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February 2025, 2025 Charles Lillo February 2025, 2025 Charles Lillo

The Seagull Nebula (IC 2177)

The Seagull Nebula (IC 2177) is an emission nebula located on the border of the Canis Major and Unicorn constellations. It is located about 3,800 light years from Earth. The nebula takes its name from its shape which evokes a seagull in flight, with well-extended "wings" and a "head" marked by a particularly bright region. It covers a vast region of the sky with an apparent size of about 120 arc minutes, four times the diameter of the full Moon. This nebula is mainly composed of clouds of ionized hydrogen, illuminated by young stars which emit strong ultraviolet light. The "head" of the Seagull is dominated by a bright star named HD 53367, a massive star of spectral type O. This nebula is a spectacular subject in imaging, for this I used filters duo band Hα/OIII and SII/Hb, which reveal details of the gas structures.
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2024, December 2024 Charles Lillo 2024, December 2024 Charles Lillo

Les fantômes de Cassiopée (The Ghosts of Cassiopeia)

The Ghosts of Cassiopeia, also known as IC 63, is a faint, ethereal nebula located approximately 550 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia. This nebula is illuminated and sculpted by the nearby blue supergiant star Gamma Cassiopeiae, which is a variable star more than 34,000 times as luminous as the Sun. The intense radiation from Gamma Cassiopeiae causes the hydrogen gas in the nebula to glow red, while its ultraviolet radiation sculpts and slowly erodes the nebula over time.

Interestingly, IC 63 is part of a larger complex of nebulosity surrounding Gamma Cassiopeiae, making it a fascinating target for both astrophotography and scientific study of star-forming regions.

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April 2024, 2024 Charles Lillo April 2024, 2024 Charles Lillo

THE MARKARIAN CHAIN ​​and its neighbors

The Markarian Chain, a striking alignment of galaxies, stretches across the cosmos like a celestial necklace adorning the night sky. Situated within the Virgo Cluster, this remarkable assembly of galaxies features prominent members such as M84, M86, and the giant elliptical galaxy M87.

Spanning over 3 degrees of space, the Markarian Chain is a testament to the gravitational dance of galaxies, with each member influenced by the gravitational pull of its neighbors. This intricate cosmic ballet offers astronomers a unique opportunity to study galaxy interactions, mergers, and the evolution of cosmic structures over billions of years.

The Markarian Chain and its neighboring galaxies stand as a captivating reminder of the vastness and complexity of the universe, inviting us to explore the mysteries of deep space and unravel the secrets of galactic evolution.

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