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Don Bouc Astrophotography
Distance: 2.5 million light years
Radius: 55,000 light years
What is it?: This galaxy is similar in size to our Milky Way. It is one of the closest galaxies to us. Two dwarf galaxies are orbiting it: M110 (center-upper left) and M32 (lower center).
We are on a collision course with this galaxy (we are moving towards each other at 68 miles/sec). We will “interact” in about 4.5 billion years. Keep your insurance paid.
Click the link below to "zoom into" this galaxy.
Radius: 55,000 light years
What is it?: This galaxy is similar in size to our Milky Way. It is one of the closest galaxies to us. Two dwarf galaxies are orbiting it: M110 (center-upper left) and M32 (lower center).
We are on a collision course with this galaxy (we are moving towards each other at 68 miles/sec). We will “interact” in about 4.5 billion years. Keep your insurance paid.
Click the link below to "zoom into" this galaxy.
Distance: 27.4 million light years
Radius: 60,000 light years
What is it?: This edge on spiral galaxy is one of thousands that are visable in the night sky with the right telescope. The dust lanes are clearly visable. Since it's edge on, astronmers cannot clearly identify its arms or determine if it is a barred galaxy.
Radius: 60,000 light years
What is it?: This edge on spiral galaxy is one of thousands that are visable in the night sky with the right telescope. The dust lanes are clearly visable. Since it's edge on, astronmers cannot clearly identify its arms or determine if it is a barred galaxy.
Distance: 40 million light years
Radius: 42,000 light years
What is it?: This spiral galaxy contains a lot of "heavy" elements left over from a lot of supernova explosions. The most recent was detected in 1999.
This galaxy is moving away from us at about 125,000 miles/hour.
Radius: 42,000 light years
What is it?: This spiral galaxy contains a lot of "heavy" elements left over from a lot of supernova explosions. The most recent was detected in 1999.
This galaxy is moving away from us at about 125,000 miles/hour.
Distance: M 77-47 million light years. NGC 1044-53 million light years
What is it?: This image is an example why astronomy and astrophotography are interesting. These two plainly visible galaxies look close together, but are 6 million light years apart. That is about 4 followed by 19 zeros miles apart!
What is it?: This image is an example why astronomy and astrophotography are interesting. These two plainly visible galaxies look close together, but are 6 million light years apart. That is about 4 followed by 19 zeros miles apart!
Distance: 130 million light years
Radius: 100,000 light years
What is it?: This galaxy is about twice as large as our Milky Way Galaxy. Its elongated shape is due to the number of smaller, satellite galaxies orbiting it. The largest of the dwarf galaxies is NGC 770. It is the slightly oval, smaller, fuzzy looking object to the lower right of this galaxy.
Radius: 100,000 light years
What is it?: This galaxy is about twice as large as our Milky Way Galaxy. Its elongated shape is due to the number of smaller, satellite galaxies orbiting it. The largest of the dwarf galaxies is NGC 770. It is the slightly oval, smaller, fuzzy looking object to the lower right of this galaxy.
Distance: 40 million light years
Radius: 20,000 light years
What is it?: This peculiar looking galaxy was formed when two galaxies collided a billion years ago. This collision caused a flurry of new star formations and the distorted dust rings visable today.
Radius: 20,000 light years
What is it?: This peculiar looking galaxy was formed when two galaxies collided a billion years ago. This collision caused a flurry of new star formations and the distorted dust rings visable today.
Distance: Galaxy-22.5 million light years Cluster-3,860 light years
What is it?: Of course, the reason for the dramatic difference in distances between these DSO's is that all the stars in this image (including the star cluster) are in our Milky Way, and the galaxy is MUCH further away.
It's important to remember that Edwin Hubble was the first to discover that galaxies were not just "nebula" in our galaxy, as was previously thought. Until his discoveries, we thought the Milky Way WAS the universe! AND THIS WAS ONLY ABOUT 100 YEARS AGO!
What is it?: Of course, the reason for the dramatic difference in distances between these DSO's is that all the stars in this image (including the star cluster) are in our Milky Way, and the galaxy is MUCH further away.
It's important to remember that Edwin Hubble was the first to discover that galaxies were not just "nebula" in our galaxy, as was previously thought. Until his discoveries, we thought the Milky Way WAS the universe! AND THIS WAS ONLY ABOUT 100 YEARS AGO!
Distance: 53.5 million light years
What is it?: This galaxy is strange in that it is composed of mostly small, dwarf stars.
What is it?: This galaxy is strange in that it is composed of mostly small, dwarf stars.
Distances: NGC 5566-65 million light years NGC 5560-77 million light years NGC 5569-82 million light years
What is it?: As with all images with multiple galaxies, while they look close together, they are incredibly far apart.
NGC 5560 is distorted due to interacting with other, usually smaller, galaxies.
