obtained by the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring Planetary nebulae present a wide variety of forms on the sky, partly because of the random orientation of their parent stars but also because the nebulae themselves can have quite different intrinsic shapes. Theories about the shapes of planetaries range from the influence of binary companions to the central star to the distribution of material around the stars during its red giant phase, before the final outburst. Whatever the mechanism, most planetaries are symmetrical about one or more axes and only rarely do they appear curved like NGC 2899. A possible explanation is that the star from which the nebula was ejected had a large proper motion through space. The resulting nebula has the same velocity but vastly lower density than the star so is distorted by its encounter with the tenuous interstellar medium. Distance to planetary nebulae are usually uncertain, but in this case it seems to be about 3000 light years
 
Planetary nebula NGC 2899 dans les Voiles - A distorted planetary nebula, NGC 2899 - This nebula is located about 3000 years from Earth. Image obtained by the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring Planetary nebulae present a wide variety of forms on the sky, partly because of the random orientation of their parent stars but also because the nebulae themselves can have quite different intrinsic shapes. Theories about the shapes of planetaries range from the influence of binary companions to the central star to the distribution of material around the stars during its red giant phase, before the final outburst. Whatever the mechanism, most planetaries are symmetrical about one or more axes and only rarely do they appear curved like NGC 2899. A possible explanation is that the star from which the nebula was ejected had a large proper motion through space. The resulting nebula has the same velocity but vastly lower density than the star so is distorted by its encounter with the tenuous interstell

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Planetary nebula NGC 2899 dans les Voiles - A distorted planetary nebula, NGC 2899 - This nebula is located about 3000 years from Earth. Image obtained by the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring Planetary nebulae present a wide variety of forms on the sky, partly because of the random orientation of their parent stars but also because the nebulae themselves can have quite different intrinsic shapes. Theories about the shapes of planetaries range from the influence of binary companions to the central star to the distribution of material around the stars during its red giant phase, before the final outburst. Whatever the mechanism, most planetaries are symmetrical about one or more axes and only rarely do they appear curved like NGC 2899. A possible explanation is that the star from which the nebula was ejected had a large proper motion through space. The resulting nebula has the same velocity but vastly lower density than the star so is distorted by its encounter with the tenuous interstell

PIX4622995

Spiral Galaxy M66 in the Lion - Spiral galaxy M66 in Leo - M 66 (NGC 3627) is a spiral galaxy located at a distance of about 35 million years - light. M66, with its neighbors M65 and NGC 3628, forms a remarkable triplet of galaxies, called the Lion Triplet or the M66 Group. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. M66 is a dusty spiral galaxy, and is a member of the same compact group of galaxies as M65 and NGC 3628. The striking symmetry of M65 is lacking, and the central bulge, though large, is less well defined. The spiral arms are very easy to see, but seem distorted and displaced above the plane of the galaxy, probably a result of interactions with its neighbours. Much more dust is visible here as well as a few pink nebulae, signs of star formation, near the end of one of the arms
 
Spiral Galaxy M66 in the Lion - Spiral galaxy M66 in Leo - M 66 (NGC 3627) is a spiral galaxy located at a distance of about 35 million years - light. M66, with its neighbors M65 and NGC 3628, forms a remarkable triplet of galaxies, called the Lion Triplet or the M66 Group. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. M66 is a dusty spiral galaxy, and is a member of the same compact group of galaxies as M65 and NGC 3628. The striking symmetry of M65 is lacking, and the central bulge, though large, is less well defined. The spiral arms are very easy to see, but seem distorted and displaced above the plane of the galaxy, probably a result of interactions with its neighbours. Much more dust is visible here as well as a few pink nebulae, signs of star formation, near the end of one of the arms

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Spiral Galaxy M66 in the Lion - Spiral galaxy M66 in Leo - M 66 (NGC 3627) is a spiral galaxy located at a distance of about 35 million years - light. M66, with its neighbors M65 and NGC 3628, forms a remarkable triplet of galaxies, called the Lion Triplet or the M66 Group. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. M66 is a dusty spiral galaxy, and is a member of the same compact group of galaxies as M65 and NGC 3628. The striking symmetry of M65 is lacking, and the central bulge, though large, is less well defined. The spiral arms are very easy to see, but seem distorted and displaced above the plane of the galaxy, probably a result of interactions with its neighbours. Much more dust is visible here as well as a few pink nebulae, signs of star formation, near the end of one of the arms

PIX4610845

Planetary Nebula of the Red Rectangle in the Unicorn - The Red Rectangle, AFGL 915 - This planetary nebula is located about 2300 years ago - light. Image from Siding Spring 3.9m Telescope This surprising object is one of an unusual class of nebulae surrounding mature, sun - like stars that are about to turn into planetary nebulae. Not all pre - planetary nebulae have outbursts like this, and in those that do, the nebula lasts only a few thousand years, hence the rarity. The central star has a thick belt of dust like a girdle around its equator which restricts outflow in that direction. Instead, the star ejects material in a kind of cone from each of its poles. The spectrum of the nebula shows unusual, strong red lines from hydrogen bonded to grains of carbon, however there is sufficient light reflected from the embedded star to dilute the strong red spectrum to the deep yellow we see here
 
Planetary Nebula of the Red Rectangle in the Unicorn - The Red Rectangle, AFGL 915 - This planetary nebula is located about 2300 years ago - light. Image from Siding Spring 3.9m Telescope This surprising object is one of an unusual class of nebulae surrounding mature, sun - like stars that are about to turn into planetary nebulae. Not all pre - planetary nebulae have outbursts like this, and in those that do, the nebula lasts only a few thousand years, hence the rarity. The central star has a thick belt of dust like a girdle around its equator which restricts outflow in that direction. Instead, the star ejects material in a kind of cone from each of its poles. The spectrum of the nebula shows unusual, strong red lines from hydrogen bonded to grains of carbon, however there is sufficient light reflected from the embedded star to dilute the strong red spectrum to the deep yellow we see here

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Planetary Nebula of the Red Rectangle in the Unicorn - The Red Rectangle, AFGL 915 - This planetary nebula is located about 2300 years ago - light. Image from Siding Spring 3.9m Telescope This surprising object is one of an unusual class of nebulae surrounding mature, sun - like stars that are about to turn into planetary nebulae. Not all pre - planetary nebulae have outbursts like this, and in those that do, the nebula lasts only a few thousand years, hence the rarity. The central star has a thick belt of dust like a girdle around its equator which restricts outflow in that direction. Instead, the star ejects material in a kind of cone from each of its poles. The spectrum of the nebula shows unusual, strong red lines from hydrogen bonded to grains of carbon, however there is sufficient light reflected from the embedded star to dilute the strong red spectrum to the deep yellow we see here

PIX4623779

Dark Nebula in Scorpio - A dark cloud in Scorpius, wide field - This dark nebula is located about 5000 years from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This curious un - named nebula is governed by radiation from very luminous stars some distance from the nebula. The direction of the radiation source can be seen from the flow pattern in the dark cloud and the extensive bright red rims at the end of the nebula that is exposed to radiation from the hot stars. This part of the nebula is reminiscent of the famous Horsehead nebula in Orion, which is also the consequence of starlight destroying a dark cloud. The source of the energy here is the Scorpius OB association, a group of brilliant, very hot stars, about 5000 light years away from us
 
Dark Nebula in Scorpio - A dark cloud in Scorpius, wide field - This dark nebula is located about 5000 years from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This curious un - named nebula is governed by radiation from very luminous stars some distance from the nebula. The direction of the radiation source can be seen from the flow pattern in the dark cloud and the extensive bright red rims at the end of the nebula that is exposed to radiation from the hot stars. This part of the nebula is reminiscent of the famous Horsehead nebula in Orion, which is also the consequence of starlight destroying a dark cloud. The source of the energy here is the Scorpius OB association, a group of brilliant, very hot stars, about 5000 light years away from us

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Dark Nebula in Scorpio - A dark cloud in Scorpius, wide field - This dark nebula is located about 5000 years from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This curious un - named nebula is governed by radiation from very luminous stars some distance from the nebula. The direction of the radiation source can be seen from the flow pattern in the dark cloud and the extensive bright red rims at the end of the nebula that is exposed to radiation from the hot stars. This part of the nebula is reminiscent of the famous Horsehead nebula in Orion, which is also the consequence of starlight destroying a dark cloud. The source of the energy here is the Scorpius OB association, a group of brilliant, very hot stars, about 5000 light years away from us

PIX4621577

Remains of supernova des Voiles - detail - Pencil nebula - NGC 2736, the Pencil nebula in Vela - Detail of the rest of the supernova des Voiles: the nebula of the pencil (NGC 2736). The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago. The rest of the supernova is approximately 815 years away from Earth. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This is an outlying wisp of the Vela supernova remnant (SNR), almost the only sign of the eastern part of this vast bubble of expanding shock wave from a stellar explosion 12,000 years ago. Although clearly detected with radio and X - ray telescopes, the Vela SNR is partially hidden to optical observers. Many fine, tangled filaments are seen in the western part of the nebula, but in the east, most of it is hidden in dust. This is one of the brighter eastern fragments, and its unusual linear appearance in the telescope was remarked on by Sir John Herschel who discovered to nebula in the 1840s. This spindly shape is the source of its popular name
 
Remains of supernova des Voiles - detail - Pencil nebula - NGC 2736, the Pencil nebula in Vela - Detail of the rest of the supernova des Voiles: the nebula of the pencil (NGC 2736). The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago. The rest of the supernova is approximately 815 years away from Earth. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This is an outlying wisp of the Vela supernova remnant (SNR), almost the only sign of the eastern part of this vast bubble of expanding shock wave from a stellar explosion 12,000 years ago. Although clearly detected with radio and X - ray telescopes, the Vela SNR is partially hidden to optical observers. Many fine, tangled filaments are seen in the western part of the nebula, but in the east, most of it is hidden in dust. This is one of the brighter eastern fragments, and its unusual linear appearance in the telescope was remarked on by Sir John Herschel who discovered to nebula in the 1840s. This spindly shape is the source of its popular name

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Remains of supernova des Voiles - detail - Pencil nebula - NGC 2736, the Pencil nebula in Vela - Detail of the rest of the supernova des Voiles: the nebula of the pencil (NGC 2736). The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago. The rest of the supernova is approximately 815 years away from Earth. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This is an outlying wisp of the Vela supernova remnant (SNR), almost the only sign of the eastern part of this vast bubble of expanding shock wave from a stellar explosion 12,000 years ago. Although clearly detected with radio and X - ray telescopes, the Vela SNR is partially hidden to optical observers. Many fine, tangled filaments are seen in the western part of the nebula, but in the east, most of it is hidden in dust. This is one of the brighter eastern fragments, and its unusual linear appearance in the telescope was remarked on by Sir John Herschel who discovered to nebula in the 1840s. This spindly shape is the source of its popular name

