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Oskar Contreras
@tg8arc.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
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Last image for the morning. Here is the Dwarf Mini’s image of #M51 #thewhirlpoolgalaxy / #ngc5195 #galaxy. #dwarflabs #dwarfmini #space #astronomy #amateur
M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy / NGC 5195 Galaxy - telescope processed image. M51 was the first galaxy categorized as spiral; its iconic shape is maintained by a gravitational tug-of-war with its smaller neighbor, NGC 5195. M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy / NGC 5195 Galaxy - unprocessed image. This dwarf galaxy is currently passing behind the Whirlpool Galaxy, its gravity triggering the intense star formation seen in M51's arms.
February 9, 2026 at 8:14 PM
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Here is #ngc4565 #theneedlegalaxy. #seestar #s50 #space #astronomy #amateur
NGC 4565 The Needle Galaxy - telescope processed image. NGC 4565 is one of the most famous examples of an edge-on spiral galaxy, appearing as a thin, sharp streak of light in the sky. NGC 4565 The Needle Galaxy - unprocessed image. Unlike many spirals, it has a unique boxy or peanut-shaped central bulge, which suggests it possesses a massive inner stellar bar.
February 9, 2026 at 8:09 PM
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Next up on this morning observations is #M64 #theblackeyegalaxy. #seestar #s50 #space #astronomy #amateur
M64 The Black Eye Galaxy - telescope processed image. It features a massive, dark band of crushing dust in front of its bright core, giving it a "Black Eye" or "Evil Eye" appearance. M64 The Black Eye Galaxy - unprocessed image. The gas in its outer regions rotates in the opposite direction of the stars and gas in its inner regions, likely due to a past merger.
February 9, 2026 at 6:18 PM
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Next for the Dwarf Mini’s is #ic443 #thejellyfishnebula. To the right is the #star #propus and to the left you can make out the star #mugeminorum. #dwarflabs #dwarfmini #space #astronomy #amateur
IC 443 The Jellyfish Nebula - telescope processed image. This "jellyfish" is actually the glowing debris of a massive star that exploded roughly 3,000 to 30,000 years ago. IC 443 The Jellyfish Nebula - unprocessed image. At its core lies a rapidly spinning neutron star, or pulsar, which was kicked away from the center of the original explosion.
February 9, 2026 at 12:19 PM
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Now it is the Dwarf Mini’s time to image #NGC2174 #themonkeyheadnebula. #dwarflabs #dwarfmini #space #astronomy #amateur
NGC 2174 The Monkey Head Nebula - telescope processed image. While it looks like a faint cloud to the eye, infrared telescopes reveal a chaotic landscape of pillars and gas sculpted by hot young stars. NGC 2174 The Monkey Head Nebula - unprocessed image. Located near the "head" of Orion, this nebula is a massive H II region—a giant cloud of ionized gas where new star systems are actively forming.
February 9, 2026 at 12:11 PM
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Another re-imagining of (left to right) #m106 / #ngc4248 #galaxies. #seestar #s50 #space #astronomy #amateur
M106 / NGC 4248 Galaxies - telescope processed image. M106 is a "Seyfert galaxy" featuring an extra pair of glowing arms made of hot gas, likely created by a supermassive black hole's intense gravitational play. M106 / NGC 4248 Galaxies - unprocessed image. NGC 4248 is a "companion" galaxy to the larger M106; it is a small, irregular star-forming galaxy that appears as a fuzzy smudge nearby in deep-space photographs.
February 9, 2026 at 12:07 PM
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Next is #m37 #thesaltandpeppercluster. #seestar #s50 #space #astronomy #amateur
M37 The Salt and Pepper Cluster - telescope processed image. Its nickname comes from the appearance of its stars: a dense dusting of "salt" sprinkled across the dark "pepper" of space. M37 The Salt and Pepper Cluster - unprocessed image. It is the brightest and richest open cluster in Auriga, packed with over 500 stars, including about a dozen red giants.
