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The Splinter Galaxy in Draco (NGC 5907) - Annotated

I Captured a Beautiful Galaxy and a Bright Supernova

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I captured a beautiful galaxy and a bright supernova

2 Minutes
Some 46 million years ago a massive star in the Splinter Galaxy (NGC 5907), in Draco constellation, reached the end of its life in a spectacular Type II Supernova explosion.
 
I was at the CAO Spring Work Party during the first weekend of May 2026. The schedule was packed and weather conditions were brutal, with freezing temperatures and even snow during the day. But by the afternoon, the sky cleared completely and was just too tempting to ignore.
 
Undeterred by the cold, along with another RASC volunteer, we set up the 8″ RC with a ZWO ASI1600MM and captured LRGB data on this beautiful galaxy.
 
With just over 30 minutes of total integration, the galaxy’s dust lanes came through nicely and the bright supernova, SN 2026kid, is clearly visible in the frame.
 
If you look carefully at the image, you can also spot a small companion: PGC 54419. This dwarf galaxy is estimated to be only about 120,000 light‑years away from NGC 5907’s center, and its radial velocity is very similar to that of the Splinter Galaxy, indicating that the two galaxies are gravitationally bound.
 
Bonus track: a few days ago an amateur astrophotographer (Outten Astrophotography on YouTube) managed to capture the entire sequence of this event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfWNanBaMwk.
The Splinter Galaxy in Draco (NGC 5907)The Splinter Galaxy in Draco (NGC 5907) - Annotated
Cover_2024_02

2024 Astronomical Retrospective

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2024 Astronomical Retrospective

Less than 1 minute Minutes

2024 was an exciting yet challenging year for my astronomical journey. Despite significant obstacles like persistent bad weather and clouds, pervasive fire smoke, poor atmospheric transparency, and the demands of a busy life, I managed to capture some remarkable celestial moments. Below are some of the highlights:

  • Observed the Sun through a hydrogen alpha telescope
  • Imaged the Moon
  • Captured gas and ice giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune)
  • Experienced a total solar eclipse (despite weather)
  • Observed and captured a partial lunar eclipse
  • Explored deep sky objects: galaxies, Pleiades, and narrowband targets
  • Attended Starfest for the first time
  • Visited E.C. Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO)
  • Observed and imaged a bright comet
  • Witnessed 2 unbelievable Northern Lights events

Solar Imaging

I pulled the trigger and delved into solar observation with a hydrogen alpha telescope. This allowed me to witness dynamic solar features at its maximum such as prominences, filaments, and solar flares in stunning detail.

Planetary Imaging

My lunar and planetary imaging efforts were mixed. While I successfully captured images of the Moon, the year wasn’t particularly favorable for planetary imaging. Nevertheless, I managed to spend some time imaging both gas giants (Jupiter and Saturn) and ice giants (Uranus and Neptune), adding once again these distant worlds to my collection.

The Great North American Eclipse

A highlight of my year was experiencing the darkness of a total solar eclipse, even though clouds prevented me from directly observing the event itself. I also successfully observed and captured a partial lunar eclipse.

Deep Sky Imaging

My deep sky imaging journey in 2024 was more rewarding. I explored multiple fascinating targets, including:

  • Galaxies: Making my first serious attempts at imaging the iconic Andromeda Galaxy and the Triangulum Galaxy
  • I captured the Pleiades with my 135mm Rokinon lens. I was able to enhance the color of the hot and blue stars surrounded by delicate reflection nebulae, despite the light pollution.
  • My narrowband imaging journey was productive: I images the Dumbbell Nebula, the California Nebula, the Elephant’s Trunk, and the delicate structures of the Veil Nebula, to name a few.
  • A special achievement: my image of the Rosette Nebula was published on the back outside cover of the RASC Journal!

Starfest 2024 and the CAO

This year I finally attended Starfest for the very first time. This renowned star party provided me with opportunities to learn from experts, share experiences with fellow enthusiasts, and observe under dark skies.
I also continued my tradition of visiting the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s E.C. Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO) multiple times this year, enjoying its dark skies nestled between the Blue Mountains and Beaver Valley.