PIX4582828

Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) in Aquarius - Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) - This nebula is located 690 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope This faint object is the nearest planetary nebula to the Sun and on deep photographs has a diameter of about half a degree - - the same apparent size as the Sun in the sky. The AAT colour picture shows the brighter parts of the nebula, revealing various ionization levels within the shell of matter ejected from the central star. The greenish middle portion is evidence of excited oxygen atoms, while the outer red is predominantly light from nitrogen and hydrogen. The smallest of the radial blobs inside the red shell are about 150 astronomical units across (150 times the Earth - Sun distance) and they give this beautiful object its alternative name, the Sunflower Nebula. The Helix is about 400 light years away, or about 100 times more distant than the nearest stars
 
Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) in Aquarius - Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) - This nebula is located 690 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope This faint object is the nearest planetary nebula to the Sun and on deep photographs has a diameter of about half a degree - - the same apparent size as the Sun in the sky. The AAT colour picture shows the brighter parts of the nebula, revealing various ionization levels within the shell of matter ejected from the central star. The greenish middle portion is evidence of excited oxygen atoms, while the outer red is predominantly light from nitrogen and hydrogen. The smallest of the radial blobs inside the red shell are about 150 astronomical units across (150 times the Earth - Sun distance) and they give this beautiful object its alternative name, the Sunflower Nebula. The Helix is about 400 light years away, or about 100 times more distant than the nearest stars

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Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) in Aquarius - Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) - This nebula is located 690 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope This faint object is the nearest planetary nebula to the Sun and on deep photographs has a diameter of about half a degree - - the same apparent size as the Sun in the sky. The AAT colour picture shows the brighter parts of the nebula, revealing various ionization levels within the shell of matter ejected from the central star. The greenish middle portion is evidence of excited oxygen atoms, while the outer red is predominantly light from nitrogen and hydrogen. The smallest of the radial blobs inside the red shell are about 150 astronomical units across (150 times the Earth - Sun distance) and they give this beautiful object its alternative name, the Sunflower Nebula. The Helix is about 400 light years away, or about 100 times more distant than the nearest stars

PIX4623642

Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) in Aquarius - Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) - This nebula is located 690 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope This faint object is the nearest planetary nebula to the Sun and on deep photographs has a diameter of about half a degree - - the same apparent size as the Sun in the sky. The AAT colour picture shows the brighter parts of the nebula, revealing various ionization levels within the shell of matter ejected from the central star. This picture was made without unsharp masking. Unsharp masking emphasises the smallest of the radial blobs inside the red shell, which are about 150 astronomical units across (150 times the Earth - Sun distance). These radial streaks give this beautiful object its alternative name, the Sunflower Nebula. The Helix is about 400 light years away, or about 100 times more distant than the nearest stars
 
Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) in Aquarius - Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) - This nebula is located 690 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope This faint object is the nearest planetary nebula to the Sun and on deep photographs has a diameter of about half a degree - - the same apparent size as the Sun in the sky. The AAT colour picture shows the brighter parts of the nebula, revealing various ionization levels within the shell of matter ejected from the central star. This picture was made without unsharp masking. Unsharp masking emphasises the smallest of the radial blobs inside the red shell, which are about 150 astronomical units across (150 times the Earth - Sun distance). These radial streaks give this beautiful object its alternative name, the Sunflower Nebula. The Helix is about 400 light years away, or about 100 times more distant than the nearest stars

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Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) in Aquarius - Planetary nebula Helix (NGC 7293) - This nebula is located 690 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope This faint object is the nearest planetary nebula to the Sun and on deep photographs has a diameter of about half a degree - - the same apparent size as the Sun in the sky. The AAT colour picture shows the brighter parts of the nebula, revealing various ionization levels within the shell of matter ejected from the central star. This picture was made without unsharp masking. Unsharp masking emphasises the smallest of the radial blobs inside the red shell, which are about 150 astronomical units across (150 times the Earth - Sun distance). These radial streaks give this beautiful object its alternative name, the Sunflower Nebula. The Helix is about 400 light years away, or about 100 times more distant than the nearest stars

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Stars Field in the Peacock - Random star field in Pavo, near NGC 6477 - Towards the middle of the picture, the cluster of galaxies IC 4765. Image obtained by Schmidt UK 1.2m Telescope from Siding Spring The brightest star visible here is the magnitude 4.2 variable blue star lambda Pav, visible to the unaided eye in a dark sky, while the scattering of stars in the lower part of the picture are about a magnitude fainter and would be hard to see in all but the darkest conditions. Near middle of the image, the cluster of galaxies IC 4765
 
Stars Field in the Peacock - Random star field in Pavo, near NGC 6477 - Towards the middle of the picture, the cluster of galaxies IC 4765. Image obtained by Schmidt UK 1.2m Telescope from Siding Spring The brightest star visible here is the magnitude 4.2 variable blue star lambda Pav, visible to the unaided eye in a dark sky, while the scattering of stars in the lower part of the picture are about a magnitude fainter and would be hard to see in all but the darkest conditions. Near middle of the image, the cluster of galaxies IC 4765

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Stars Field in the Peacock - Random star field in Pavo, near NGC 6477 - Towards the middle of the picture, the cluster of galaxies IC 4765. Image obtained by Schmidt UK 1.2m Telescope from Siding Spring The brightest star visible here is the magnitude 4.2 variable blue star lambda Pav, visible to the unaided eye in a dark sky, while the scattering of stars in the lower part of the picture are about a magnitude fainter and would be hard to see in all but the darkest conditions. Near middle of the image, the cluster of galaxies IC 4765

PIX4572367

Nebulae NGC 1973 - 1975 - 1977 in Orion - The reflection nebulae NGC 1973 - 75 - 77 in Orion - Reflection nebulae located just north of the Great Orion Nebula. This group of nebulous stars is just half a degree north of the much brighter Orion Nebula and has largely been ignored because of it. The group of stars here appear as a single star to the unaided eye, the northernmost 'star' in the sword of Orion. Most of the blue nebulosity is starlight scattered by dust, while some of the stars are sufficiently hot to excite the wisps of hydrogen that linger here and create a distinctive red glow. To the south of the nebula (at the bottom of the picture) faint traces of the yellow reflected light of the Orion nebula can just be detected
 
Nebulae NGC 1973 - 1975 - 1977 in Orion - The reflection nebulae NGC 1973 - 75 - 77 in Orion - Reflection nebulae located just north of the Great Orion Nebula. This group of nebulous stars is just half a degree north of the much brighter Orion Nebula and has largely been ignored because of it. The group of stars here appear as a single star to the unaided eye, the northernmost 'star' in the sword of Orion. Most of the blue nebulosity is starlight scattered by dust, while some of the stars are sufficiently hot to excite the wisps of hydrogen that linger here and create a distinctive red glow. To the south of the nebula (at the bottom of the picture) faint traces of the yellow reflected light of the Orion nebula can just be detected

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Nebulae NGC 1973 - 1975 - 1977 in Orion - The reflection nebulae NGC 1973 - 75 - 77 in Orion - Reflection nebulae located just north of the Great Orion Nebula. This group of nebulous stars is just half a degree north of the much brighter Orion Nebula and has largely been ignored because of it. The group of stars here appear as a single star to the unaided eye, the northernmost 'star' in the sword of Orion. Most of the blue nebulosity is starlight scattered by dust, while some of the stars are sufficiently hot to excite the wisps of hydrogen that linger here and create a distinctive red glow. To the south of the nebula (at the bottom of the picture) faint traces of the yellow reflected light of the Orion nebula can just be detected

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Remnants of the Supernova of Sails - The Vela Supernova Remnant - Remnant of the Supernova of Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago and is approximately 815 light years away from Earth. Image obtained with the 1.2m Schmidt UK Telescope from Siding Spring. About 120 centuries ago an inconspicuous star in what is now the constellation of Vela brightened by about 100 million times to rival the Moon as the brightest object in the night sky. This photograph shows a portion of the north - western quadrant of an expanding nebulous shell, which now surrounds the site of the explosion. Near the centre of the nebula (and not seen here) is the Vela pulsar, a rapidly - spinning neutron star only a few kilometres in diameter, the remnant of the star that exploded. This tiny object spins about 11 times a second and until recently was among the faintest stars ever studied at optical wavelengths, a far cry from its brief glory as one of the brightest stars ever seen
 
Remnants of the Supernova of Sails - The Vela Supernova Remnant - Remnant of the Supernova of Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago and is approximately 815 light years away from Earth. Image obtained with the 1.2m Schmidt UK Telescope from Siding Spring. About 120 centuries ago an inconspicuous star in what is now the constellation of Vela brightened by about 100 million times to rival the Moon as the brightest object in the night sky. This photograph shows a portion of the north - western quadrant of an expanding nebulous shell, which now surrounds the site of the explosion. Near the centre of the nebula (and not seen here) is the Vela pulsar, a rapidly - spinning neutron star only a few kilometres in diameter, the remnant of the star that exploded. This tiny object spins about 11 times a second and until recently was among the faintest stars ever studied at optical wavelengths, a far cry from its brief glory as one of the brightest stars ever seen

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Remnants of the Supernova of Sails - The Vela Supernova Remnant - Remnant of the Supernova of Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago and is approximately 815 light years away from Earth. Image obtained with the 1.2m Schmidt UK Telescope from Siding Spring. About 120 centuries ago an inconspicuous star in what is now the constellation of Vela brightened by about 100 million times to rival the Moon as the brightest object in the night sky. This photograph shows a portion of the north - western quadrant of an expanding nebulous shell, which now surrounds the site of the explosion. Near the centre of the nebula (and not seen here) is the Vela pulsar, a rapidly - spinning neutron star only a few kilometres in diameter, the remnant of the star that exploded. This tiny object spins about 11 times a second and until recently was among the faintest stars ever studied at optical wavelengths, a far cry from its brief glory as one of the brightest stars ever seen

