Author | Lightnews

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · 2d

An image of Comet Lemmon from last evening. It looks like the dust tail is curving away from the gas/ion tail.

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · 3d

We have a couple of comets gracing our skies right now. Here they are, C-2025 R6 Comet Lemmon, and C-2025 R2 Comet Swan which looks like a green snowball. #astrophotography

5 24

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · 4d

Here is an annotated version of M33 identifying 18 NGC/IC objects that are parts of the galaxy. In addition there are 24 galaxies in the background from the PGC. It’s always fun to see what else is lurking in the image! #astrophotography

6 17

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · 4d

Hi Folks - Here is one of my favorite targets, M33. It is part of our local group of galaxies about 4 million light years from the Milky Way. This is the longest integration time for me on the object, a little over 14 hours in total. #astrophotography

2 22

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · 23d

Catalina foothills just north of Tucson

1 1

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · 26d

Hi Folks - Sorry for the long absence. The monsoon season is behind us and while the moon is a bit pesky I wanted to share my first image of the fall season. NGC 7789, better known as Caroline’s Rose. Discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1783. A little over 3 hours of exposure time. #astrophotography

1 20

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Aug 17

I forgot to say everything is controlled by an ASI Air Pro controller.

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Aug 17

My kit is a Stellarvue SVX102, ASI2600MC Pro, ASÍ AM5N mount, ASI guide camera and electronic focuser.

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Aug 15

Monsoon clouds continue to intrude on my operations but here is another image from the little break I had a couple weeks ago. IC5146, better known as the Cocoon Nebula in the constellation Cygnus the swan. #astrophotography

1 47

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Aug 3

Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the image.

1

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Aug 3

This is the annotated version of the Draco Triplet. It provides labels for two additional NGC galaxies and more than 40 PGC galaxies. So the triplets are not alone. #astrophotography

1 1 19

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Aug 3

Here is another image from my monsoon break. The Draco Triplet, three galaxies, NGC5981, 5982, and 5985. Two spiral galaxies, one seen edge on, and an elliptical. They range from about 95 to 140 million light years away. #astrophotography

1 32

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Jul 28

I’ve had a lucky break in monsoon conditions. We had a blob of dry air move over us for a few days. It gave me an opportunity to get some new images. Here is NGC5529 that we see edge on. It’s 162 million light years away and is almost twice the size of the Milky Way. #astrophotography

1 17

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Jul 26

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

1

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Jul 26

Another cactus blossom. They are very large and intricate in structure and spectacularly beautiful. But also fleeting. They bloom at night and are withered by the sun by mid morning. So one has to be up early and catch them quickly!

1 8

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Jul 26

It’s monsoon season here in SE Arizona so it’s a challenge to get good data for more images. So here is something else to consider. The cactus are blooming!

7

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Jul 11

Today’s image is a two for, NGC7635 and M52. NGC7635 is the “Bubble Nebula” and M52 is an open star cluster. All of which is embedded in lots of dust and gas. A wonderful view all in all. #astrophotography

1 8 58

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Jul 7

Nice kit!

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Jul 6

Here is the annotated version of M102, showing two NGC galaxies and 77 PGC galaxies. #astrophotography

3 15

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Jul 6

A galaxy for today’s image, M102 in Draco. A lenticular galaxy we see edge on, about 48 million light years away. It is also known as the “Spindle Galaxy”. You can see the dust lane traversing the center of the galaxy. #astrophotography

16

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Jul 4

Nicely done! Sharp focus!!

1

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Jul 4

Really nice image!

1 1

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Jul 3

This was generated from 98 five-minute sub-frames for a total exposure time of a little over eight hours.

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Jul 3

Another image from my Flagstaff adventure. IC4604, a portion of the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex centered on the star itself. Lots of gas and dust up there! #astrophotography

2 6 54

AstroMikeAZ @kmikemcd.bsky.social · Jul 2

Thanks, glad you liked it.

1