View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Jeremy Likness in Newport, Oregon, captured the Jellyfish Nebula within the constellation Gemini on December 14, 2023. Jeremy wrote: “I attempted to picture the Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443) in 2021 however might by no means get greater than a faint glimpse of the ‘cap.’ In narrowband, it jumps proper out. That is from nearly 4 hours of information from one night time of imaging. The pink nebula at high (IC 444) is a part of the identical construction.” Thanks, Jeremy! See extra of December’s finest deep-sky images beneath.
Finest deep-sky images from our neighborhood
The EarthSky neighborhood has many gifted astrophotographers who seize gorgeous photos of the deep sky. So take pleasure in this gallery of a number of the finest deep-sky images we acquired in December 2023. Do you might have a few of your individual deep-sky photos to share? You possibly can submit them to us here. We like to see them!
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Harshwardhan Pathak of India used a big remote telescope in Australia to picture the Orion Nebula on December 19, 2023. Harshwardhan wrote: “Added extra mild to my earlier Orion Nebula … used hydrogen-alpha mild to get these reddish clouds. The nebula is just one,500 light-years away, making it the closest giant star-forming area to Earth and giving it a comparatively vibrant obvious magnitude of 4.” Spectacular seize. Thanks, Harshwardhan!
Rosette Nebula
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Tameem Altameemi within the Ras Al Khaimah Mountains, United Arab Emirates (UAE), captured the Rosette Nebula within the constellation Monoceros on December 16, 2023. Tameem wrote: “That is one among my finest deep sky photos; it took 3 days for me to finish, with nearly 12 hours of information. The Rosette Nebula, often known as NGC 2237, is a big emission nebula within the constellation Monoceros at a distance of about 5,200 light-years. It’s roughly 130 light-years in diameter, considerably bigger than the well-known Orion Nebula (M42), which is far nearer to Earth. It’s a area of intense star formation.” Thanks, Tameem!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Jeremy Likness in Newport, Oregon, captured the Rosette Nebula on December 12, 2023. Jeremy wrote: “Lurking within the space between Orion the Hunter and his dog lies a stellar nursery. A lot of it is just seen in X-ray. A faint define is seen in odd mild, however narrowband is what actually makes it pop. I produced this picture by combining the information from a broadband imaging session with information from narrowband filters that reveal hydrogen-alpha, oxygen III and sulfur II emissions. It reveals the superb element of the interstellar gasoline and molecules that feed the delivery of recent stars at its heart.” Superb work. Thanks, Jeremy!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Harshwardhan Pathak used a distant telescope in Australia to seize the Rosette Nebula on December 21, 2023. Harshwardhan wrote: “The Rosette Nebula is an HII region close to one finish of an enormous molecular cloud within the Monoceros area of the Milky Way Galaxy. The celebs of open cluster NGC 2244 had been fashioned from the nebula’s matter.” Thanks, Harshwardhan!
Deep-sky images of open clusters
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | David Hoskin in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, captured the star cluster Messier 44 within the constellation Cancer on December 9, 2023. David wrote: “The Beehive is an open star cluster within the constellation Most cancers. It consists of about 1,000 stars and is among the nearest open clusters to Earth.” Thanks, David!
The Pleiades star cluster
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Paul Wilson in Paso Robles, California, captured the Pleiades star cluster on December 1, 2023. Paul wrote: “The Pleiades cluster – M45 – positioned within the constellation Taurus. Roughly 444 light-years from Earth.” Thanks, Paul!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Catherine Hyde in Cambria, California, shared this picture of the Pleiades with us on December 12, 2023. Catherine wrote: “That is M45, the Pleiades. About 7 1/2 hours of total publicity time in 300-second photos. I took about 90 photos and stacked them. Some are from final night time, some from the night time earlier than, and a few had been a few weeks previous.” Thanks, Catherine!
The Christmas Tree star cluster and surrounding nebulae
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Karl Diefenderfer in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, captured this picture on December 22, 2023. Karl wrote: “Seasons greetings from 2,300 light-years away in NGC 2264, the Christmas Tree Cluster. Wishing all on the EarthSky neighborhood the very happiest of holidays!” Thanks, Karl!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Robert Pettengill in Austin, Texas, additionally captured the Christmas Tree Cluster and surrounding nebulae on December 5, 2023. Robert wrote: “The Christmas Tree Cluster and Cone Nebula are a deal with in autumn and winter skies as we put together for the brand new 12 months.” Thanks, Robert!
Deep-sky images of galaxies
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Martin Curran in Cheyenne, Wyoming, captured this view of a galaxy within the constellation Ursa Major on December 16, 2023. Martin wrote: “Messier 81 is a spiral galaxy in Ursa Main. It’s a very vibrant galaxy at 6.2 magnitude, and its core is definitely resolved with even a small telescope. M81 is a part of a a lot bigger group that features its most-often photographed associate, M82. The galaxies had a detailed interplay a number of million years in the past, leaving M82 fairly peculiar and making M81’s spiral sample much more distinctive.” Thanks, Martin!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Alaa El Bedewi in Egypt captured the Andromeda Galaxy on December 13, 2023. Alaa wrote: “The Andromeda Galaxy, our next-door neighbor, is a masterpiece in our sky. That is my third try imaging the galaxy … After decreasing the scale of my checking account and continued studying, I lastly have a picture of Andromeda worthy for sharing. These little pink gems you see are nebulae within the Andromeda Galaxy itself. I wish to think about the inhabitants of Andromeda having the identical passion as mine, imaging their very own set of nebulae and depleting their financial institution accounts, too.” Thanks, Alaa!
Backside line: Take pleasure in this gallery of deep-sky images for December 2023 from our EarthSky neighborhood. And when you’ve got an ideal picture to share, ship it in. We like to see them!
Armando is effectively often known as an astronomy educator, after 30+ years main in depth initiatives of public outreach and 10+ years educating in faculties. As one among solely a handful of Puerto Rican science communicators throughout Comet Halley’s final go to, he assumed a pioneering function beginning in 1985 when science was simply starting to enter the native mindset; over time his work introduced significant change to the tradition, inspiring folks to pursue pursuits in science and know-how. His affiliations embody Ana G. Méndez College–Cupey, the place in 2014 he spearheaded an 8-course extension program specializing in observational astronomy, the primary ever within the island.