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Nebula around the star R Aquarii - R Aquarii and its peculiar nebula - This star is actually a binary system composed of a giant red star (in the center) and a white dwarf (invisible in this photo). Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. The star at the centre of this unique nebula has been known to be variable since 1810. It has a period of a little over a year, but the brightness shifts are erratic, ranging from the threshold of naked eye visibility to about 200 times fainter. At the centre of the nebula is a symbiotic star, an interacting pair consisting of a red giant and white dwarf. The dwarf draws in material from the giant, occasionally ejecting the surplus as the strange loops seen in the colour picture. The white dwarf itself is invisible and the light from the red dwarf is truly red, perhaps because the whole system is embedded in very dusty nebula which absorbs what blue light there is
 
Nebula around the star R Aquarii - R Aquarii and its peculiar nebula - This star is actually a binary system composed of a giant red star (in the center) and a white dwarf (invisible in this photo). Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. The star at the centre of this unique nebula has been known to be variable since 1810. It has a period of a little over a year, but the brightness shifts are erratic, ranging from the threshold of naked eye visibility to about 200 times fainter. At the centre of the nebula is a symbiotic star, an interacting pair consisting of a red giant and white dwarf. The dwarf draws in material from the giant, occasionally ejecting the surplus as the strange loops seen in the colour picture. The white dwarf itself is invisible and the light from the red dwarf is truly red, perhaps because the whole system is embedded in very dusty nebula which absorbs what blue light there is

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Nebula around the star R Aquarii - R Aquarii and its peculiar nebula - This star is actually a binary system composed of a giant red star (in the center) and a white dwarf (invisible in this photo). Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. The star at the centre of this unique nebula has been known to be variable since 1810. It has a period of a little over a year, but the brightness shifts are erratic, ranging from the threshold of naked eye visibility to about 200 times fainter. At the centre of the nebula is a symbiotic star, an interacting pair consisting of a red giant and white dwarf. The dwarf draws in material from the giant, occasionally ejecting the surplus as the strange loops seen in the colour picture. The white dwarf itself is invisible and the light from the red dwarf is truly red, perhaps because the whole system is embedded in very dusty nebula which absorbs what blue light there is

PIX4571946

Dark Nebula in Scorpio - A dark cloud in Scorpius - This dark nebula is located about 5000 years from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This curious un - named nebula is governed by radiation from very luminous stars some distance from the nebula. The direction of the radiation source can be seen from the flow pattern in the dark cloud and the extensive bright red rims at the end of the nebula that is exposed to radiation from the hot stars. This part of the nebula is reminiscent of the famous Horsehead nebula in Orion, which is also the consequence of starlight destroying a dark cloud. The source of the energy here is the Scorpius OB association, a group of brilliant, very hot stars, about 5000 light years away from us
 
Dark Nebula in Scorpio - A dark cloud in Scorpius - This dark nebula is located about 5000 years from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This curious un - named nebula is governed by radiation from very luminous stars some distance from the nebula. The direction of the radiation source can be seen from the flow pattern in the dark cloud and the extensive bright red rims at the end of the nebula that is exposed to radiation from the hot stars. This part of the nebula is reminiscent of the famous Horsehead nebula in Orion, which is also the consequence of starlight destroying a dark cloud. The source of the energy here is the Scorpius OB association, a group of brilliant, very hot stars, about 5000 light years away from us

PIX4621590

Dark Nebula in Scorpio - A dark cloud in Scorpius - This dark nebula is located about 5000 years from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This curious un - named nebula is governed by radiation from very luminous stars some distance from the nebula. The direction of the radiation source can be seen from the flow pattern in the dark cloud and the extensive bright red rims at the end of the nebula that is exposed to radiation from the hot stars. This part of the nebula is reminiscent of the famous Horsehead nebula in Orion, which is also the consequence of starlight destroying a dark cloud. The source of the energy here is the Scorpius OB association, a group of brilliant, very hot stars, about 5000 light years away from us

PIX4621590

Remnants of the Supernova of Sails - Part of the Vela Supernova Remnant - Rest of the Supernova of Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago and is approximately 815 light years away from Earth. Image obtained with the 1.2m Schmidt UK Telescope from Siding Spring. About 120 centuries ago an inconspicuous star in what is now the constellation of Vela brightened by about 100 million times to rival the Moon as the brightest object in the night sky. This photograph shows a portion of the north - western quadrant of an expanding nebulous shell, which now surrounds the site of the explosion. Near the centre of the nebula (and not seen here) is the Vela pulsar, a rapidly - spinning neutron star only a few kilometres in diameter, the remnant of the star that exploded. This tiny object spins about 11 times a second and until recently was among the faintest stars ever studied at optical wavelengths, a far cry from its brief glory as one of the brightest stars ever seen
 
Remnants of the Supernova of Sails - Part of the Vela Supernova Remnant - Rest of the Supernova of Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago and is approximately 815 light years away from Earth. Image obtained with the 1.2m Schmidt UK Telescope from Siding Spring. About 120 centuries ago an inconspicuous star in what is now the constellation of Vela brightened by about 100 million times to rival the Moon as the brightest object in the night sky. This photograph shows a portion of the north - western quadrant of an expanding nebulous shell, which now surrounds the site of the explosion. Near the centre of the nebula (and not seen here) is the Vela pulsar, a rapidly - spinning neutron star only a few kilometres in diameter, the remnant of the star that exploded. This tiny object spins about 11 times a second and until recently was among the faintest stars ever studied at optical wavelengths, a far cry from its brief glory as one of the brightest stars ever seen

PIX4582860

Remnants of the Supernova of Sails - Part of the Vela Supernova Remnant - Rest of the Supernova of Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago and is approximately 815 light years away from Earth. Image obtained with the 1.2m Schmidt UK Telescope from Siding Spring. About 120 centuries ago an inconspicuous star in what is now the constellation of Vela brightened by about 100 million times to rival the Moon as the brightest object in the night sky. This photograph shows a portion of the north - western quadrant of an expanding nebulous shell, which now surrounds the site of the explosion. Near the centre of the nebula (and not seen here) is the Vela pulsar, a rapidly - spinning neutron star only a few kilometres in diameter, the remnant of the star that exploded. This tiny object spins about 11 times a second and until recently was among the faintest stars ever studied at optical wavelengths, a far cry from its brief glory as one of the brightest stars ever seen

PIX4582860

Supernova 1987A - Supernova 1987A - Image of the Supernova 1987A, obtained on March 8, 1987 with the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. Sometime during 23 February 1987 a supernova exploded in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a nearby galaxy. However, the LMC is about 170,000 light years distant, so the supernova exploded 170,000 years ago. It was discovered the following day and brightened rapidly to become the first supernova to be easily visible to the unaided eye for almost 400 years. This photograph shows the field around the site of the supernova in great detail about 10 days afterwards, when it was still brightening
 
Supernova 1987A - Supernova 1987A - Image of the Supernova 1987A, obtained on March 8, 1987 with the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. Sometime during 23 February 1987 a supernova exploded in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a nearby galaxy. However, the LMC is about 170,000 light years distant, so the supernova exploded 170,000 years ago. It was discovered the following day and brightened rapidly to become the first supernova to be easily visible to the unaided eye for almost 400 years. This photograph shows the field around the site of the supernova in great detail about 10 days afterwards, when it was still brightening

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Supernova 1987A - Supernova 1987A - Image of the Supernova 1987A, obtained on March 8, 1987 with the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. Sometime during 23 February 1987 a supernova exploded in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a nearby galaxy. However, the LMC is about 170,000 light years distant, so the supernova exploded 170,000 years ago. It was discovered the following day and brightened rapidly to become the first supernova to be easily visible to the unaided eye for almost 400 years. This photograph shows the field around the site of the supernova in great detail about 10 days afterwards, when it was still brightening

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Galaxy NGC 4027 in the Raven - Galaxy NGC 4027 in Corvus - NGC 4027 is a spiral galaxy located about 80 million years ago - light. One of his arms is more extended, probably by the presence of a nearby dwarf galaxy. Image made with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This galaxy is of interest because of its similarity to the Large Magellanic Cloud, (LMC) our nearest extra - galactic neighbour. Like the LMC, its light comes predominantly from young stars, which are hotter than the Sun and give the galaxy a bluish colour. However, because this galaxy is over 80 million light - years distant we see only the integrated light of millions of unresolved stars, rather than the individuals we see in the LMC. NGC 4027 has a somewhat distorted appearance and an elongated spiral arm, probably due to the gravitational effect of a smaller companion galaxy, not visible in this photograph but rather obvious on a much deeper image. NGC 4027 is less than half a degree south of the Antennae interacting galaxies
 
Galaxy NGC 4027 in the Raven - Galaxy NGC 4027 in Corvus - NGC 4027 is a spiral galaxy located about 80 million years ago - light. One of his arms is more extended, probably by the presence of a nearby dwarf galaxy. Image made with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This galaxy is of interest because of its similarity to the Large Magellanic Cloud, (LMC) our nearest extra - galactic neighbour. Like the LMC, its light comes predominantly from young stars, which are hotter than the Sun and give the galaxy a bluish colour. However, because this galaxy is over 80 million light - years distant we see only the integrated light of millions of unresolved stars, rather than the individuals we see in the LMC. NGC 4027 has a somewhat distorted appearance and an elongated spiral arm, probably due to the gravitational effect of a smaller companion galaxy, not visible in this photograph but rather obvious on a much deeper image. NGC 4027 is less than half a degree south of the Antennae interacting gala

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Galaxy NGC 4027 in the Raven - Galaxy NGC 4027 in Corvus - NGC 4027 is a spiral galaxy located about 80 million years ago - light. One of his arms is more extended, probably by the presence of a nearby dwarf galaxy. Image made with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This galaxy is of interest because of its similarity to the Large Magellanic Cloud, (LMC) our nearest extra - galactic neighbour. Like the LMC, its light comes predominantly from young stars, which are hotter than the Sun and give the galaxy a bluish colour. However, because this galaxy is over 80 million light - years distant we see only the integrated light of millions of unresolved stars, rather than the individuals we see in the LMC. NGC 4027 has a somewhat distorted appearance and an elongated spiral arm, probably due to the gravitational effect of a smaller companion galaxy, not visible in this photograph but rather obvious on a much deeper image. NGC 4027 is less than half a degree south of the Antennae interacting gala

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Irregular galaxy NGC 6822 in Sagittarius - Irregular galaxy NGC 6822 in Sagittarius - The galaxy NGC 6822 is located about 1.8 million years ago - light from Earth. She belongs to our local group. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. NGC 6822 is one of the nearest galaxies to the milky Way and is thus a member of a small cluster known as the Local Group to which our Galaxy belongs. It is close enough to be resolved into individual stars, though because of its distance (about 1.8 million light years) only the brightest are seen, even with a telescope as powerful as the AAT. The galaxy seems to be without symmetry and is classified as an irregular. At one end of a prominent bar a few clouds of glowing gas can be seen; at the other, bright bluish stars are scattered out into what appears to be the first signs of a straggling spiral arm
 
