Astronomy For Amateurs

The Ghost Nebula is a reflection nebula located in the constellation Cepheus. It spans 2 light years and is located only 2,000 light years away from Earth. 

NGC 6188 is an emission nebula that is located 4,000 light years away in the constellation Ara. Astronomers believe that it formed as a result from a supernova. The death of the star has allowed for new stars to for- some of which are only a couple million years old 

Our feeblest contemplations of the Cosmos stir us -- there is a tingling in the spine, a catch in the voice, a faint sensation, as if a distant memory, of falling from a height. We know we are approaching the greatest of mysteries.” - Carl Sagan

NGC 5128, otherwise known as Centaurus A, is a fairly large galaxy that is quite peculiar. Large galaxies usually are either elliptical or spiral; Centaurus A however, seems to be both at the same time. Radio imaging has revealed to us that under the veil of dust, it has hidden spiral arms. It is currently the only elliptical galaxy that we know of that also has spiral arms. Even better yet, it is the 5th brightest galaxy in the night sky, making it an ideal target for amateur astronomers so you can check this hidden gem out for yourself!

This falsely-colored picture of Pluto released by NASA highlights the subtle differences of color among the different regions of Pluto. The original photo was provided by New Horizons, the spacecraft that allowed us to finally see Pluto in all its glory for the first time. 

Believe it or not, this is the most detailed photo of Pluto we currently have provided by the spacecraft New Horizons. New Horizons is scheduled to have its closest encounter with Pluto on July 14th, where we will have even more breathtaking photos of this mysterious dwarf planet. Some say that theres a heart on Pluto, do you see it? 

NGC 474, an abnormal eliptical galaxy, has been baffling scientists ever since its discovery. The multiple layers or “shells” release massive amounts of energy yet astronomers have been unable to solve how they formed. Some theorize that NGC 474′s shells are a result of other smaller galaxies being absorbed while others theorize that the nearby galaxy (NGC 470) is causing density waves to ripple through the galactic giant. 

Star Formation in the Small Magellanic Cloud - NGC 602. The SMC, in the constellation Tucana, is roughly 200,000 light-years from the Earth. Its proximity to us makes it an exceptional laboratory to perform in-depth studies of star formation processes and their evolution in an environment slightly different from our own Milky Way. This image of a nebula in the SMC shows newly formed stars that are blowing a cavity in the center of a star-forming region in the Cloud.

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The Fairy of Eagle Eagle Nebula- ten light years tall and spewing radiation much hotter than common fire. The greater Eagle Nebula, M16, is actually a giant evaporating shell of gas and dust inside of which is a growing cavity filled with a spectacular stellar nursery currently forming an open cluster of stars.

Tonight will mark the first time since 2001 where there will be a full moon on Halloween! An event like this won't happen again until 2020. Make sure to look up at the moon tonight and enjoy your Halloween!

Thor's Helmet - NGC 2359 is an emission nebula that is in the constellation Canis Major. The nebula is approximately 15,000 light years away and 30 light years long. The central star is Wolf-Rayet star HD 56925, an extremely hot red giant thought to be in a brief, pre-supernova stage.

This spectacular photo really shows us just how beautiful our universe can truly be

The Heart Nebula, IC 1805, Sh2-190, lies some 7500 light years away from Earth and is located in the Perseus arm of the Galaxy in the constellation Cassiopeia.