Deep Sky Objects (DSO)

On this page I try to showcase photos of objects beyond our Solar System and our home galaxy the Milky Way taken with normal photographic equipment (some are taken with an astro tracker). Of course, not everything is possible without a telecope but there are several galaxies, nebulae and star clusters like the Andromeda Galaxy, the Pleiades Cluster or the Orion Nebulae which are easy to find and to photograph with astonishing results. Even though they are not comparable with the pictures of the Hubble telescope.

The Orion Nebula

Orion Nebula, The Running Man Nebula, The horsehead Nebula and the Flame Nebula of the Orion Constellation (200 mm cropped)

The Great Orion Nebula (M42) and the The Running Man Nebula (NGC1977) shot with a mirrorless digital camera and 200 mm lens (stacked and cropped)

The Horsehead Nebula and the Flame Nebula shot with a mirrorless digital camera and 200 mm lens (stacked and cropped)

The Andromeda Galaxy

Andromeda Galaxy: Canon EOS R with Tamron f 2.8 70-200 mm at 200 mm (f 2.8/ 5 secs/ ISO 12.800) 47 images stacked (Sequator/ LR /PS), cropped

The Andromeda Galaxy is the nearest galaxy to our Milky Way in the universe. The distance is only 2.5 millions light-years away from earth. The Andromeda Galaxy is also known as Messier 31 (M31)and is a barred spiral galaxy like our Milky Way.

Due to its proximity ("relative") to us, the Andromeda Galaxy is visible to the naked eye if it is absolute dark (no moon, as less lightpollution as possible) and therefore easy to find and easy to photograph. The size of the Andromeda Galaxy (on the frame (even if it doesn't seem like this) is six times the size of the moon, it is bright, and is one of the most impressive deep sky objects in the Northern hemisphere visible year around. On the picture of the Andromeda Galaxy are also two dwarf galaxies visible M32 and M110.

The Pleiades Star Cluster

place your mouse over the picture to see the names of the different stars

The Pleiades star cluster is also known as the Seven Sisters or Messier 45. The name derives from the Greek mythology. The "seven" sisters are the daughters of "Atlas" and Pleione. (hove the mouse over the picture to see the names of the stars).

It is one of the most beautiful open star clusters for "amateur-photographers" (like me) in the sky which is visible with your naked eyes in the night sky (at least the most brightest stars (6-7). The stars are around 440 lightyears away from us. The Pleiades Star Cluster is visible from any spot around the world, most beautiful in winter and an interesting subject due to the blue haze around the stars.