Irregular galaxy NGC 6822 in Sagittarius - Irregular galaxy NGC 6822 in Sagittarius - The galaxy NGC 6822 is located about 1.8 million years ago - light from Earth. She belongs to our local group. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. NGC 6822 is one of the nearest galaxies to the milky Way and is thus a member of a small cluster known as the Local Group to which our Galaxy belongs. It is close enough to be resolved into individual stars, though because of its distance (about 1.8 million light years) only the brightest are seen, even with a telescope as powerful as the AAT. The galaxy seems to be without symmetry and is classified as an irregular. At one end of a prominent bar a few clouds of glowing gas can be seen; at the other, bright bluish stars are scattered out into what appears to be the first signs of a straggling spiral arm

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Irregular galaxy NGC 6822 in Sagittarius - Irregular galaxy NGC 6822 in Sagittarius - The galaxy NGC 6822 is located about 1.8 million years ago - light from Earth. She belongs to our local group. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. NGC 6822 is one of the nearest galaxies to the milky Way and is thus a member of a small cluster known as the Local Group to which our Galaxy belongs. It is close enough to be resolved into individual stars, though because of its distance (about 1.8 million light years) only the brightest are seen, even with a telescope as powerful as the AAT. The galaxy seems to be without symmetry and is classified as an irregular. At one end of a prominent bar a few clouds of glowing gas can be seen; at the other, bright bluish stars are scattered out into what appears to be the first signs of a straggling spiral arm

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Spiral galaxy M65 in the Lion - Spiral galaxy M65 in Leo - M65 (NGC 3623), and its neighbors M66 and NGC 3628, form a triplet of galaxies, called the Lion Triplet or the Group of M66, located at a distance of about 35 million years - light. M65 is a spiral galaxy of type Sa. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring M65 is a spiral galaxy of type Sa in the constellation Leo. At a distance of about 35 million light - years, M65 apparently forms a triplet with its neighbors M66 and NGC 3628. Image obtained with the 3,9m telescope of Siding Spring
 
Spiral galaxy M65 in the Lion - Spiral galaxy M65 in Leo - M65 (NGC 3623), and its neighbors M66 and NGC 3628, form a triplet of galaxies, called the Lion Triplet or the Group of M66, located at a distance of about 35 million years - light. M65 is a spiral galaxy of type Sa. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring M65 is a spiral galaxy of type Sa in the constellation Leo. At a distance of about 35 million light - years, M65 apparently forms a triplet with its neighbors M66 and NGC 3628. Image obtained with the 3,9m telescope of Siding Spring

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Spiral galaxy M65 in the Lion - Spiral galaxy M65 in Leo - M65 (NGC 3623), and its neighbors M66 and NGC 3628, form a triplet of galaxies, called the Lion Triplet or the Group of M66, located at a distance of about 35 million years - light. M65 is a spiral galaxy of type Sa. Image obtained from the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring M65 is a spiral galaxy of type Sa in the constellation Leo. At a distance of about 35 million light - years, M65 apparently forms a triplet with its neighbors M66 and NGC 3628. Image obtained with the 3,9m telescope of Siding Spring

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Spiral galaxy of Sombrero M104 in the Virgin - The Sombrero galaxy (M104) in Virgo - Image of the spiral galaxy M104 (Sombrero galaxy), located about 28 million years ago - light. Image obtained with the 3.9m Anglo - Australian Telescope from Siding Spring. The Sombrero, named after the broad - brimmed Mexican hat it superficially resembles, is probably the most famous galaxy in the sky. The light from this remarkable spiral system is dominated by the billions of old, faint stars that form the vast 'bulge' around its tiny hidden nucleus. Most spirals, including the Milky Way, have clouds of old, faint stars around their nuclei, but in M104 the galaxy's light is dominated by them. This effect is enhanced because disk of the galaxy is seen nearly edge - on and dust in its outer parts is in silhouette as it crosses the picture. The galaxy is about 28 million light years distant
 
Spiral galaxy of Sombrero M104 in the Virgin - The Sombrero galaxy (M104) in Virgo - Image of the spiral galaxy M104 (Sombrero galaxy), located about 28 million years ago - light. Image obtained with the 3.9m Anglo - Australian Telescope from Siding Spring. The Sombrero, named after the broad - brimmed Mexican hat it superficially resembles, is probably the most famous galaxy in the sky. The light from this remarkable spiral system is dominated by the billions of old, faint stars that form the vast 'bulge' around its tiny hidden nucleus. Most spirals, including the Milky Way, have clouds of old, faint stars around their nuclei, but in M104 the galaxy's light is dominated by them. This effect is enhanced because disk of the galaxy is seen nearly edge - on and dust in its outer parts is in silhouette as it crosses the picture. The galaxy is about 28 million light years distant

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Spiral galaxy of Sombrero M104 in the Virgin - The Sombrero galaxy (M104) in Virgo - Image of the spiral galaxy M104 (Sombrero galaxy), located about 28 million years ago - light. Image obtained with the 3.9m Anglo - Australian Telescope from Siding Spring. The Sombrero, named after the broad - brimmed Mexican hat it superficially resembles, is probably the most famous galaxy in the sky. The light from this remarkable spiral system is dominated by the billions of old, faint stars that form the vast 'bulge' around its tiny hidden nucleus. Most spirals, including the Milky Way, have clouds of old, faint stars around their nuclei, but in M104 the galaxy's light is dominated by them. This effect is enhanced because disk of the galaxy is seen nearly edge - on and dust in its outer parts is in silhouette as it crosses the picture. The galaxy is about 28 million light years distant

PIX4611600

Remains of the supernova of the Sails - Detail - Vela supernova remnant. Detail - Detail of the rest of the supernova of the Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago. A supernova event marks the catastrophic end - point in the life of a massive star. The self - destruction of the star releases a huge amount of energy as radiation of all kinds, but a substantial fraction of the force of the explosion blasts the outer part of the supernova into an expanding shell of matter that travels through the almost empty space between the stars. As the rapidly moving blast wave encounters the relatively stationary interstellar medium it creates a very narrow, luminous shock front that appears as a faint nebula. Because the shock front is very convoluted the nebulosity appears to be highly structured and the various colours define different energy levels within the interaction. Although the star responsible for the Vela supernova remnant exploded 12,000 years ago, it is still affecting its environment
 
Remains of the supernova of the Sails - Detail - Vela supernova remnant. Detail - Detail of the rest of the supernova of the Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago. A supernova event marks the catastrophic end - point in the life of a massive star. The self - destruction of the star releases a huge amount of energy as radiation of all kinds, but a substantial fraction of the force of the explosion blasts the outer part of the supernova into an expanding shell of matter that travels through the almost empty space between the stars. As the rapidly moving blast wave encounters the relatively stationary interstellar medium it creates a very narrow, luminous shock front that appears as a faint nebula. Because the shock front is very convoluted the nebulosity appears to be highly structured and the various colours define different energy levels within the interaction. Although the star responsible for the Vela supernova remnant exploded 12,000 years ago, it is still affecting its env

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Remains of the supernova of the Sails - Detail - Vela supernova remnant. Detail - Detail of the rest of the supernova of the Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago. A supernova event marks the catastrophic end - point in the life of a massive star. The self - destruction of the star releases a huge amount of energy as radiation of all kinds, but a substantial fraction of the force of the explosion blasts the outer part of the supernova into an expanding shell of matter that travels through the almost empty space between the stars. As the rapidly moving blast wave encounters the relatively stationary interstellar medium it creates a very narrow, luminous shock front that appears as a faint nebula. Because the shock front is very convoluted the nebulosity appears to be highly structured and the various colours define different energy levels within the interaction. Although the star responsible for the Vela supernova remnant exploded 12,000 years ago, it is still affecting its env

PIX4582820

Barree spiral galaxy NGC 4945 in Centaurus - Barred spiral galaxy NGC 4945 in Centaurus - The barree spiral galaxy NGC 4945 is located about 13 million years away - light from Earth. This image was obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This is one of many peculiar galaxies that populate the large southern constellation of Centaurus. This remarkable spiral galaxy seen almost edge - on, and the spiral structure is chaotic and difficult to discern. In part this is because the galaxy is itself extremely dusty, and it is seen through dust in the Milky Way. These effects together account for its yellowish hue, though patches of bluish stars can be seen. The dust in NGC 4945 absorbs most of the visible light, especially the blue light from the numerous bright stars known present within the galaxy. This energy is re - radiated at infrared wavelengths, which penetrate dust more readily, which is why the galaxy is found to be unusually bright in the infrared
 
Barree spiral galaxy NGC 4945 in Centaurus - Barred spiral galaxy NGC 4945 in Centaurus - The barree spiral galaxy NGC 4945 is located about 13 million years away - light from Earth. This image was obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This is one of many peculiar galaxies that populate the large southern constellation of Centaurus. This remarkable spiral galaxy seen almost edge - on, and the spiral structure is chaotic and difficult to discern. In part this is because the galaxy is itself extremely dusty, and it is seen through dust in the Milky Way. These effects together account for its yellowish hue, though patches of bluish stars can be seen. The dust in NGC 4945 absorbs most of the visible light, especially the blue light from the numerous bright stars known present within the galaxy. This energy is re - radiated at infrared wavelengths, which penetrate dust more readily, which is why the galaxy is found to be unusually bright in the infrared

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Barree spiral galaxy NGC 4945 in Centaurus - Barred spiral galaxy NGC 4945 in Centaurus - The barree spiral galaxy NGC 4945 is located about 13 million years away - light from Earth. This image was obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This is one of many peculiar galaxies that populate the large southern constellation of Centaurus. This remarkable spiral galaxy seen almost edge - on, and the spiral structure is chaotic and difficult to discern. In part this is because the galaxy is itself extremely dusty, and it is seen through dust in the Milky Way. These effects together account for its yellowish hue, though patches of bluish stars can be seen. The dust in NGC 4945 absorbs most of the visible light, especially the blue light from the numerous bright stars known present within the galaxy. This energy is re - radiated at infrared wavelengths, which penetrate dust more readily, which is why the galaxy is found to be unusually bright in the infrared

