CTB1

My most recent project is a target rarely photographed. Probably because of the low surface brightness

Supernova remnants represent the residual effects of massive stars which have reached the end of their life-cycle, including a massive stellar explosion as a grand finale, and which leave behind them spectacular gas clouds and stellar remnants) which cover vast areas in width across the sky. Regrettably, for residents of the northern hemisphere, only four supernova remnants (SNR) are visible

The Crab Nebula (M1) in Taurus,

the massive Veil complex (NGC 6960, 6974, 6979, 6992, 6995 and Simeis 188) in Cygnus,

the Jellyfish Nebula (IC 433) in Gemini and

Simeis 147 (aka Shajn 147, Sh 2-240) also in Taurus.

The most recognized supernova remnant is perhaps the Crab nebula in Taurus which is believed to have exploded in 1054 AD as documented by Chinese astronomers of the time whereas CTB 1 and Simeis 147 are especially dim and represent some of the faintest objects in the sky.

The extended galactic supernova remnant CTB 1 in Cassiopeia is one of the closest SNR's known lying at a distance of about 9,800 light-years away. Measuring approximately 35.2 arc-minutes in diameter and physically spanning 98 light-years across, this circular formation rich with filamentary structure lies immediately east of Caph (β-Cas, mag 2.26) and is characterized with dominant optical, x-ray and radio sources. CTB 1 was originally thought to be a large planetary nebula and was included by Abell in his catalog of planetary nebula (Abell 85) but it was suggested by van den Bergh in 1960 and comfirmed by Willis & Dickel in 1971 to be, in fact, not a planetary nebula but rather a galactic SNR.

Captured also here is a plethora of Open clusters.

Ngc7790 The widows web cluster

Ngc7788

Frovlov 1

Harvard 21

King12

Berk 58

 

 

67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko

5 years ago now I witnessed one the most incredible feats of engineering skill man has created thus far, not happy with just dropping into orbit around Comet 67P but sending a lander onto the surface too. With gravity at 1/10000 that of earth Philae didn't quite manage to stay put when the cold gas thrusters and harpoon failed to operate. So it bounced twice and settled, wedged into the side of a hill. 

Beautiful imagery was captured and returned by the Rosetta spacecraft detailing the shape and structure. Resembling a peanut shell (image above courtesy of Rosetta) this 2 lobed comet has tumbled through the solar system for billions of years. 

I have been keeping an eye of it's location each night in the hope of a capture worthy of posting. But in typical UK weather the clouds rolled in after less than ten minutes of imaging time against the lovely backdrop of Messier 35.  My intent was an RGB image through filters and using the comet stack in DSS to keep both stars are comet a pinpoint. However plans were scuppered after 7 minutes through the red filter.

Just had a look back at my comet images and this one will be my 16th Comet imaged to date.

In no particular order we have:

All of my previous comet images can be found in the previous pages of my blog.