Author Archives: Derek

The Wild Duck Cluster (also known as Messier 11, or NGC 6705) is an open cluster of stars in the constellation Scutum (The Shield). Guides to the night skyDeep Sky Object: M11 (Wild Duck Cluster)Constellation: Scutum (The Shield)

Comets are icy frozen remnants of the Solar System’s formation that orbit our Sun ~ all comets are made of dust, rock, and ice, and can range in size from a few miles to tens of miles wide, and the … Continue reading →

By iphone to capture the planetary conjunctions of Jupiter and Venus.

IC 405 is a rippling cloud of gas emission and reflection nebula in the constellation Auriga. Guides to the night skyDeep Sky Object: IC 405 (Flaming Star Nebula)Constellation: Auriga (The Charioteer)

The Earthshine of the Moon appeared the twilight sky meanwhile the close conjunction of Venus and Saturn ~ all aligned.

This image was taken under rather difficult skies (Bortle 7) and bright moon.

The Fish Head Nebula is an area of new star formation with glowing gas and dust, in the constellation Cassiopeia. Guides to the night skyDeep Sky Object: IC 1795 (The Fish head Nebula)Constellation: Cassiopeia (The Queen)

IC 417 is located in the constellation Auriga and is near an open cluster, Messier 38. Guides to the night skyDeep Sky Object;IC417 (The Spider & Fly Nebula)Messier 38 (Open Cluster)Constellation;Auriga (The Charioteer)

In the early hours of Thursday 8th December 2022, the Moon moved in front of (Occulted) Mars – this rare event last occurred in 1952 and the next one to be seen from my location will not be for another 20 … Continue reading →

Designation of Messier 67 is a star cluster that has many of its stars spread out in space ~ if I did accurate autoguiding will be crucial to maintain crisp images of the cluster. Guides to the night skyDeep Sky … Continue reading →