February 9, 2026 at 11:49 AM
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Good Monday morning. Sharing results from last night. Here is a reimage of (from top to bottom) #ngc2071 / #ngc2067 / #M78 / #ngc2064 #nebulae #seestar #s50 #space #astronomy #amateur
NGC 2071 / NGC 2067 / M78 / NGC 2064 Nebulae - telescope processed image. M78 is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula in the sky, easily spotted in the constellation Orion. NGC 2071 / NGC 2067 / M78 / NGC 2064 Nebulae - unprocessed image. It contains a cluster of newborn stars and several "Herbig-Haro" objects, which are jets of gas ejected by stars during formation.
February 9, 2026 at 11:46 AM
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Good Sunday evening. Set up the s50 and Dwarf Mini telescopes, but condition might deteriorate later tonight. In the meantime here is #caph #star. #dwarflabs #dwarfmini #space #astronomy #amateur
Star Caph - telescope processed image. Caph is a F-type giant star that has evolved off the main sequence. It’s about 28 times brighter than our Sun. Star Caph - unprocessed image. Located in Cassiopeia, it’s one of the "Three Guides" used to find the Prime Meridian of the sky (0h Right Ascension).
February 9, 2026 at 3:37 AM
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Last image of the morning from all 3 telescopes - #NGC7023 #theirisnebula. #unistellar #odysseypro #space #astronomy #amateur #seestar #s50 #dwarflabs #dwarfmini
NGC 7023 The Iris Nebula - telescope processed image by the Odyssey Pro. Unlike many red nebulae, the Iris is a reflection nebula. It glows a brilliant blue because fine dust particles scatter the light from a nearby massive star. NGC 7023 The Iris Nebula - telescope processed image by the Dwarf Mini. The "petals" of the Iris span about six light-years across. These intricate folds are actually vast clouds of gas and dust being sculpted by intense stellar winds. NGC 7023 The Iris Nebula - telescope processed image by the s50. Scientists have found polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) here—complex, carbon-based molecules that are essentially the "soot" of the universe.
February 9, 2026 at 12:52 AM
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The Odyssey Pro is getting into the comparisons as well. Here is the #moon. #unistellar #odysseypro #space #astronomy #amateur #seestar #s50 #dwarflabs #dwarfmini
The moon as seen by the Odyssey. Ancient Egypt: The moon was linked to Thoth, the god of wisdom and magic. He was believed to be the "night sun," watching over the earth when the actual sun set. The moon as seen by the s50. A bit of pink hue due to the Moon and Sky Light Filter. Mayan Civilization: The Maya viewed the moon as a powerful goddess named Ix Chel. She represented fertility and medicine, governing everything from childbirth to tides. The moon as seen by the Dwarf Mini. Ancient Greece: They personified the moon as Selene, a titan who drove a silver chariot across the sky each night to pull the moon along its celestial path.
February 8, 2026 at 11:51 PM
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Next up - #m96 #Galaxy. In the image for the Dwarf Mini’s is special guest #m95 #galaxy. #seestar #s50 #space #astronomy #amateur #dwarflabs #dwarfmini
M96 Galaxy - telescope processed image by the s50. M96 is a "double-ringed" spiral galaxy. It features a bright inner ring of stars and a faint, sprawling outer ring made of gas and ancient starlight. M96 Galaxy - telescope processed image by the Dwarf Mini. Its shape is noticeably lopsided. This asymmetry likely comes from the gravitational "tug-of-war" with its nearby galactic neighbors in the Leo I Group. M96 Galaxy - unprocessed image as seen by the s50. At its center sits a supermassive black hole. Scientists estimate its mass is roughly 4.8 x 10^7 times that of our Sun—a truly cosmic heavyweight. M96 Galaxy - unprocessed image as seen by the Dwarf Mini. Located about 35 million light-years away, M96 is the largest and brightest member of its group, outshining galaxies like M95 and M105.
February 8, 2026 at 11:43 PM
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The s50 default image orientation is portrait, while the Dwarf Mini is landscape. The s50 is a 2 inch lense while the Dwarf Mini’s is a 1”. The Dwarf Mini has a wider field of view than the s50.

