Posts Tagged ‘Chris Thayer’

Satellite crossings and occultations

The CalSky website provides information that helps astronomers plan observing sessions by providing ephemeris data for the Sun, Moon, planets, asteroids, satellites and deep sky objects. Like Heavens Above registering allows you to see data specific to your location and time zone. Both provide a fantastic...
July 25th, 2010 | Danny Thomas, Featured Articles, Observing | Read More

M65 and M66 Imaged by Chris Thayer

M65 (NGC 3623) and M66 (NGC 3627) are two of the galaxies that make up the Leo Triplet (also known as the M66 Group of Galaxies).  As its name suggests the Leo Triplet can be found in the constellation of Leo.   Charles Messier is generally assumed to have discovered these galaxies but it is possible...
May 14th, 2010 | Chris Thayer, Featured Articles | Read More

Images of Lunar Features by Chris Thayer

Chris thayer took the following excellent images using his 10″ LX200 amd meade DSI2Archimedes, Aristillus and Autolycus by Chris Thayer Eudoxus crater by Chris ThayerCopernicus Crater by Chris Thayer
April 24th, 2010 | Chris Thayer | Read More

Flights to sunny spots

Astronomers face a number of factors that can influence our view or image of the stars and planets even in a “clear” sky. Some of them are natural effects, like clouds or the light from a bright Moon. Moisture in the atmosphere can also play a big part and is the reason why the stars “twinkle”...
December 28th, 2009 | Observing | Read More

Copernicus Imaged by Chris Thayer

Copernicus, a prominent lunar impact crater situated in Oceanus Procellarum , is named after the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473 – 1543). It is over 90km in diameter and almost 4km deep. Its ‘rays’ spread up to 800Km across the surrounding mare.   This ‘young’ crater...
October 30th, 2009 | Chris Thayer | Read More

Pelican Nebula Imaged by Chris Thayer

The Pelican Nebula (also known as IC5070) is a large emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus.  It is separated from its larger neighbour, the North America Nebula, by a molecular cloud filled with dark dust.Pelican Nebula – click to enlarge  Imaged using an ED80 and DSI3mono. 9 x 5.5...
October 14th, 2009 | Chris Thayer | Read More

Swan Nebula (M17) Imaged by Chris Thayer

M17, the Swan Nebula (also designated NGC 6618) is an emission nebula (HII region) in the constellation of Sagittarius.  The radiation of a cluster of stars embedded in nebula is exciting the gass and causing the emission.  It is roughly 40 light years in diameter and is  over 5,000 ly away.  ...
September 23rd, 2009 | Chris Thayer | Read More

Elephant’s Trunk Nebula (IC1396) Imaged by Chris Thayer

 IC 1396 is an emission nebula in the constellation of Cephus. It is a mix of gas and dust clouds; the gas is energised by a bright, central star. This region spannsing over three degrees on the sky and yet is nearly 3,000 light-years away.  The winding Elephant’s Trunk nebula seen here is only...
August 28th, 2009 | Chris Thayer | Read More

M42 Imaged by Chris Thayer

The Orion Nebula, M42 (also designated NGC 1976) is a diffuse nebula (an HII region) situated south of Orion’s Belt and is one of the brightest nebulae, and is visible to the naked eye.   It is approximately1,344±20 light years away and is the closest region of massive star formation to...
August 24th, 2009 | Chris Thayer | Read More

Crescent Nebula Imaged by Chris Thayer

The Crescent Nebula (also designated NGC 6888 and Caldwell 27 on Patrick Moore’s Caldwell catalogue) is an emission nebula in the constellation of Cygnus. It was formed by fast stellar winds from the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136 (HD 192163) colliding with and energizing the slower moving wind (ejected by...
August 24th, 2009 | Chris Thayer | Read More