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Open cluster NGC 6242 in Scorpio - Open star cluster NGC 6242 in Scorpius - This cluster is about 3500 years old - light from the Sun and is about 50 million years old. A bright yellow star is in the foreground. This cluster is one of many in the sparkling southern constellation of Scorpius. It is marked by a bright yellow star (spectral type K5) which happens to be in the foreground at a distance of about 1000 light years. The cluster itself is about 3,500 light years from the sun. The cluster is slightly dimmed by foreground dust. This so - called interstellar extinction is common with object close to the Galactic plane. Despite this, it is possible to estimate the age of the cluster by measuring the color and relative brightness of its stars. The age turns out to be about 50 million years, which is quite mature for an open cluster of this type. By now, most of the brightest stars will have turned into supernovae and vanished, leaving this quite modest group to compete with the many bright clusters of stars in this direction. The cluster was first noted by one of the earliest modern explorers of the southern sky, Abbe Lacaille, on his journey to South Africa in 1751 - 52
 
Open cluster NGC 6242 in Scorpio - Open star cluster NGC 6242 in Scorpius - This cluster is about 3500 years old - light from the Sun and is about 50 million years old. A bright yellow star is in the foreground. This cluster is one of many in the sparkling southern constellation of Scorpius. It is marked by a bright yellow star (spectral type K5) which happens to be in the foreground at a distance of about 1000 light years. The cluster itself is about 3,500 light years from the sun. The cluster is slightly dimmed by foreground dust. This so - called interstellar extinction is common with object close to the Galactic plane. Despite this, it is possible to estimate the age of the cluster by measuring the color and relative brightness of its stars. The age turns out to be about 50 million years, which is quite mature for an open cluster of this type. By now, most of the brightest stars will have turned into supernovae and vanished, leaving this quite modest group to compete with the many

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Open cluster NGC 6242 in Scorpio - Open star cluster NGC 6242 in Scorpius - This cluster is about 3500 years old - light from the Sun and is about 50 million years old. A bright yellow star is in the foreground. This cluster is one of many in the sparkling southern constellation of Scorpius. It is marked by a bright yellow star (spectral type K5) which happens to be in the foreground at a distance of about 1000 light years. The cluster itself is about 3,500 light years from the sun. The cluster is slightly dimmed by foreground dust. This so - called interstellar extinction is common with object close to the Galactic plane. Despite this, it is possible to estimate the age of the cluster by measuring the color and relative brightness of its stars. The age turns out to be about 50 million years, which is quite mature for an open cluster of this type. By now, most of the brightest stars will have turned into supernovae and vanished, leaving this quite modest group to compete with the many

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Open cluster NGC 3293 in Carene - Open star cluster NGC 3293 in Carina - Star cluster located in the constellation Carene about 8500 years ago - light from Earth. Unlike the Sun, many stars are found in brilliant clusters such as NGC 3293 where they spend their lives. At birth, which should have been at much the same time for all the stars in NGC 3293, the most massive stars are hot and very luminous and therefore appear as the brightest blue stars. With time they deplete their supplies of nuclear fuel, hydrogen. This evolutionary process involves cooling, so that the stars become redder, and would ordinarily disappear from view, but they also swell to gigantic proportions and so remain visible. The bright orange star in NGC 3293 is the member of the cluster which has aged fastest. This cluster is in the constellation of Carina at a distance of about 8500 light years
 
Open cluster NGC 3293 in Carene - Open star cluster NGC 3293 in Carina - Star cluster located in the constellation Carene about 8500 years ago - light from Earth. Unlike the Sun, many stars are found in brilliant clusters such as NGC 3293 where they spend their lives. At birth, which should have been at much the same time for all the stars in NGC 3293, the most massive stars are hot and very luminous and therefore appear as the brightest blue stars. With time they deplete their supplies of nuclear fuel, hydrogen. This evolutionary process involves cooling, so that the stars become redder, and would ordinarily disappear from view, but they also swell to gigantic proportions and so remain visible. The bright orange star in NGC 3293 is the member of the cluster which has aged fastest. This cluster is in the constellation of Carina at a distance of about 8500 light years

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Open cluster NGC 3293 in Carene - Open star cluster NGC 3293 in Carina - Star cluster located in the constellation Carene about 8500 years ago - light from Earth. Unlike the Sun, many stars are found in brilliant clusters such as NGC 3293 where they spend their lives. At birth, which should have been at much the same time for all the stars in NGC 3293, the most massive stars are hot and very luminous and therefore appear as the brightest blue stars. With time they deplete their supplies of nuclear fuel, hydrogen. This evolutionary process involves cooling, so that the stars become redder, and would ordinarily disappear from view, but they also swell to gigantic proportions and so remain visible. The bright orange star in NGC 3293 is the member of the cluster which has aged fastest. This cluster is in the constellation of Carina at a distance of about 8500 light years

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Remains of the supernova of the Sails - Detail - Vela supernova remnant. Detail - Detail of the rest of the supernova of the Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago. A supernova event marks the catastrophic end - point in the life of a massive star. The self - destruction of the star releases a huge amount of energy as radiation of all kinds, but a substantial fraction of the force of the explosion blasts the outer part of the supernova into an expanding shell of matter that travels through the almost empty space between the stars. As the rapidly moving blast wave encounters the relatively stationary interstellar medium it creates a very narrow, luminous shock front that appears as a faint nebula. Because the shock front is very convoluted the nebulosity appears to be highly structured and the various colours define different energy levels within the interaction. Although the star responsible for the Vela supernova remnant exploded 12,000 years ago, it is still affecting its environment
 
Remains of the supernova of the Sails - Detail - Vela supernova remnant. Detail - Detail of the rest of the supernova of the Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago. A supernova event marks the catastrophic end - point in the life of a massive star. The self - destruction of the star releases a huge amount of energy as radiation of all kinds, but a substantial fraction of the force of the explosion blasts the outer part of the supernova into an expanding shell of matter that travels through the almost empty space between the stars. As the rapidly moving blast wave encounters the relatively stationary interstellar medium it creates a very narrow, luminous shock front that appears as a faint nebula. Because the shock front is very convoluted the nebulosity appears to be highly structured and the various colours define different energy levels within the interaction. Although the star responsible for the Vela supernova remnant exploded 12,000 years ago, it is still affecting its env

PIX4582885

Remains of the supernova of the Sails - Detail - Vela supernova remnant. Detail - Detail of the rest of the supernova of the Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago. A supernova event marks the catastrophic end - point in the life of a massive star. The self - destruction of the star releases a huge amount of energy as radiation of all kinds, but a substantial fraction of the force of the explosion blasts the outer part of the supernova into an expanding shell of matter that travels through the almost empty space between the stars. As the rapidly moving blast wave encounters the relatively stationary interstellar medium it creates a very narrow, luminous shock front that appears as a faint nebula. Because the shock front is very convoluted the nebulosity appears to be highly structured and the various colours define different energy levels within the interaction. Although the star responsible for the Vela supernova remnant exploded 12,000 years ago, it is still affecting its env

PIX4582885

Open cluster M93 (NGC 2447) in Puppis - Open cluster M93 (NGC 2447) in Puppis - M93 (NGC 2447) is a cluster of age stars located 3000 years - light. Image obtained by the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring In March, 1871 Charles Messier noted as number 93 in his famous catalogue this conspicuous group as a cluster of small stars. It was one of the last objects that Messier himself listed though he lived until 1817. The cluster is in the southern constellation of Puppis (known to Messier as Argo Puppis) and is in a rich part of the Milky Way, almost on the Galactic equator. The group is quite compact and is on the threshold of naked - eye visibility under good conditions. It is at a distance of over 3000 light years. About 80 stars have been identified as being members of the cluster, however, as in most open clusters, a mere handful contribute most of the light, reflecting the broad distribution of stellar luminosities (and thus stellar masses) found in objects of this kind. M93 is at the upper end of the youth scale however, since its stars are estimated to be over 100 million years old
 
Open cluster M93 (NGC 2447) in Puppis - Open cluster M93 (NGC 2447) in Puppis - M93 (NGC 2447) is a cluster of age stars located 3000 years - light. Image obtained by the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring In March, 1871 Charles Messier noted as number 93 in his famous catalogue this conspicuous group as a cluster of small stars. It was one of the last objects that Messier himself listed though he lived until 1817. The cluster is in the southern constellation of Puppis (known to Messier as Argo Puppis) and is in a rich part of the Milky Way, almost on the Galactic equator. The group is quite compact and is on the threshold of naked - eye visibility under good conditions. It is at a distance of over 3000 light years. About 80 stars have been identified as being members of the cluster, however, as in most open clusters, a mere handful contribute most of the light, reflecting the broad distribution of stellar luminosities (and thus stellar masses) found in objects of this kind. M93 is at the

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Open cluster M93 (NGC 2447) in Puppis - Open cluster M93 (NGC 2447) in Puppis - M93 (NGC 2447) is a cluster of age stars located 3000 years - light. Image obtained by the 3.9m telescope of Siding Spring In March, 1871 Charles Messier noted as number 93 in his famous catalogue this conspicuous group as a cluster of small stars. It was one of the last objects that Messier himself listed though he lived until 1817. The cluster is in the southern constellation of Puppis (known to Messier as Argo Puppis) and is in a rich part of the Milky Way, almost on the Galactic equator. The group is quite compact and is on the threshold of naked - eye visibility under good conditions. It is at a distance of over 3000 light years. About 80 stars have been identified as being members of the cluster, however, as in most open clusters, a mere handful contribute most of the light, reflecting the broad distribution of stellar luminosities (and thus stellar masses) found in objects of this kind. M93 is at the

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Spiral galaxy of Sombrero M104 in the Virgin - The Sombrero galaxy (M104) in Virgo - Image of the spiral galaxy M104 (Sombrero galaxy), located about 28 million years ago - light. Image obtained with the 3.9m Anglo - Australian Telescope from Siding Spring. The Sombrero, named after the broad - brimmed Mexican hat it superficially resembles, is probably the most famous galaxy in the sky. The light from this remarkable spiral system is dominated by the billions of old, faint stars that form the vast 'bulge' around its tiny hidden nucleus. Most spirals, including the Milky Way, have clouds of old, faint stars around their nuclei, but in M104 the galaxy's light is dominated by them. This effect is enhanced because disk of the galaxy is seen nearly edge - on and dust in its outer parts is in silhouette as it crosses the picture. The galaxy is about 28 million light years distant
 