There are 17 galaxies in this area. Here is what each telescope […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
M60 Galaxy area - processed image as seen by the Dwarf mini. M60 is a massive elliptical galaxy in the Virgo Cluster. It is famous for hosting one of the largest known black holes, with a mass approximately 4.5 billion times that of our Sun. M60 Galaxy area - processed image as seen by the s50. NGC 4647 This spiral galaxy is currently interacting with M60. While they appear to overlap, tidal forces are only just beginning to distort their structures as they commence a multi-million-year merger. M60 Galaxy area - unprocessed image as seen by the s50. The Virgo constellation is a "cosmic downtown" home to over 2,000 galaxies. M60 Galaxy area - unprocessed image as seen by the Dwarf Mini. The Virgo Cluster is so massive (1.2 quadrillion solar masses) that its gravity pulls our own Milky Way toward it. This phenomenon is known to astronomers as the "Virgocentric flow."
February 8, 2026 at 9:52 PM
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Next comparison - #m95 #galaxy. In the Dwarf Mini’s image #m96 makes a guess appearance to the left of M95. #seestar #s50 #space #astronomy #amateur #dwarflabs #dwarfmini
M95 Galaxy - telescope processed image by the s50. M95 is a stunning barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Leo. Its central bar is surrounded by tight, circular arms filled with star growth. M95 Galaxy - processed image by the Dwarf Mini. It’s a key member of the Leo I Group, a collection of galaxies that includes M96 and M105, all located about 33 million light-years away. M95 Galaxy - unprocessed image by the s50. It’s a key member of the Leo I Group, a collection of galaxies that includes M96 and M105, all located about 33 million light-years away. M95 Galaxy - unprocessed image by the Dwarf Mini. The galaxy features a prominent circumnuclear ring of star formation around its core, where gas is compressed to ignite bursts of new stars.
February 8, 2026 at 4:02 PM
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Comparison time!!! Comparing images between the s50 and Dwarf mini. Taking the images with both telescopes working at the same time. Starting with #ngc1579 #thenortherntrifidnebula. S50 images 1st and 3rd while Dwarf Mini are the 2nd and 4th. #seestar #s50 […]

[Original post on mastodon.social]
NGC 1579 The Northern Trifid Nebula - telescope processed image by the s50. It’s nicknamed the Northern Trifid because its dark dust lanes mimic the famous Trifid Nebula (M20), though it sits much further north in Perseus. NGC 1579 The Northern Trifid Nebula - telescope processed image by the Dwarf Mini. Unlike many nebulae that glow on their own, NGC 1579 is a reflection nebula. It shines by reflecting the light of young stars off nearby dust. NGC 1579 The Northern Trifid Nebula - unprocessed image by the s50. Inside the nebula lies McNeil's Nebula and young, massive stars (Herbig Ae/Be stars) that are still growing by pulling in surrounding gas. NGC 1579 The Northern Trifid Nebula - unprocessed image by the Dwarf Mini. While it looks red like an emission nebula, the color actually comes from extinction: thick dust scatters blue light, leaving only the red behind.
February 8, 2026 at 3:40 PM
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Good Sunday afternoon. Have many images to share from last night. Starting out with the long exposure of #m45 - #thepleiades from the Dwarf Mini. #dwarflabs #dwarfmini #space #astronomy #amateur
M45 - The Pleiades - telescope processed image. While famous for the Seven Sisters, M45 is actually a massive nursery of over 1,000 stars. Most are too dim for the naked eye, but they all formed from the same cloud of gas. M45 - The Pleiades - unprocessed image. The cluster is moving together through the galaxy like a flock of birds! They travel at roughly 40 km/s, but in 250 million years, they will drift apart and go their separate ways.
February 8, 2026 at 3:32 PM
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Happy Birthday @andres.science . Sending best wishes from my mastodon account. Have fun and enjoy good times with friends.
February 7, 2026 at 11:25 PM
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Last image of the morning for the s50. A view of #ngc #5033galaxy. #seestar #s50 #space #astronomy #amateur
NGC 5033 Galaxy - telescope processed image. Its supermassive black hole is actually offset from the center of the galaxy, likely the messy leftover of a long-ago galactic merger. NGC 5033 Galaxy - unprocessed image. It’s nicknamed the "Octopus" because its spiral arms are thin, warped, and sprawling, looking like tangled tentacles floating in deep space.
