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Fleming’s Triangular Wisp (aka: Pickering’s Triangle)

This image is of the central part of a much larger supernova remnant from about 10,000 years ago. The whole remnant is called the Cygnus Loop or the East/West Veil complex. The remnant’s beautiful colors and lacey complexity is due to it being composed almost exclusively of glowing hydrogen ions (red) and glowing oxygen ions (blue/green). Located in the Cygnus constellation and approximately 2000 light years distant, it can just be seen using a small/medium telescope and is best viewed from midsummer through late fall.

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The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)

Credit: Chuck Wraith
The Whirlpool Galaxy is a perennial favorite for star gazers in the month of May.  It is an interacting grand design spiral galaxy and was first discovered by Charles Messier in 1773. 

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The Rotten Fish Nebula (LDN 1251)

The Rotten Fish Nebula (LDN 1251)

Credit: Chuck Wraith
Also sometimes called the “Angler Fish Nebula”, this is a dark nebula 1000 LYRs away in Cepheus. There are two tiny spiral galaxies that can just be seen…one by the mouth (PGC69472, 150 Million LYRs away) and one just above the tail (LEDA 166755, 300 Million LYRs away). Running from left to upward right just above the pectoral fin region are multiple small, bright areas of dust … these are stellar nurseries in the process of birthing new stars and planetary systems.  This nebula is very faint and extremely dark, not making its photographic appearance until stacked and stretched.

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The Dark Shark Nebula (LDN 1235)

The Dark Shark Nebula (LDN 1235) is part of a large dust cloud in the constellation Cepheus, approximately 650 light years away.  The entire nebula, of which this is only the “head”, spans 15 light years.

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