Archive for the ‘John Catlyn’ Category

North America Nebula (NGC 7000) imaged by John Catlyn

The North America nebula (NGC 7000) is a diffuse Nebula in the constellation of Cygnus.  It covers an area of the sky about four times the size of the full moon, but having very low surface brightness is low so normally it cannot be seen with the unaided eye. Lookup the North America Nebula on SEDS
August 17th, 2009 | John Catlyn | Read More

Comet Machholz imaged by John Catlyn

 Comet Machholz, formally designated C/2004 Q2 is a long-period comet discovered in August 2004 by Donald Machholz (his 10th comet, found visually, with his 6 inch reflector).  In January 2005 it reached naked eye brightness. Its perihelion was farther from the Sun than the Earth’s orbit.  The...
August 17th, 2009 | John Catlyn | Read More

M82 Imaged by John Catlyn

M82 (also known as NGC 3034) is an iregular galaxy in the constellation of Ursa major – though classified as irregular, though probably a distorted disk galaxy.  The M81group of galaxies is one of the nearest to our Local Group, being only some 12 million light-years distant. M82 is under the...
August 17th, 2009 | John Catlyn | Read More

The Ring Nebula (M57) Imaged by John Catlyn

M57 is a planetary nebula in the constellation of Lyra and is visible in small telescopes.  Planetary nebulae such as M57 are formed when a low or medium mass star (such as the Sun) exhaust its hydrogen in the stellar core.   The structure of the star changes so it can achieve a new equilibrium...
August 17th, 2009 | John Catlyn | Read More

M42 Imaged by John Catlyn

M42 (NGC 1976) is an an emission and reflection nebula, with Open Star Cluster, in Orion.  It is also a starforming nebula. Lookup M42 on SEDS
August 17th, 2009 | John Catlyn | Read More

The Dumbbell Nebula (M27) Imaged by John Catlyn

This planetary nebula in the constellation of Vulpecula is is perhaps the finest planetary nebula in the sky and can be viewed in a small telescope or binoclualrs. Lookup M27 on SEDS
August 17th, 2009 | John Catlyn | Read More

Brocchi’s Cluster Imaged by John Catlyn

Brocchi’s Cluster is an Open Cluster Collinder 399 in the constellation of Vulpecula.  Its appearance suggests it might be an asterism only. Lookup Brocchi’s Cluster on SEDS  
August 17th, 2009 | John Catlyn | Read More

Comet Holmes by John Catlyn

Comet Holmes (17P/Holmes) is a periodic comet which was discovered in 1892 by the British amateur astronomer Edwin Holmes. Although normally a very faint object, during its 2007 return when it unexepcedly brightened by a factor of approximately half a million and became visible to the naked eye. This...
August 17th, 2009 | John Catlyn | Read More