What is it?: As with all images with multiple galaxies, while they look close together, they are incredibly far apart.
NGC 5560 is distorted due to interacting with other, usually smaller, galaxies.
Distance: 127 million light years
Radius: 65 million light years
What is it?: These two galaxies are clearly interacting with each other. It isn't clear whether they will ultimately collide, but they will certainly interact for at least the next tens of millions of years, creating new stars as a result.
Radius: 65 million light years
What is it?: These two galaxies are clearly interacting with each other. It isn't clear whether they will ultimately collide, but they will certainly interact for at least the next tens of millions of years, creating new stars as a result.
Distance: 42.7 million light years
Radius: 70,000 light years
What is it?: It is estimated that this galaxy contains about a trillion stars. Its center bulge is clearly visable. This is where its super-massive black hole is located.
Radius: 70,000 light years
What is it?: It is estimated that this galaxy contains about a trillion stars. Its center bulge is clearly visable. This is where its super-massive black hole is located.
Distances: NGC 4536-48.7 million light years NGC 4527-48.9 million light years
Radius: NGC 4536-53,000 light years NGC 4527-40,000 light years
What is it?: NGC 4536 may have had interactions with other galaxies since its spiral arms are so loosely wound around the center.
The smaller NGC 4533 is 103 million light years away.
Radius: NGC 4536-53,000 light years NGC 4527-40,000 light years
What is it?: NGC 4536 may have had interactions with other galaxies since its spiral arms are so loosely wound around the center.
The smaller NGC 4533 is 103 million light years away.
Distance: 25 million light years
Radius: 20,000 light years
What is it?: These two obviously interacting galaxies were both thought to be spiral galaxies at one time. Their collision has resulted in very active star creation, as usually happens in the case of interacting galaxies. These new stars are usually vary large, very hot, and create large supernovas as a result.
Radius: 20,000 light years
What is it?: These two obviously interacting galaxies were both thought to be spiral galaxies at one time. Their collision has resulted in very active star creation, as usually happens in the case of interacting galaxies. These new stars are usually vary large, very hot, and create large supernovas as a result.
Distance: 45 million light years
What is it?: Although labeled as one galaxy (NGC 4038), this image is obviously 2 interacting galaxies (4038 and 4039). As usual, very rapid star formation is the result.
About 1.2 billion years ago, these were two distinct galaxies. They will continue to interact untill they form one galaxy in several million more years.
What is it?: Although labeled as one galaxy (NGC 4038), this image is obviously 2 interacting galaxies (4038 and 4039). As usual, very rapid star formation is the result.
About 1.2 billion years ago, these were two distinct galaxies. They will continue to interact untill they form one galaxy in several million more years.
Distances: NGC 3718-48 million light years NGC 3729-66 million light years
What is it?: NGC 3718 is another good example of what a spiral galaxy looks like when interacting with another galaxy. The spiral arms get extended and distorted and the dust band gets twisted and turned.
What is it?: NGC 3718 is another good example of what a spiral galaxy looks like when interacting with another galaxy. The spiral arms get extended and distorted and the dust band gets twisted and turned.
Distance: 20.4 million light years
Radius: 40,000 light years
What is it?: This is a great example of barred spiral galaxy. It's hard to believe that it was first spotted in 1784 by a man named William Herschel. He was actually a composer, but fell in love with astronomy. He built his own telescope (!) in 1774! He actually discovered infrared radiation!
Radius: 40,000 light years
What is it?: This is a great example of barred spiral galaxy. It's hard to believe that it was first spotted in 1784 by a man named William Herschel. He was actually a composer, but fell in love with astronomy. He built his own telescope (!) in 1774! He actually discovered infrared radiation!
Distance: 31 million light years
What is it?: This galaxy, and its companion galaxy (NGC 5195) are very popular to image. Some astronomers think the reason the spiral arms are so prominent is the interaction between the 2 galaxies.
There have been 3 supernovas recorded in the last 17 years in this galaxy, a much higher than average number.
What is it?: This galaxy, and its companion galaxy (NGC 5195) are very popular to image. Some astronomers think the reason the spiral arms are so prominent is the interaction between the 2 galaxies.
There have been 3 supernovas recorded in the last 17 years in this galaxy, a much higher than average number.
Common Name: Markarian’s Chain
Distance: 54 million light years
Radius: 55,000 light years
What is it?: These galaxies form what is know as the Markarian’s Chain and include M84, M86, NGC 4477, NGC 4473, NGC 4461, NGC 4458, NGC 4438 and NGC 4435. All are about 50-100 million light years away.
Distance: 54 million light years
Radius: 55,000 light years
What is it?: These galaxies form what is know as the Markarian’s Chain and include M84, M86, NGC 4477, NGC 4473, NGC 4461, NGC 4458, NGC 4438 and NGC 4435. All are about 50-100 million light years away.
