You can see more of Matt’s photographs on Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/mda_in_az/" ) or on his website: https://mattinflagstaff.com".
Unless indicated otherwise, all data for the images were acquired using a William Optic’s Redcat 71, ZWO AM5N mount, and a ZWO ASI2600 OSC camera, controlled by a ZWO ASI Air Plus. All subframes were processed along with calibration frames using Pixinsight.
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Orion Nebula (M42) |
This nebula is visible to the unaided eye and is one of the most photographed objects in the night sky. This image was based on 59 2-minute exposures plus calibration frames. Matt Anderson |
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Bubble & Lobster Claw Nebula |
On the left is the aptly named Bubble Nebula and to its right, the Lobster Claw Nebula. Also visible are the Scorpion Cluster (M52) in the far left of the frame and several other cataloged deep sky objects. This image was built from 87 3-minute exposures, plus calibration frames. Matt Anderson |
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Rosette Nebula |
This is a photo of the Rosette Nebula with the Satellite Cluster (NGC 2244) visible near the center of the image over the cavity in the nebula. The young (‹ than 5 million years old), hot stars in the cluster are responsible for the nebula’s glow. This image was based on 10+ hours of data acquired over four nights, along with a boatload of calibration frames. Matt Anderson |
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Flaming Star Nebula |
In the upper left of this image is the Flaming Star Nebula (aka IC 405, SH 2-229, or Caldwell 31). It’s an emission and reflection nebula in the constellation Auriga. In the lower right is the Tadpole Nebula (IC410), with the eponymous tadpoles visible near its center. These dense knots of gas and dust are sites of ongoing star formation. Between the two nebulae, and a little above, is a yellowish star. This is 16 Aurigae, a triple-star system visible to the naked eye. One of the stars in that system is estimated to be about 5 billion years old. This image was based on 118 3-minute exposures, taken over two nights in Bortle–2 environments. Dark, flat, dark-flat, and bias calibration frames were added to the mix during the stacking process. Matt Anderson |
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Horsehead Nebula |
This nebula is located in the constellation Orion and is about 1,375 light-years from Earth. It was discovered in 1888 by Williamina Fleming, a Scottish astronomer employed at the time by the Harvard College Observatory. This image was based on 39 3-minute exposures plus calibration frames. Matt Anderson |
