Nebulae (M, IC and C prefix)
M27 The Dumbbell nebula
Recorded by Charles Messier in 1764, M27 was the first planetary nebula ever discovered. The term “planetary” refers to the nebulas’ planet like appearance but is in no way a planet. Known as the Dumbbell Nebula, M27 resides more than 1,200 light-years away in the constellation Vulpecula.
M1 The Crab nebula
Located 6,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus, M1, the Crab Nebula was discovered by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731 but later catalogued by Charles Messier
SR2 1-1 The Tulip nebula
​
M42 The Orion nebula
The Orion Nebula, not surprisingly, is in the Orion constellation. The nebula is the closest large star forming region being only 1500 light years from earth. It can be spotted with the naked eye just below the line of stars known as ‘Orions Belt’.
IC 405 The Flaming Star Nebula
IC 405 known as the Flaming Star Nebula or Caldwell 31 is an emission and reflection nebula in the constellation of Auriga. It is located some 1500 light years from earth
C9 The Cave nebula
C9 (Caldwell 9) The Cave Nebula is a diffuse emission nebula within a larger nebula complex that includes a reflection nebula, and dark nebula. It is located in the constellation Cepheus and lies roughly 2400 light-years from Earth.
IC 1396 The Elephants Trunk Nebula
The Elephants Trunk was one of my earliest efforts at imaging nebulae. Lying 2400 light years away from earth in Cepheus and made up of gas and dust.
IC 1396 The Elephants Trunk Nebula
A closer look
IC 410 The Tadpoles Nebula
The Tadpole Nebula is located 12,000 lightyears from Earth in the Auriga. Named the Tadpole Nebula because of the clouds of dust shaped like tadpoles which I hope you can make out in this image.
IC 5070 The Pelican Nebula
The Pelican Nebula is located in the constellation of Cygnus Appearing to take on the outline of a pelican it is 1800 light years from earth nestling close to the North American Nebula NGC 7000.
IC 1805 The Heart Nebula
The Heart Nebula is some 7500 light years from Earth. Located in the constellation Cassiopeia this heart shaped emission nebula was discovered by William Herschel 1787
IC 1848 The Soul Nebula
The Soul Nebula is an open cluster of stars, dust and gas surrounded by a cloud of dust and gas located c. 6500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cassiopeia near the Heart Nebula
IC 434 The Horse Head Nebula
IC 434 is an emission nebula in the constellation Orion. Called the Horse Head Nebula because of the dark silhouette in the shape of a horses head. As with Orion it has always been a difficult capture for me due to its’ compass position from my back garden
​
M97 The Owl Nebula
Messier 97 (NGC 3587) known as the Owl Nebula is a planetary nebula located in Ursa Major constellation. It is c. 2000 lightyears away and gets its’ name as it resembles the face of an Owl.