Spiral galaxy of Sombrero M104 in the Virgin - The Sombrero galaxy (M104) in Virgo - Image of the spiral galaxy M104 (Sombrero galaxy), located about 28 million years ago - light. Image obtained with the 3.9m Anglo - Australian Telescope from Siding Spring. The Sombrero, named after the broad - brimmed Mexican hat it superficially resembles, is probably the most famous galaxy in the sky. The light from this remarkable spiral system is dominated by the billions of old, faint stars that form the vast 'bulge' around its tiny hidden nucleus. Most spirals, including the Milky Way, have clouds of old, faint stars around their nuclei, but in M104 the galaxy's light is dominated by them. This effect is enhanced because disk of the galaxy is seen nearly edge - on and dust in its outer parts is in silhouette as it crosses the picture. The galaxy is about 28 million light years distant

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Spiral galaxy of Sombrero M104 in the Virgin - The Sombrero galaxy (M104) in Virgo - Image of the spiral galaxy M104 (Sombrero galaxy), located about 28 million years ago - light. Image obtained with the 3.9m Anglo - Australian Telescope from Siding Spring. The Sombrero, named after the broad - brimmed Mexican hat it superficially resembles, is probably the most famous galaxy in the sky. The light from this remarkable spiral system is dominated by the billions of old, faint stars that form the vast 'bulge' around its tiny hidden nucleus. Most spirals, including the Milky Way, have clouds of old, faint stars around their nuclei, but in M104 the galaxy's light is dominated by them. This effect is enhanced because disk of the galaxy is seen nearly edge - on and dust in its outer parts is in silhouette as it crosses the picture. The galaxy is about 28 million light years distant

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Nebulae NGC 1973 - 1975 - 1977 in Orion - The reflection nebulae NGC 1973 - 75 - 77 in Orion - Reflection nebulae located just north of the Great Orion Nebula. This group of nebulous stars is just half a degree north of the much brighter Orion Nebula and has largely been ignored because of it. The group of stars here appear as a single star to the unaided eye, the northernmost 'star' in the sword of Orion. Most of the blue nebulosity is starlight scattered by dust, while some of the stars are sufficiently hot to excite the wisps of hydrogen that linger here and create a distinctive red glow
 
Nebulae NGC 1973 - 1975 - 1977 in Orion - The reflection nebulae NGC 1973 - 75 - 77 in Orion - Reflection nebulae located just north of the Great Orion Nebula. This group of nebulous stars is just half a degree north of the much brighter Orion Nebula and has largely been ignored because of it. The group of stars here appear as a single star to the unaided eye, the northernmost 'star' in the sword of Orion. Most of the blue nebulosity is starlight scattered by dust, while some of the stars are sufficiently hot to excite the wisps of hydrogen that linger here and create a distinctive red glow

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Nebulae NGC 1973 - 1975 - 1977 in Orion - The reflection nebulae NGC 1973 - 75 - 77 in Orion - Reflection nebulae located just north of the Great Orion Nebula. This group of nebulous stars is just half a degree north of the much brighter Orion Nebula and has largely been ignored because of it. The group of stars here appear as a single star to the unaided eye, the northernmost 'star' in the sword of Orion. Most of the blue nebulosity is starlight scattered by dust, while some of the stars are sufficiently hot to excite the wisps of hydrogen that linger here and create a distinctive red glow

PIX4618057

Open cluster Trumpler 5 in Unicorn - Open cluster Trumpler 5 in Monoceros - Trumpler 5 is a cluster of stars aged 125 million years. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope As they age, open clusters of stars begin to lose their identity. This is partly because the brighter members tend to self - destruct as supernovae, and, though the group members share a common motion through space, they are only loosely bound. Thus stars drift away from the cluster in a process that accelerates with time. However, some clusters are big enough to retain their identity much longer than usual, and Trumpler 5 is one such. Its age is estimated to be 125 million years, and it must have been a spectacular sight in its youth. It seems to be at the edge of the Monoceros molecular cloud, where star formation is continuing new generations of young clusters
 
Open cluster Trumpler 5 in Unicorn - Open cluster Trumpler 5 in Monoceros - Trumpler 5 is a cluster of stars aged 125 million years. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope As they age, open clusters of stars begin to lose their identity. This is partly because the brighter members tend to self - destruct as supernovae, and, though the group members share a common motion through space, they are only loosely bound. Thus stars drift away from the cluster in a process that accelerates with time. However, some clusters are big enough to retain their identity much longer than usual, and Trumpler 5 is one such. Its age is estimated to be 125 million years, and it must have been a spectacular sight in its youth. It seems to be at the edge of the Monoceros molecular cloud, where star formation is continuing new generations of young clusters

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Open cluster Trumpler 5 in Unicorn - Open cluster Trumpler 5 in Monoceros - Trumpler 5 is a cluster of stars aged 125 million years. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope As they age, open clusters of stars begin to lose their identity. This is partly because the brighter members tend to self - destruct as supernovae, and, though the group members share a common motion through space, they are only loosely bound. Thus stars drift away from the cluster in a process that accelerates with time. However, some clusters are big enough to retain their identity much longer than usual, and Trumpler 5 is one such. Its age is estimated to be 125 million years, and it must have been a spectacular sight in its youth. It seems to be at the edge of the Monoceros molecular cloud, where star formation is continuing new generations of young clusters

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Open cluster NGC 3293 in Carene - Open star cluster NGC 3293 in Carina - Star cluster located in the constellation Carene about 8500 years ago - light from Earth. Unlike the Sun, many stars are found in brilliant clusters such as NGC 3293 where they spend their lives. At birth, which should have been at much the same time for all the stars in NGC 3293, the most massive stars are hot and very luminous and therefore appear as the brightest blue stars. With time they deplete their supplies of nuclear fuel, hydrogen. This evolutionary process involves cooling, so that the stars become redder, and would ordinarily disappear from view, but they also swell to gigantic proportions and so remain visible. The bright orange star in NGC 3293 is the member of the cluster which has aged fastest. This cluster is in the constellation of Carina at a distance of about 8500 light years
 
Open cluster NGC 3293 in Carene - Open star cluster NGC 3293 in Carina - Star cluster located in the constellation Carene about 8500 years ago - light from Earth. Unlike the Sun, many stars are found in brilliant clusters such as NGC 3293 where they spend their lives. At birth, which should have been at much the same time for all the stars in NGC 3293, the most massive stars are hot and very luminous and therefore appear as the brightest blue stars. With time they deplete their supplies of nuclear fuel, hydrogen. This evolutionary process involves cooling, so that the stars become redder, and would ordinarily disappear from view, but they also swell to gigantic proportions and so remain visible. The bright orange star in NGC 3293 is the member of the cluster which has aged fastest. This cluster is in the constellation of Carina at a distance of about 8500 light years

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Open cluster NGC 3293 in Carene - Open star cluster NGC 3293 in Carina - Star cluster located in the constellation Carene about 8500 years ago - light from Earth. Unlike the Sun, many stars are found in brilliant clusters such as NGC 3293 where they spend their lives. At birth, which should have been at much the same time for all the stars in NGC 3293, the most massive stars are hot and very luminous and therefore appear as the brightest blue stars. With time they deplete their supplies of nuclear fuel, hydrogen. This evolutionary process involves cooling, so that the stars become redder, and would ordinarily disappear from view, but they also swell to gigantic proportions and so remain visible. The bright orange star in NGC 3293 is the member of the cluster which has aged fastest. This cluster is in the constellation of Carina at a distance of about 8500 light years

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Galaxy clusters Abell 1060 in Hydra - The Hydra cluster of galaxies (Abell 1060) - The galaxy in the center is the spiral galaxy NGC 3312. To its right, the brightest elliptical galaxies of this cluster: NGC 3311. The two bright stars are closer and belong to our galaxy. This splendid cluster of galaxies in Hydra is framed by two nearby, cool stars in our own Milky Way. The brightest is about 5th magnitude, visible to the unaided eye only under a dark sky; the second brightest is below naked - eye visibility. In contrast the galaxies appear featureless in all but the largest telescopes. The bluish, elongated galaxy is an edge - on spiral, NGC 3312. It has been distorted by interactions with its neighbours. They in turn have been affected, and the brightest of the two adjacent yellow elliptical galaxies (NGC 3311) has an assymetrical envelope, perhaps as a result of this encounter. It's hard to tell who is jostling who in a crowded group of galaxies such as this. Among the most interesting galaxies in the group are two faint spirals (NGC 3314) that are by chance aligned along the line of sight. They are seen a little to the left of the fainter star and directly below the brighter
 
Galaxy clusters Abell 1060 in Hydra - The Hydra cluster of galaxies (Abell 1060) - The galaxy in the center is the spiral galaxy NGC 3312. To its right, the brightest elliptical galaxies of this cluster: NGC 3311. The two bright stars are closer and belong to our galaxy. This splendid cluster of galaxies in Hydra is framed by two nearby, cool stars in our own Milky Way. The brightest is about 5th magnitude, visible to the unaided eye only under a dark sky; the second brightest is below naked - eye visibility. In contrast the galaxies appear featureless in all but the largest telescopes. The bluish, elongated galaxy is an edge - on spiral, NGC 3312. It has been distorted by interactions with its neighbours. They in turn have been affected, and the brightest of the two adjacent yellow elliptical galaxies (NGC 3311) has an assymetrical envelope, perhaps as a result of this encounter. It's hard to tell who is jostling who in a crowded group of galaxies such as this. Among the most interest

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Galaxy clusters Abell 1060 in Hydra - The Hydra cluster of galaxies (Abell 1060) - The galaxy in the center is the spiral galaxy NGC 3312. To its right, the brightest elliptical galaxies of this cluster: NGC 3311. The two bright stars are closer and belong to our galaxy. This splendid cluster of galaxies in Hydra is framed by two nearby, cool stars in our own Milky Way. The brightest is about 5th magnitude, visible to the unaided eye only under a dark sky; the second brightest is below naked - eye visibility. In contrast the galaxies appear featureless in all but the largest telescopes. The bluish, elongated galaxy is an edge - on spiral, NGC 3312. It has been distorted by interactions with its neighbours. They in turn have been affected, and the brightest of the two adjacent yellow elliptical galaxies (NGC 3311) has an assymetrical envelope, perhaps as a result of this encounter. It's hard to tell who is jostling who in a crowded group of galaxies such as this. Among the most interest