A bright comet and unforgettable Northern Lights

2024 concluded with two spectacular cosmic events: a dazzling comet in the night sky and a major solar storm that ignited an unforgettable Northern Lights display, transforming my astronomical year into a breathtaking celestial finale.

Get ready for another orbit around the Sun and, as always, remember to keep looking up at the stars!

The Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC6995)

Unveiling the Cosmic Lace: the wonderful East Veil Nebula

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Unveiling the Cosmic Lace: the wonderful East Veil Nebula

2 Minutes

Unveiling the Veil: the East Veil Nebula imaged from my backyard

Ten thousand years ago a supernova exploded and today we can still see the remnant of this catastrophic event in Cygnus constellation.

The Veil Nebula is part of this supernova remnant, called the Cygnus Loop. Scientist estimate that a star 20 times more massive of the Sun turned into supernova about 10,000 year ago.

I imaged the East Veil (NGC 6995) on August 13 from my backyard in Richmond Hill (ON), with my ES ED80CF apochromatic refractor, the ZWO ASI533MC PRO camera, the Celestron AVX mount, and a narrowband filter (the Optolong L-eXtreme).

The bright Moon and wildfire smoke did not help, but I was able to gather enough signal. I acquired the images with NINA and processed them with PixInsight.

If you move the slider, you can switch between the image with the stars and the starless version of the nebula.

Setup

Date: 2024-08-13
Location: My backyard in Richmond Hill, ON
Scope: Explore Scientific ED80 CF
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10 °C)
Filters: Optolong L-eXtreme 2″
Mount: Celestron AVX
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR-Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: NINA, PixInsight, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: 36 minutes (12×180 secs.)
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
The Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC6995)The Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC6995) - Starless Version
Created with GIMP

My Best Astroimages of 2023

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My Best Astroimages of 2023

Less than 1 minute Minutes

Join me as I take a look back at the most exciting moments of my astroimaging journey in 2023. Some highlights below:

  • I imaged a bright comet
  • I took my first images of solar prominences with a solar telescope!
  • I saw the Northern Lights from my own backyard!
  • I imaged the brightest supernova in the last 10 years
  • I took stunning images of deep sky objects from a dark sky location and from my backyard
  • I imaged 6 planets and our own Moon
  • I captured a partial solar eclipse in between clouds

Get ready for another orbit around the Sun and, as always, remember to keep looking up at the stars!

M101 with SN 2023ixf with label (2023-05-22)

Breaking News: a new brilliant supernova exploded in the Pinwheel Galaxy!

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Breaking News: a new brilliant supernova exploded in the Pinwheel Galaxy!

Less than 1 minute Minutes

Hold on to your telescopes, stargazers! A rare and beautiful astronomical event is now in the headlines: a new bright supernova is visible in the galaxy M101! It was discovered by the experienced supernova hunter Koichi Itagaki, from Yamagata, Japan, on Friday, May 19, 2023.
This type II supernova, named SN 2023ixf, is located in the galaxy Messier 101 (the Pinwheel Galaxy), in Ursa Major.

Picture this: The Pinwheel Galaxy, situated approximately 21 million light years away, has treated us to a sight that actually transpired eons ago when a colossal star erupted, sending shockwaves throughout the cosmos!

Interestingly enough, just three days prior to this extraordinary celestial event, I captured images of the Pinwheel Galaxy on May 16. Little did I know that I was on the cusp of witnessing one of the most energetic events in the universe!

SN 2023ixf burst forth with such luminosity that it outshone the very heart of its galactic host. With an estimated magnitude of 11 and its advantageous positioning in our skies during this time of the year, this astonishing spectacle presents an accessible target for those equipped with modest telescopes.

Despite less-than-ideal weather conditions, including hazy and smoky skies that posed a challenge to guiding, I managed to obtain a series of images of both the galaxy and the supernova on May 22. On May 24, utilizing my C8 SCT, I once again captured images of the galaxy and the supernova, and I plan to continue observing and documenting their evolution in the upcoming weeks.

The supernova SN 2023ixf is expected to remain visible in the Pinwheel Galaxy for the next few months before gradually fading away. 