February 7, 2026 at 4:31 PM
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Also ruminated #m65 / #m66 / #ngc3628 #galaxies - #leotriplett. #seestar #s50 #space #astronomy #amateur
M65 / M66 / NGC 3628 Galaxies - Leo Triplett - telescope processed image. Gravity has warped all three galaxies; M66 has asymmetric arms and an off-center core, while NGC 3628 sports a massive, 300,000 light-year-long tidal tail. M65 / M66 / NGC 3628 Galaxies - Leo Triplett - unprocessed image. NGC 3628 is nicknamed the "Hamburger" because its edge-on view and thick central dust lane resemble a cosmic patty sandwiched between two buns of stars.
February 7, 2026 at 4:10 PM
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Went to reimage #m82 #thecigargalaxy. Had a guess appearance by #m81 #BodesGalaxy. #seestar #s50 #space #astronomy #amateur
M82 The Cigar Galaxy - telescope processed image. M82 is a "starburst" galaxy, forming stars 10 times faster than the Milky Way due to a close gravitational brush with its neighbor, M81. M82 The Cigar Galaxy - unprocessed image. Intense star formation creates a "superwind" that blasts glowing hydrogen gas thousands of light-years out from its center.
February 7, 2026 at 4:04 PM
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Next us is #c48 / #ngc2775 #galaxy. #seestar #s50 #space #astronomy #amateur
C48 / NGC 2775 Galaxy - telescope processed image. Unlike galaxies with long arms, it has a "fluffy" appearance made of countless tiny spiral segments overlapping each other. C48 / NGC 2775 Galaxy - unprocessed image. Its core is a massive, smooth bulge of old stars that is almost completely devoid of gas, dust, or any new star formation.
February 7, 2026 at 3:58 PM
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Now time to share the images from the s50. Starting out with #c23 / #ngc0891 #thesilverslivergalaxy. #seestar #s50 #space #astronomy #amateur
C23 / NGC 0891 The Silver Sliver Galaxy - telescope processed image. We see this galaxy exactly from the side, revealing a thick, dark dust lane that splits its glowing disk perfectly in half. C23 / NGC 0891 The Silver Sliver Galaxy - unprocessed image. Astronomers consider it a "near-twin" to the Milky Way; seeing NGC 891 is like looking at our own galaxy from the outside.
February 7, 2026 at 3:51 PM
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Last image for the Odyssey Pro for this morning. Here is #ngc5033 #galaxy. #unistellar #odysseypro #space #astronomy #amateur
NGC 5033 Galaxy - telescope processed image. Its supermassive black hole is strangely displaced from the galaxy's kinematic center, likely the result of a past merger with another galaxy. NGC 5033 Galaxy - unprocessed image. It is often nicknamed the "Octopus" because its sprawling, warped spiral arms look like long, tangled tentacles stretching into space.
February 7, 2026 at 3:44 PM
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Next up is #ngc5728 #galaxy. #unistellar #odysseypro #space #astronomy #amateur
NGC 5728 Galaxy - telescope processed image. NGC 5728 is a Seyfert 2 galaxy, meaning its core is incredibly energetic but the galaxy itself remains clearly visible, unlike brighter quasars. NGC 5728 Galaxy - unprocessed image. Its supermassive black hole is hidden by a dust "donut," forcing ultraviolet light out of the ends into two massive ionization cones.
February 7, 2026 at 3:31 PM
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Last in the trio of #star clusters for this morning, here is #m107 #cluster. #unistellar #odysseypro #space #astronomy #amateur
M107 Cluster - telescope processed image. Unlike most globulars, M107 is very "loose," with large gaps between stars that make its dark dust lanes visible near the core. M107 Cluster - unprocessed image. It was the last globular cluster added to the Messier catalog (in 1947), though Pierre Méchain originally found it in 1782.
February 7, 2026 at 3:27 PM