Astrophotography Collection (#24)

Whirlpool Galaxy, 19th century
Whirlpool Galaxy. 19th-century astronomical observation of the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51a, NGC 5194) and its smaller companion galaxy (NGC 5195, M51b). North is at top

Pleiades open star cluster, 19th century
Pleiades open star cluster. 19th-century astronomical observation of the Pleiades open star cluster (M45) and its associated nebulosity. North is at top

Ring Nebula, 19th century
Ring Nebula. 19th-century astronomical observation of the planetary nebula now called the Ring Nebula (M57, NGC 6720). North is at top

Orion Nebula, 19th century
Orion Nebula. 19th-century astronomical observation of the Orion Nebula (M42, NGC 1976). North is at top. This active region of star formation is visible to the naked eye

Dumbbell Nebula, 19th century
Dumbbell Nebula. 19th-century astronomical observation of the Dumbbell Nebula (M27, NGC 6853). North is at top. This planetary nebula consists of an expanding shell of material ejected from a star

S Monocerotis star, 19th century
S Monocerotis star. 19th-century astronomical observation of the stars Monocerotis (15 Monocerotis). North is at top. The star is at centre

Open star cluster M46, 19th century
Open star cluster M46. 19th-century astronomical observation of the open star cluster M46 (NGC 2437). North is at top. Also visible near centre as a nebulosity around one of the stars is

Comet 2008 J1 (Boattini), May 2008
Comet 2008 J1 (Boattini). The comet can be seen as the slightly blurred white dot, just left of centre. Comets leave a trail of debris behind them, seen as a coma or tail

Constellation Puppis with halo effect
Part of the constellation Puppis (Poop, or Stern). Puppis was once part of the much larger Argo constellation, but this was thought too unwieldy and so was divided into three smaller constellations

Catania Carte du Ciel telescope, 1894
Catania Carte du Ciel telescope, 19th-century artwork. This photographic telescope was erected in 1892 at the Catania Observatory in Sicily, Italy

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Astrophotography takes us on a mesmerizing journey through the vastness of the universe, capturing breathtaking celestial wonders. From M16, The Eagle Nebula in Serpens, where towering pillars of gas and dust give birth to new stars, to The Orion Nebula, a stellar nursery ablaze with vibrant colors. In Yukon's Fish Lake, Canada, witness the ethereal dance between the Aurora borealis and Milky Way as they paint the night sky with their enchanting hues. Star trails intertwine with the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights reflected in tranquil waters—a captivating spectacle that leaves us in awe. NGC 3324, known as Gabriela Mistral Nebula nestled within its constellation home; IC 2177 unveils itself as the Seagull Nebula—both showcasing intricate patterns and cosmic beauty beyond imagination. Nature's canvas comes alive when blue and green auroras grace gum trees—an extraordinary fusion of Earth's terrestrial charm with celestial marvels. Andrew Ainslie Common, a British astronomer whose passion for astrophotography paved new paths into our understanding of space. Through Picture No. 11671874 and Picture No. 11671842, we glimpse fleeting moments frozen in time—each frame telling its own cosmic tale waiting to be unraveled by curious minds. And let us not forget NGC 4565—a magnificent edge-on barred spiral galaxy residing in Coma Berenices constellation; while NGC 457 beckons stargazers with its open star cluster nestled within Cassiopeia's embrace. Astrophotography invites us to explore realms beyond our reach—to immerse ourselves in wonderment beneath an endless expanse of twinkling stars, and is through these glimpses into distant galaxies that we find inspiration and appreciation for both our place among the cosmos and the boundless mysteries yet to be discovered.