Cocoon Nebula IC 5146

The cocoon nebula is a reflection/emission nebula in the constellation of Cygnus the Swan. It is about 2500 lightyears away and about 12′ in size. It hosts a stellar nursery where star-formation is ongoing with hundreds of very young stars forming from the hydrogen gas … Continue readingCocoon Nebula IC 5146

Cygnus and Lyra

Summer is coming! And with summer the summer the constellation of Cygnus the swan also known as the northern cross is becoming prominent on the sky embedded in the milky way our home galaxy. Cygnus was among the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century … Continue readingCygnus and Lyra

Moon

The Moon is an astronomical body orbiting Earth as its only natural satellite. It is the fifth-largest satellite in the Solar System, and by far the largest among planetary satellites relative to the size of the planet that it orbits (its primary). The Moon is … Continue readingMoon

Sunflower Galaxy M63

The Sunflower Galaxy Messier 63 also known as NGC 5055 is a spiral galaxy in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici. M63 was first discovered by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain, then later verified by his colleague Charles Messier on June 14, 1779. The galaxy became listed as object 63 in the Messier Catalogue. In the … Continue readingSunflower Galaxy M63

Messier 106

Messier 106 (also known as NGC 4258) is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. M106 is at a distance of about 22 to 25 million light-years away from Earth. M106 contains an active nucleus … Continue readingMessier 106