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Open cluster M11 in the ECU of Sobieski - M11 open cluster in Scutum - M11 (NGC 6705) is a cluster of about 3000 stars. Image obtained by Siding Spring Clusters of bright blue stars like M11 are found scattered among the spiral arms of the Milky Way and other galaxies like it. They are a clear sign that star formation is active, because such clusters are usually very young and short lived. The stars in M11 all formed from the same material and at about the same time, a few million years ago. In 100 million years or so, all the brightest stars in the group will have evolved into cool supergiants and exploded as supernovae, leaving behind large numbers of low mass, relatively faint stars whose lives will be much longer and whose end will be much less dramatic. Located in the constellation of Scutum, it is sometimes mistaken for a loose globular cluster. M11 is also called the “” Wild Duck Cluster”” because of it's resemblance to a flight of wild ducks when viewed in a telescope. M11, with an overall brightness of magnitude 5.8, contains as many as 500 stars ranging from 8th magnitude down to 14th magnitude
 
Open cluster M11 in the ECU of Sobieski - M11 open cluster in Scutum - M11 (NGC 6705) is a cluster of about 3000 stars. Image obtained by Siding Spring Clusters of bright blue stars like M11 are found scattered among the spiral arms of the Milky Way and other galaxies like it. They are a clear sign that star formation is active, because such clusters are usually very young and short lived. The stars in M11 all formed from the same material and at about the same time, a few million years ago. In 100 million years or so, all the brightest stars in the group will have evolved into cool supergiants and exploded as supernovae, leaving behind large numbers of low mass, relatively faint stars whose lives will be much longer and whose end will be much less dramatic. Located in the constellation of Scutum, it is sometimes mistaken for a loose globular cluster. M11 is also called the “” Wild Duck Cluster”” because of it's resemblance to a flight of wild ducks when viewed in a telescope. M11, wit

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Open cluster M11 in the ECU of Sobieski - M11 open cluster in Scutum - M11 (NGC 6705) is a cluster of about 3000 stars. Image obtained by Siding Spring Clusters of bright blue stars like M11 are found scattered among the spiral arms of the Milky Way and other galaxies like it. They are a clear sign that star formation is active, because such clusters are usually very young and short lived. The stars in M11 all formed from the same material and at about the same time, a few million years ago. In 100 million years or so, all the brightest stars in the group will have evolved into cool supergiants and exploded as supernovae, leaving behind large numbers of low mass, relatively faint stars whose lives will be much longer and whose end will be much less dramatic. Located in the constellation of Scutum, it is sometimes mistaken for a loose globular cluster. M11 is also called the “” Wild Duck Cluster”” because of it's resemblance to a flight of wild ducks when viewed in a telescope. M11, wit

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Stars - The view to the north from Siding Spring - Photographic pose of several hours made in Australia; the northern Celestial pole is here 30 degrees below the horizon. As the Earth rotates beneath them the stars appear to drift across the sky from east to west. From a dark site, a camera with its shutter left open will record the apparent movement of the stars. This is the view from Siding Spring Mountain, the site of the telescopes of Anglo - Australian Observatory. It is located about 30 degrees south of the equator, so the north celestial pole is 30 degrees below the northern horizon. Behind the camera the south celestial pole is about 30 degrees above the horizon
 
Stars - The view to the north from Siding Spring - Photographic pose of several hours made in Australia; the northern Celestial pole is here 30 degrees below the horizon. As the Earth rotates beneath them the stars appear to drift across the sky from east to west. From a dark site, a camera with its shutter left open will record the apparent movement of the stars. This is the view from Siding Spring Mountain, the site of the telescopes of Anglo - Australian Observatory. It is located about 30 degrees south of the equator, so the north celestial pole is 30 degrees below the northern horizon. Behind the camera the south celestial pole is about 30 degrees above the horizon

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Stars - The view to the north from Siding Spring - Photographic pose of several hours made in Australia; the northern Celestial pole is here 30 degrees below the horizon. As the Earth rotates beneath them the stars appear to drift across the sky from east to west. From a dark site, a camera with its shutter left open will record the apparent movement of the stars. This is the view from Siding Spring Mountain, the site of the telescopes of Anglo - Australian Observatory. It is located about 30 degrees south of the equator, so the north celestial pole is 30 degrees below the northern horizon. Behind the camera the south celestial pole is about 30 degrees above the horizon

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Nebula by reflexion in NGC 6188 in the Altar - Reflection nebula in NGC 6188 in Ara - Nebula NGC 6188 is located about 4000 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. The fainter stars here are cool, like those that orbit the inner 'bulge' of the Milky Way and appear slightly yellow on colour pictures. The foreground patch of dust that crosses this photograph must be illuminated by energetic radiation from stars that are much hotter than those in the background because hydrogen, which is associated with the dust, has been excited into a vivid red fluorescence by absorbing the invisible ultraviolet light. Here and there a few bright but cooler stars are caught up in the outskirts of dust clouds and some of their light is scattered to produce the blue reflection nebulae
 
Nebula by reflexion in NGC 6188 in the Altar - Reflection nebula in NGC 6188 in Ara - Nebula NGC 6188 is located about 4000 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. The fainter stars here are cool, like those that orbit the inner 'bulge' of the Milky Way and appear slightly yellow on colour pictures. The foreground patch of dust that crosses this photograph must be illuminated by energetic radiation from stars that are much hotter than those in the background because hydrogen, which is associated with the dust, has been excited into a vivid red fluorescence by absorbing the invisible ultraviolet light. Here and there a few bright but cooler stars are caught up in the outskirts of dust clouds and some of their light is scattered to produce the blue reflection nebulae

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Nebula by reflexion in NGC 6188 in the Altar - Reflection nebula in NGC 6188 in Ara - Nebula NGC 6188 is located about 4000 years - light from Earth. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. The fainter stars here are cool, like those that orbit the inner 'bulge' of the Milky Way and appear slightly yellow on colour pictures. The foreground patch of dust that crosses this photograph must be illuminated by energetic radiation from stars that are much hotter than those in the background because hydrogen, which is associated with the dust, has been excited into a vivid red fluorescence by absorbing the invisible ultraviolet light. Here and there a few bright but cooler stars are caught up in the outskirts of dust clouds and some of their light is scattered to produce the blue reflection nebulae

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Light echo of supernova 1987A - July 1989 - The light echo of supernova 1987A - July 1989 - Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. When supernova 1987A was seen to explode in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the Milky Way's nearest companion galaxy, the brilliant flash of light from the self - destructing star had taken about 170,000 years to arrive. Some light was deflected by two sheets of dust near the supernova, and is seen after the star has faded away because it covers a longer path to reach us. The dust responsible for the rings seen here lies in two distinct sheets, about 470 and 1300 light years from the supernova. The colour picture, made by subtracting images on plates taken before and after the supernova, is an accurate reproduction of the colour of the extremely faint light echo, which in turn reflects the yellow colour of the supernova when it was at its brightest, in May 1987.
 
Light echo of supernova 1987A - July 1989 - The light echo of supernova 1987A - July 1989 - Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. When supernova 1987A was seen to explode in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the Milky Way's nearest companion galaxy, the brilliant flash of light from the self - destructing star had taken about 170,000 years to arrive. Some light was deflected by two sheets of dust near the supernova, and is seen after the star has faded away because it covers a longer path to reach us. The dust responsible for the rings seen here lies in two distinct sheets, about 470 and 1300 light years from the supernova. The colour picture, made by subtracting images on plates taken before and after the supernova, is an accurate reproduction of the colour of the extremely faint light echo, which in turn reflects the yellow colour of the supernova when it was at its brightest, in May 1987.

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Light echo of supernova 1987A - July 1989 - The light echo of supernova 1987A - July 1989 - Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation Doradus on February 23, 1987. When supernova 1987A was seen to explode in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the Milky Way's nearest companion galaxy, the brilliant flash of light from the self - destructing star had taken about 170,000 years to arrive. Some light was deflected by two sheets of dust near the supernova, and is seen after the star has faded away because it covers a longer path to reach us. The dust responsible for the rings seen here lies in two distinct sheets, about 470 and 1300 light years from the supernova. The colour picture, made by subtracting images on plates taken before and after the supernova, is an accurate reproduction of the colour of the extremely faint light echo, which in turn reflects the yellow colour of the supernova when it was at its brightest, in May 1987.

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Supernova 1987A 4 years after - Supernova 1987A after 4 years - Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation of Dorado on February 23, 1987. 4 years later the star appears as a red dot and pulls. The elongated red 'star' marks the site of supernova 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The two blue stars that bracket the glowing ember are almost certainly in the LMC as well, but not necessarily near the supernova. They initially confused the issue of which star had exploded. The red image is the expanding remnant of a massive star and can be seen to be slightly elongated in this picture. The elongation is in the same direction as the well - known Hubble Space Telescope picture of the ellipse around the supernova and both represent the expanding shock wave from the supernova interacting with material that was ejected from the star before it exploded
 
Supernova 1987A 4 years after - Supernova 1987A after 4 years - Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation of Dorado on February 23, 1987. 4 years later the star appears as a red dot and pulls. The elongated red 'star' marks the site of supernova 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The two blue stars that bracket the glowing ember are almost certainly in the LMC as well, but not necessarily near the supernova. They initially confused the issue of which star had exploded. The red image is the expanding remnant of a massive star and can be seen to be slightly elongated in this picture. The elongation is in the same direction as the well - known Hubble Space Telescope picture of the ellipse around the supernova and both represent the expanding shock wave from the supernova interacting with material that was ejected from the star before it exploded

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Supernova 1987A 4 years after - Supernova 1987A after 4 years - Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. Supernova 1987A appeared in the constellation of Dorado on February 23, 1987. 4 years later the star appears as a red dot and pulls. The elongated red 'star' marks the site of supernova 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The two blue stars that bracket the glowing ember are almost certainly in the LMC as well, but not necessarily near the supernova. They initially confused the issue of which star had exploded. The red image is the expanding remnant of a massive star and can be seen to be slightly elongated in this picture. The elongation is in the same direction as the well - known Hubble Space Telescope picture of the ellipse around the supernova and both represent the expanding shock wave from the supernova interacting with material that was ejected from the star before it exploded

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Remains of the supernova of the Sails - Detail - Vela supernova remnant. Detail - Detail of the rest of the supernova of the Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago. The line that crosses the image is the trace left by the passage of a satellite during the photo shoot. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. A supernova event marks the catastrophic end - point in the life of a massive star. The self - destruction of the star releases a huge amount of energy as radiation of all kinds, but a substantial fraction of the force of the explosion blasts the outer part of the supernova into an expanding shell of matter that travels through the almost empty space between the stars. As the rapidly moving blast wave encounters the relatively stationary interstellar medium it creates a very narrow, luminous shock front that appears as a faint nebula. Because the shock front is very convoluted the nebulosity appears to be highly structured and the various colours define different energy levels within the interaction. Although the star responsible for the Vela supernova remnant exploded 12,000 years ago, it is still affecting its environment
 
