Category: KPO Digital Images

This is a wide field image of Messier 108:  The Surfboard Galaxy, and Messier 97: The Owl Nebula, both to the lower right of the bright star Merak in the constellation of Ursa Major. Messier 108 (also known as NGC 3556) is a barred spiral galaxy, and Messier 97 (also known as NGC 3587) is an 8,000 year old Read More …

This is Messier 97, better known as the Owl Nebula in Ursa Major. This objects is a planetary nebula located approximately 2,030 light years from Earth. When William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, observed the nebula through his Leviathan telescope in 1848, his hand-drawn illustration resembled an owl’s head. It has been known as the Owl Nebula ever since. The nebula is Read More …

Here is a target that I have wanted to capture for a long time: IC 2118, better known as the Witch Head Nebula in the constellation of Eridanus, found just to the lower right of Orion. In the image above, the bright star is actually RIgil, or Alpha Orionis, so the constellation border is just Read More …

Comet 46P / Wirtanen has been an exciting comet this year, making the holiday season a little brighter for amateur astronomers. I was able to finally image this comet on December 11th, and produced a very interesting timelapse movie, showing its rapid progress against the stars. The combination of all the frames of this data Read More …

  M33, The Triangulum Galaxy is a spiral galaxy approximately 3 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Triangulum. It is one of the most distant objects that can be viewed with the naked eye. Click on the image for a larger version.  Image Info Canon 60D at the prime focus of the KPO 18″ Read More …