Distance: 12 million light years
Radius: 45,000 light years and 9,500 light years
What is it?: Bode’s Galaxy (upper center) contains about 250 billion stars! The supermassive black hole at its center is 15 times larger than the black hole at the center of our Milky Way. The cigar Galaxy is much smaller, but since an “interaction” with Bode’s Galaxy, it has begun to create stars at a very rapid rate.
This picture was an "eureka" moment for me since it was the first time I captured more than one DSO in a picture when I first started this hobby (obsession).
Radius: 45,000 light years and 9,500 light years
What is it?: Bode’s Galaxy (upper center) contains about 250 billion stars! The supermassive black hole at its center is 15 times larger than the black hole at the center of our Milky Way. The cigar Galaxy is much smaller, but since an “interaction” with Bode’s Galaxy, it has begun to create stars at a very rapid rate.
This picture was an "eureka" moment for me since it was the first time I captured more than one DSO in a picture when I first started this hobby (obsession).
Distance: 2.73 million light years
Radius: 30,000 light years
What is it?: This galaxy is "close" to the Andromeda Galaxy. It contains about 40 billion stars. For comparison, our Milky Way contains about 100 billion, but Triangulum is forming new stars about 10 times faster.
It's anticipated that Andromeda, Triangulum, and the Milky Way will collide in about 4-5 billion years...keep your insurance paid.
Radius: 30,000 light years
What is it?: This galaxy is "close" to the Andromeda Galaxy. It contains about 40 billion stars. For comparison, our Milky Way contains about 100 billion, but Triangulum is forming new stars about 10 times faster.
It's anticipated that Andromeda, Triangulum, and the Milky Way will collide in about 4-5 billion years...keep your insurance paid.
Distance: 14.7 million light years
Radius: 50,000 light years
What is it?: This galaxy is about 1/2 the size of our Milky Way and contains about 40 billion stars.
Be sure to check out the fly-by link below.
Radius: 50,000 light years
What is it?: This galaxy is about 1/2 the size of our Milky Way and contains about 40 billion stars.
Be sure to check out the fly-by link below.
Distance: 55 million light years
Radius: 56,000 light years
What is it?: This is a “grand design” spiral galaxy, meaning it has not been “interacted” with by another galaxy so it has a near perfect spiral shape. It is also a “starburst” galaxy, meaning it has been producing stars at a very high rate for the past 500 million years. It has about 400 billion stars.
Radius: 56,000 light years
What is it?: This is a “grand design” spiral galaxy, meaning it has not been “interacted” with by another galaxy so it has a near perfect spiral shape. It is also a “starburst” galaxy, meaning it has been producing stars at a very high rate for the past 500 million years. It has about 400 billion stars.
Distance: 10 million light years
Radius: 100,000 light years
What is it?: This galaxy is about the size of our Milky Way and contains about the same number of stars (100 billion).
One of the unique things about this galaxy is that in order to image it, you have to "look through" a great number of stars because it is close the center plane of our galaxy as we view it.
Radius: 100,000 light years
What is it?: This galaxy is about the size of our Milky Way and contains about the same number of stars (100 billion).
One of the unique things about this galaxy is that in order to image it, you have to "look through" a great number of stars because it is close the center plane of our galaxy as we view it.
Distance: 40-80 million light years
Radius: 25,000 to 60,000 light years
What is it?: I love pictures like this where there are many DSO’s in one frame. In this case, several galaxies of various sizes and types. Because they are so close (less than 70 million light years away), we can see them quite clearly.
Click the link below to "zoom into" Messier 87 (where the first picture of a black hole was taken).
Radius: 25,000 to 60,000 light years
What is it?: I love pictures like this where there are many DSO’s in one frame. In this case, several galaxies of various sizes and types. Because they are so close (less than 70 million light years away), we can see them quite clearly.
Click the link below to "zoom into" Messier 87 (where the first picture of a black hole was taken).
Distance: 1.1 billion light years
Radius: 1 million light years
What is it?: For such a boring-looking picture, this is one of the most fascinating. The arrow points to this galaxy. While it looks miniscule, that is because it is SO far away. By far, the furthest DSO I have photographed. It is actually the largest galaxy in the observable universe, or at least one of the largest. It contains about 100 TRILLION stars. For reference, our Milky Way contains only about 400 billion.
Radius: 1 million light years
What is it?: For such a boring-looking picture, this is one of the most fascinating. The arrow points to this galaxy. While it looks miniscule, that is because it is SO far away. By far, the furthest DSO I have photographed. It is actually the largest galaxy in the observable universe, or at least one of the largest. It contains about 100 TRILLION stars. For reference, our Milky Way contains only about 400 billion.
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