The Ring Nebula (M57)

Here is an image of the Ring Nebula (M57) a small planetary nebula in Lyra. When a star of average size dies, its core abruptly collapses while the outer layers are shed as an expanding shell of gases. This gas bubble can remain visible for centuries as a planetary nebula. The Ring Nebula, M57, is one of the finest examples.

Ring Nebula (M57)
May 25, 2014 - 5x120sec ISO800
EdgeHD-11 Prime Focus

A Comet and a Cluster - all in the same night

This Sunday evening and Monday morning offered some of the best sky conditions I've seen in the past weeks.  I wanted to capture comet PANSTARRS while it is brightening and high in the northern sky. On its way for a perihelion (closest to the sun) on August 27, and closest to earth on October 31, PANSTARRS is currently about magnitude 9.0 - well below naked-eye visibility, but might be viewed in a dark sky with good binoculars.

C/2012 K1 (PANSTARRS)
20 minutes, ISO 1600 EdgeHD-11

Early on Memorial Day I was able to capture the globular cluster, M22, in the constellation Sagittarius (see location graphic). Low in the southern sky, objects like M22 are hard to image in light polluted skies, and although conditions weren't the best, this 16 minute image does show the cluster fairly well.

M22 is just to the left of the teapot in Sagittarius

M22 - 16 minutes, ISO 800 EdgeHD-11

Update to Supernova 2014J

I've been spending some time checking out my new remote focuser and decided to image M82 to see how much the supernova has faded since March.  Here is the comparison graphic showing the fade out.

SN 2014J