Remains of the supernova of the Sails - Detail - Vela supernova remnant. Detail - Detail of the rest of the supernova of the Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago. The line that crosses the image is the trace left by the passage of a satellite during the photo shoot. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. A supernova event marks the catastrophic end - point in the life of a massive star. The self - destruction of the star releases a huge amount of energy as radiation of all kinds, but a substantial fraction of the force of the explosion blasts the outer part of the supernova into an expanding shell of matter that travels through the almost empty space between the stars. As the rapidly moving blast wave encounters the relatively stationary interstellar medium it creates a very narrow, luminous shock front that appears as a faint nebula. Because the shock front is very convoluted the nebulosity appears to be highly structured and the various colours define different

PIX4582923

Remains of the supernova of the Sails - Detail - Vela supernova remnant. Detail - Detail of the rest of the supernova of the Sails. The supernova exploded 12,000 years ago. The line that crosses the image is the trace left by the passage of a satellite during the photo shoot. Image obtained with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. A supernova event marks the catastrophic end - point in the life of a massive star. The self - destruction of the star releases a huge amount of energy as radiation of all kinds, but a substantial fraction of the force of the explosion blasts the outer part of the supernova into an expanding shell of matter that travels through the almost empty space between the stars. As the rapidly moving blast wave encounters the relatively stationary interstellar medium it creates a very narrow, luminous shock front that appears as a faint nebula. Because the shock front is very convoluted the nebulosity appears to be highly structured and the various colours define different

PIX4582923

Open cluster NGC 3293 in Carene - Open star cluster NGC 3293 in Carina - Star cluster located in the constellation Carene about 8500 years ago - light from Earth. Unlike the Sun, many stars are found in brilliant clusters such as NGC 3293 where they spend their lives. At birth, which should have been at much the same time for all the stars in NGC 3293, the most massive stars are hot and very luminous and therefore appear as the brightest blue stars. With time they deplete their supplies of nuclear fuel, hydrogen. This evolutionary process involves cooling, so that the stars become redder, and would ordinarily disappear from view, but they also swell to gigantic proportions and so remain visible. The bright orange star in NGC 3293 is the member of the cluster which has aged fastest. This cluster is in the constellation of Carina at a distance of about 8500 light years
 
Open cluster NGC 3293 in Carene - Open star cluster NGC 3293 in Carina - Star cluster located in the constellation Carene about 8500 years ago - light from Earth. Unlike the Sun, many stars are found in brilliant clusters such as NGC 3293 where they spend their lives. At birth, which should have been at much the same time for all the stars in NGC 3293, the most massive stars are hot and very luminous and therefore appear as the brightest blue stars. With time they deplete their supplies of nuclear fuel, hydrogen. This evolutionary process involves cooling, so that the stars become redder, and would ordinarily disappear from view, but they also swell to gigantic proportions and so remain visible. The bright orange star in NGC 3293 is the member of the cluster which has aged fastest. This cluster is in the constellation of Carina at a distance of about 8500 light years

PIX4568236

Open cluster NGC 3293 in Carene - Open star cluster NGC 3293 in Carina - Star cluster located in the constellation Carene about 8500 years ago - light from Earth. Unlike the Sun, many stars are found in brilliant clusters such as NGC 3293 where they spend their lives. At birth, which should have been at much the same time for all the stars in NGC 3293, the most massive stars are hot and very luminous and therefore appear as the brightest blue stars. With time they deplete their supplies of nuclear fuel, hydrogen. This evolutionary process involves cooling, so that the stars become redder, and would ordinarily disappear from view, but they also swell to gigantic proportions and so remain visible. The bright orange star in NGC 3293 is the member of the cluster which has aged fastest. This cluster is in the constellation of Carina at a distance of about 8500 light years

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Barree spiral galaxy NGC 2442 in Flying Fish - NGC 2442, a barred spiral galaxy in Volans - NGC 2442 is a barree spiral galaxy located about 50 million years ago - light. Its asymmetrical shape suggests that a galaxy interacts with it. Image made with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This unusual barred spiral galaxy is in the far southern constellation of Volans and was discovered by Sir John Herschel who described one of its spiral arms as hook - like. Although not seen here, (but evident on very deep images) NGC 2442 appears to have a less massive, distant companion that is also distorted, and it seems likely that the two have had a close encounter in the recent past. If there are no further meetings, the forces that hold NGC 2442 together will restore galaxy to a more symmetrical spiral form. However, much more likely is that the companion has been captured by the distorted spiral and will eventually be devoured by it, triggering a dramatic bout of star formation. NGC 2442 is about 50 million light years distant
 
Barree spiral galaxy NGC 2442 in Flying Fish - NGC 2442, a barred spiral galaxy in Volans - NGC 2442 is a barree spiral galaxy located about 50 million years ago - light. Its asymmetrical shape suggests that a galaxy interacts with it. Image made with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This unusual barred spiral galaxy is in the far southern constellation of Volans and was discovered by Sir John Herschel who described one of its spiral arms as hook - like. Although not seen here, (but evident on very deep images) NGC 2442 appears to have a less massive, distant companion that is also distorted, and it seems likely that the two have had a close encounter in the recent past. If there are no further meetings, the forces that hold NGC 2442 together will restore galaxy to a more symmetrical spiral form. However, much more likely is that the companion has been captured by the distorted spiral and will eventually be devoured by it, triggering a dramatic bout of star formation. NGC 2442 is about

PIX4610090

Barree spiral galaxy NGC 2442 in Flying Fish - NGC 2442, a barred spiral galaxy in Volans - NGC 2442 is a barree spiral galaxy located about 50 million years ago - light. Its asymmetrical shape suggests that a galaxy interacts with it. Image made with Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope. This unusual barred spiral galaxy is in the far southern constellation of Volans and was discovered by Sir John Herschel who described one of its spiral arms as hook - like. Although not seen here, (but evident on very deep images) NGC 2442 appears to have a less massive, distant companion that is also distorted, and it seems likely that the two have had a close encounter in the recent past. If there are no further meetings, the forces that hold NGC 2442 together will restore galaxy to a more symmetrical spiral form. However, much more likely is that the companion has been captured by the distorted spiral and will eventually be devoured by it, triggering a dramatic bout of star formation. NGC 2442 is about

PIX4610090

Omega nebula (M17) in Sagittarius - The Omega nebula (M17) in Sagittarius - View of the Omega nebula (M17/NGC 6618) located in the constellation Sagittarius at a distance of 5700 light years. This object derives its name from its looped shape reminiscent of the Greek letter when the nebula is seen in a telescope. The gas cloud is unusual in that it does not appear to be illuminated by the bright stars that commonly found in emission nebulae such as this. However, the nebulosity is very bright, so the exciting stars must be hidden within the cloud, an idea confirmed by the infrared brightness of the nebula. As well as exciting the nebula we can see, the embedded stars heat the dust that surrounds them, so M17 is one of the brightest objects in the infrared sky. It is about 6000 light years distant
 
Omega nebula (M17) in Sagittarius - The Omega nebula (M17) in Sagittarius - View of the Omega nebula (M17/NGC 6618) located in the constellation Sagittarius at a distance of 5700 light years. This object derives its name from its looped shape reminiscent of the Greek letter when the nebula is seen in a telescope. The gas cloud is unusual in that it does not appear to be illuminated by the bright stars that commonly found in emission nebulae such as this. However, the nebulosity is very bright, so the exciting stars must be hidden within the cloud, an idea confirmed by the infrared brightness of the nebula. As well as exciting the nebula we can see, the embedded stars heat the dust that surrounds them, so M17 is one of the brightest objects in the infrared sky. It is about 6000 light years distant

PIX4620118

Omega nebula (M17) in Sagittarius - The Omega nebula (M17) in Sagittarius - View of the Omega nebula (M17/NGC 6618) located in the constellation Sagittarius at a distance of 5700 light years. This object derives its name from its looped shape reminiscent of the Greek letter when the nebula is seen in a telescope. The gas cloud is unusual in that it does not appear to be illuminated by the bright stars that commonly found in emission nebulae such as this. However, the nebulosity is very bright, so the exciting stars must be hidden within the cloud, an idea confirmed by the infrared brightness of the nebula. As well as exciting the nebula we can see, the embedded stars heat the dust that surrounds them, so M17 is one of the brightest objects in the infrared sky. It is about 6000 light years distant

PIX4620118

Omega nebula (M17) in Sagittarius - The Omega nebula (M17) in Sagittarius - View of the Omega nebula (M17/NGC 6618) located in the constellation Sagittarius at a distance of 5700 light years. This object derives its name from its looped shape reminiscent of the Greek letter when the nebula is seen in a telescope. The gas cloud is unusual in that it does not appear to be illuminated by the bright stars that commonly found in emission nebulae such as this. However, the nebulosity is very bright, so the exciting stars must be hidden within the cloud, an idea confirmed by the infrared brightness of the nebula. As well as exciting the nebula we can see, the embedded stars heat the dust that surrounds them, so M17 is one of the brightest objects in the infrared sky. It is about 6000 light years distant
 
Omega nebula (M17) in Sagittarius - The Omega nebula (M17) in Sagittarius - View of the Omega nebula (M17/NGC 6618) located in the constellation Sagittarius at a distance of 5700 light years. This object derives its name from its looped shape reminiscent of the Greek letter when the nebula is seen in a telescope. The gas cloud is unusual in that it does not appear to be illuminated by the bright stars that commonly found in emission nebulae such as this. However, the nebulosity is very bright, so the exciting stars must be hidden within the cloud, an idea confirmed by the infrared brightness of the nebula. As well as exciting the nebula we can see, the embedded stars heat the dust that surrounds them, so M17 is one of the brightest objects in the infrared sky. It is about 6000 light years distant

PIX4620153

Omega nebula (M17) in Sagittarius - The Omega nebula (M17) in Sagittarius - View of the Omega nebula (M17/NGC 6618) located in the constellation Sagittarius at a distance of 5700 light years. This object derives its name from its looped shape reminiscent of the Greek letter when the nebula is seen in a telescope. The gas cloud is unusual in that it does not appear to be illuminated by the bright stars that commonly found in emission nebulae such as this. However, the nebulosity is very bright, so the exciting stars must be hidden within the cloud, an idea confirmed by the infrared brightness of the nebula. As well as exciting the nebula we can see, the embedded stars heat the dust that surrounds them, so M17 is one of the brightest objects in the infrared sky. It is about 6000 light years distant

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