One of the drop-dead gorgeous objects in the southern skies is the Great Carina Nebula, NGC 3372, of course. Imaged here in narrowband SHO colors with added RGB stars, using the new IAS remote telescope “Dieter”.
More details at Astrobin.
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With #3 recently discovered in the analysis during preparation of Gaia DR4 data, there are now 3 black holes in the Gaia catalog. Or more precise, 3 binary systems consisting of a companion star and a likely stellar-mass black hole.
So I took the opportunity to capture the corresponding starfields with the new IAS remote telescope “Dieter” at Hakos, Namibia. The images only show the companion stars, of course. ;-)
Regarding the BH3 image, at first I wasn’t sure whether I found the right object, as the catalog gives the coordinates RA=19h39m18.7115472s, DEC=+14d55m54.010992s and the read-out in Pixinsight showed ICRS RA=19h39m18.68s, DEC=+14d55m50.3s. But thanks to the discussion with Ulrich Bastian I found out that it is necessary to take into account the large proper motion of the object, which results in almost 4″ deviation in declination. Calculating the current position for 2024.5 with Astropy yields RA=19h39m18.66368537s DEC=+14d55m50.2085012s.
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Almost exactly 10 years ago, I photographed the magnificient Pavo Galaxy with the IAS 20 inch AK3, my first object with such a “big scope”. Here’s the result of June 2024, with much more exposure time on the very same telescope. I originally planned to use my QHY268M with the AK3, but this camera is now used at the new IAS remote telescope. So back to the roots with a ASI294MC Pro one-shot-color camera.
Image of the Day 2024-07-07 at Astrobin!
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The first light of the new IAS remote telescope at Hakos, Namibia. NGC 5139 aka Omega Centauri, the most massive known globular cluster in the Milky Way.
More details at Astrobin.
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“Second” light of the new IAS remote telescope at Hakos, Namibia, featuring IC 4628, the Prawn Nebula in Scorpius. (Actually taken while on-site in June. ;-)
Details at Astrobin.
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Star trail over the Terlingua Ranch Lodge. This image is a composite of the foreground landscape at dusk and 2 hours of starry night after the Moon set in the wee hours.
You don’t get this often: colorful aurora at 51° latitude, north-east of Cologne, Germany. A strong solar storm is currently impacting Earth.
Das sieht man auch nicht alle Tage: Polarlichter in allen Farben über den ganzen Himmel bei heimischer 51° Breite, nordöstlich von Köln. Ein massiver Sonnensturm trifft gerade auf die Erde.
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Another astro image with data from the IAS remote telescope, Barnard 35, a dark nebula in Orion. Nothern hemisphere form southern skies, or the other way round? ;-)
More details at Astrobin.
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Another CG in Puppis, also called “God’s Hand” trying to snatch PGC21338, but for me it looks more like a sandworm.
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New data from the IAS remote telescope, comprising 2 panels for this mosaic. Somewhat uncharted territory in Puppis, at least regarding the NGC and IC catalogs, with several cometary globules in the outskirts of the very large Gum Nebula.
More scientific details about the objects can be found in this older publication by ESO, see page 71, section 2.1.4 CG30/31 and HH12.
Details at Astrobin.
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