Astrophotography at Pangue - part VI

The planetary nebula "Helix" (NGC7293) in Aquarius

The "Ring Nebula" (M57), in Lyra, the archetype of planetary nebulae...

The diffuse nebula "Trifid" (M20), in Sagittarius

The globular cluster NGC6101, in Apus

The globular cluster NGC6397, in Ara

The globular cluster "Omega" (NGC5139), in Centaurus: the above clusters are stunning by themselves but usually get overlooked, because of this one...

Photos: Cristian Valenzuela / Observatorio del Pangue - May, 2020
Canon 60D at prime focus of SCT Meade 403mm reduced at f/6.4, total exposures: each globular cluster, 18 minutes; Trifid nebula, 40 minutes; Ring nebula, 25 minutes; Helix nebula, 30 minutes;

May, 24th : one phase for two...

Some celestial coincidences have huge consequences, such as the similar apparent size of the Sun and the Moon as seen from Earth. But such coincidences do happen quite often, and even if not so spectacular, they are always fun to watch. A good example occurred in the evening of May, 24th, when the Moon and the planet Venus, visible together around Sunset, had the same exact phase, that is 4% disk illuminated, with the same orientation, hence harboring the same aspect at the very same time !

The Moon, distance to Earth: 390000 km ; Diameter: 3480 km ; Angular size: 31 arcmin.

Planet Venus, distance to Earth: 45 million km ; Diameter: 12100 km ; Angular size: 55 arcsec.

Photos: Cristian Valenzuela / Observatorio del Pangue - Smartphone fixed at prime focus of telescope...

Astrophotography at Pangue - part V

We just keep taking advantage of the local sky conditions that remain perfect, indifferent to the current world situation...

Main view of the central part of the complex nebula NGC3372, in Carina...

Centaurus A (NGC5128), a collision of galaxies that we can witness (almost) in live...

Photos: Cristian Valenzuela / Observatorio del Pangue - May, 2020 - Canon 60D at prime focus of SCT Meade 403mm reduced at f/6.4, total exposure 45 minutes

May, 10th : two supernovae at once !...

Comet SWAN is gone, at least for southern observers, but we have been granted as soon with the spectacle of two supernovae visible at the same time, a bright one in a faint galaxy, and a fainter one in a bright galaxy !

The first one is SN2020hvf, a type Ia supernova happening in the remote galaxy NGC3643, in Leo. At a magnitude of 12.4, this is the brightest supernova visible in over a year, outshining the galaxy itself !

Full view, with the supernova marked on the right one. The host galaxy is barely visible to its upper right. The bright spot at the upper left corner is the much brighter galaxy NGC3640.

Closer view, showing the host galaxy NGC3643 (centre), with the supernova to its lower left.

The next one is SN2020jfo, a type II supernova at an estimated magnitude of 14.5, happening in the magnificent galaxy M61 in Virgo: strange enough, supernovae in beautiful galaxies are quite rare, so this one is highly appreciated by observers...

Full view, with the supernova marked on the bottom one.

The closer view below shows the details of the complex structure of the host galaxy, with the supernova to its inmediate right.

All photos: Cristian Valenzuela / Observatorio del Pangue - May, 2020 - Canon 60D at prime focus of SCT Meade 403mm reduced at f/6.1, total exposure 16 minutes

Astrophotography at Pangue - part IV

The Milky Way, with the galactic centre... at the centre.

Cristian Valenzuela / Observatorio del Pangue - May, 2020 - Canon 60D with 16mm lens f/2.8, single exposure 10 minutes