M22

mksp-admin2022, After Dark, All, Messiers, NGC

Taken by Murray Paulson and winner of the Award for Prime Focus at 2022 MKSP. “Here is my shot of M22. This was taken on Sunday night (aug 21) with my Williams Optics GT71 f5.9 plus a 1:1 field flattener. …

Owl Cluster and it’s Environs

mksp-adminAfter Dark, All, NGC, Open Cluster

NGC 457 (also designated Caldwell 13, and known as the Dragonfly Cluster, E.T. Cluster, Owl Cluster, Kachina Doll Cluster or Phi Cassiopeiae Cluster) is an open star cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia.

Dumbell Nebula

mksp-adminAfter Dark, All, Messiers, NGC, Planetary Nebula

The Dumbbell Nebula (also known as the Apple Core Nebula, Messier 27, and NGC 6853) is a planetary nebula (nebulosity surrounding a white dwarf) in the constellation Vulpecula, at a distance of about 1360 light-years. It was the first such …

NGC 253 – Sculptor Galaxy

mksp-adminAfter Dark, All, Galaxy, NGC

The Sculptor Galaxy (also known as the Silver Coin, Silver Dollar Galaxy, NGC 253, or Caldwell 65) is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Sculptor. The Sculptor Galaxy is a starburst galaxy, which means that it is currently undergoing …

The Pleiades – M45

mksp-adminAfter Dark, All, Messiers, NGC, Open Cluster

The Pleiades, also known as The Seven Sisters, Messier 45 and other names by different cultures, is an asterism and an open star cluster containing middle-aged, hot B-type stars in the north-west of the constellation Taurus. At a distance of …

M33 in Triangulum

mksp-adminAfter Dark, All, Galaxy, Messiers, NGC

The Triangulum Galaxy is a spiral galaxy 2.73 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Triangulum. It is catalogued as Messier 33 or NGC 598. The Triangulum Galaxy is the third-largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, behind the …

Helix Nebula

mksp-adminAfter Dark, All, NGC, Planetary Nebula

The Helix Nebula (also known as NGC 7293 or Caldwell 63) is a planetary nebula (PN) located in the constellation Aquarius. Discovered by Karl Ludwig Harding, probably before 1824, this object is one of the closest to the Earth of all the bright planetary nebulae. The distance, measured by …

M-101

mksp-adminAfter Dark, All, Galaxy, Messiers, NGC

M101 is a lovely Galaxy which can be see off the tail of the Big Dipper in the North West at the time of the Star Party.  The darkness of the skies allow it to be easily located for viewing …