Setup

Date: 2023-05-22
Location: my driveway in Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Explore Scientific ED80 CF
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10 °C)
Filters: none
Mount: Celestron AVX
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: ASIAIR Plus, PixInsight, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: 30 minutes (15×120 seconds).
Calibration frames: 10 dark, 20 flat, 100 bias
Size: 1.35 x 1.35 deg
Radius: 0.956 deg
Pixel scale: 4.06 arcsec/pixel
M101 just 3 days before the supernova SN 2023ixf appeared (2023-05-16)
M101 just 3 days before the supernova SN 2023ixf appeared (2023-05-16)

Note: Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) and the supernova SN 2023ixf with and without labels.

Scroll the slider to switch between the images of M101 with SN 2023ixf and its version with the labelScroll the slider to switch between the images of M101 with SN 2023ixf and its version with the label
The Galaxy M101 and the supernova SN 2023ixf captured with my C8 SCT (2023-05-24). 20x10 seconds exposure time
The Galaxy M101 and the supernova SN 2023ixf captured with my C8 SCT (2023-05-24). 20×10 seconds exposure time
Crescent Nebula (June 2022)

My 2022 Astrophotography Highlights

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My 2022 Astrophotography Highlights

Less than 1 minute Minutes

My 2022 astrophotography highlights: two lunar eclipses, deep sky imaging, nebulae and galaxies, globular clusters, a comet, a quasar, a supernova, a black hole, the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Mars.

As an avid astrophotographer, I captured some unforgettable moments in 2022. From lunar eclipses to supernovas, from galaxies to bright nebulae, from planets to sunspots, it was a year filled with exciting celestial events and beautiful cosmic sights.

I was lucky enough to have a clear sky when two lunar eclipses occurred. The first one was a partial lunar eclipse that happened on May 15, and the second one was a total eclipse visible before dawn on November 8 from my location. It was a privilege for me to photograph these beautiful astronomical events.

On May 2, I imaged a supernova in a distant galaxy for my very first time (S2022hrs, located in the NGC 4647 galaxy in Virgo). A supernova is an explosive event that occurs when a massive star collapses and explodes. I was thrilled to capture this supernova with my 8 inch telescope and imaging camera from my light polluted location.

I imaged the first ever discovered quasar (3C 273), located at the heart of a distant galaxy in Virgo. It is breathtaking to think of this mysterious celestial object which is the extremely bright core of an active galaxy powered by a supermassive black hole, that lies at a staggering 2,443 million light-years distance from Earth.

I had dozens of deep sky imaging sessions: I captured galaxies, globular clusters and narrowband images of bright nebulae. I also took some beautiful images of Jupiter and Saturn.

But perhaps the most impressive moment of the year came when I imaged Mars with its features, the North polar cap and its clouds, just a few days before its opposition. It was an amazing year for my astrophotography journey, and I can’t wait to see what 2023 will bring.

Happy 2023 and always remember to look up at the stars!

Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC 6992)

I imaged a beautiful supernova remnant

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I imaged a beautiful supernova remnant

Less than 1 minute Minutes
What an amazing night under the stars!
On the night of June 2, 2022 the sky was clear and I sailed through supernova remnants and globular clusters, until 3:30 AM!
 
My main target for the night was the Eastern Veil Nebula in Cygnus (NGC 6992), which is part of the Cygnus Loop, a supernova remnant. The supernova was a star 10-20 times more massive than our Sun, which exploded between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. At the time of explosion, the supernova would have appeared brighter than Venus in the sky, and visible in daytime!
To capture this image I used the Optolong L-Extreme filter. This fantastic narrowband filter isolates the H-Alpha and Oxygen III emission lines while reducing the light pollution and increasing the contrast.
 
Date: 2022-06-02 – 2022-06-03
Location: Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Explore Scientific 80ED CF APO refractor
Mount: Celestron AVX
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Filter: Optolong L-Extreme
Guide Scope: Orion 50mm mini + ZWO ASI224MC + PHD2
Software: NINA, PixInsight, GIMP
Total integration time: 15 minutes (5x180sec.), dark, flat, bias
Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC 6992)