jahr_2026 – Deep Sky Elements of Creation

Astronomical images of the year 2026

The supernova remnant Sh2-224, also known as SNR G166.0+04.3 or LBN 769 (Crop), is located in the constellation Auriga.

The supernova remnant Sh2-224 aka SNR G166.0+04.3 aka LBN 769 (Crop) It lies in the constellation Auriga, and is also called the "Chinese Hat".
The distance to the SNR is approximately 14,700 light-years.
The SNR spans approximately 235 light-years.
The supernova remnant is extremely faint with an apparent brightness of 17.65 mag and is therefore very challenging for amateur astrophotographers.

RA: 05 26 48.2
DEC: +42 52 59.4

Taken by me on December 14, 2025 at the Steyersberger Schwaig near the Kranichberger Hütte at an altitude of 1536m and on January 18, 2026 on the Ebenwaldhöhe (1030m) in Lower Austria.
Total exposure time: 12 hours 59 minutes.
Exposure and filters: Red 20x60sec., Green 20x60sec., Blue 19x60sec., Ha 11x1200sec., OIII 12x1200sec., SII 13x1200sec..
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Ioptron iEQ45, MGEN2, MFOC2, Baader LRGB, Ha, OIII, SII CMOS-optimized Filter 6,5nm f/2.
Development in SHO with RGB stars.
Tools used: PI (Mars) & PS & N.I.N.A..
Revised version in SHO on January 29, 2026.

The Rosette Nebula NGC 2244 is a diffuse emission nebula in the constellation Monoceros.

NGC 2244 in SHO with lume and RGB stars.

NGC 2244 in LRGB without Ha.

The Rosette Nebula NGC 2244 is a diffuse emission nebula in the constellation Monoceros.
At the center of the nebula is the open star cluster NGC 2244.
The young star cluster illuminates the entire surrounding area, approximately 100 light-years in diameter, from the center of the Rosette Nebula.
The star cluster and nebula are 5200 light-years away from us. The nebula is therefore significantly brighter and larger than the Great Orion Nebula.
The Chandra X-ray Observatory has discovered more than 2500 protostars in the nebula.
The two brightest stars in the star cluster NGC 2244 have 400,000 to 450,000 times the luminosity of the sun.
The young O and B stars are pushing the bubble, which is currently about 40 light-years in size, apart at 50 to 100 km/h.

RA: 06 31 53.6
DEC: +04 56 32.9

Photographed by me in 2021 at Brunnalm, in 2022 at Brunnalm and Geschriebenstein, and on January 22, 2026 at Steyersberger Schwaig (1400m) in Lower Austria.
Exposure and filters: Lum 16x180ec., Lum 38x120sec., Lum 50x60sec., Red 34x120sec., Red 16x60sec., Green 31x120sec., Green 16x60sec.,
Blue 30x120sec., Blue 17x60sec., Ha 12x360sec., Ha 13x300sec., OIII 7x360sec., OIII 17x300sec., SII 15x300sec..
Total exposure time SHO: 12h 32min..
Total exposure time LRGB without Ha: 6h 53min..
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Ioptron iEQ45, Lacerta MGEN2, Lacerta MFOC2, Baader LRGB, Ha, OIII, SII CMOS-optimized Filter 6,5nm f/2.
Elaboration in SHO with RGB stars and lumens, and in LRGB without Ha.
Tools used: PI (Mars) & PS & N.I.N.A..
Prepared on January 25, 2026.

(c) Herfried Exl
https://www.exl.at/

WR 134 is a variable Wolf-Rayet star in Cygnus.

WR 134 in SHO with RGB stars.

WR 134 negativ annotated.

WR 134 also known as HD 191765 or as variable star V1769 Cygni, is an extremely massive, hot, and unstable giant star in the constellation Cygnus. It is located approximately 6,200 light-years away from us. WR 134 is a variable Wolf-Rayet star.
It belongs to the extremely hot and massive stars that are in a late stage of their stellar evolution. It shines about 400,000 times brighter than our Sun. Its surface temperature is over 63,000 Kelvin. It has five times the radius of the Sun.
Driven by extreme radiation and fast stellar winds of 2,600 km/sec (over 9 million km/h), it continuously ejects its outer hydrogen shells. WR 134 has almost completely expelled its hydrogen supply into space or fused it in its core. It is now burning heavier elements like helium. In the astronomically near future (within the next hundred thousand years), the core will collapse. The star will explode as a Type Ib or Ic supernova. In these types, hydrogen is completely absent from the explosion spectrum. After the explosion, only a black hole or a neutron star will remain of the original giant star.

RA: 20 10 15.1
DEC: +36 10 50.6

Recorded by me on July 11th, 12th and 13th, 2026 at the Fuscher Törl. at an altitude of approximately 2400m, in the beautiful Austrian Alps.
Exposure and filters: Red 20x60sec., Green 24x60sec., Blue 19x60sec., Lum: 65x30sec., Ha 25x600sec., OIII 21x600sec., SII 18x600sec..
SHO Total exposure time: 12 hours 17 minutes.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Ioptron iEQ45, MGEN2, MFOC2, Baader LRGB, Ha, OIII, SII CMOS-optimized Filter 6,5nm f/2.
Development in SHO with RGB stars.
Tools used: PI (Mars) & PS & N.I.N.A..
Prepared on July 18, 2026.

IC 1318, also known as the Gamma Cygni Nebula or Butterfly Nebula, is shown here in SHO.

IC 1318 in SHO with RGB stars.

IC 1318 negativ annotated.

IC 1318, also known as the Gamma Cygni Nebula or Butterfly Nebula, is shown here in SHO.
This emission nebula is located in the constellation Cygnus, approximately 5,000 light-years away. The pronounced H-alpha region extends over about 100 light-years. Far in front of the nebula region lies the helle Stern Sadr (Gamma Cygni), which is why the area is also called the "Sadr Region." A prominent dark cloud of cold, dense gas and interstellar dust (LDN 889) cuts through the nebula. This dark cloud divides the glow into two halves that resemble the wings of a butterfly (IC 1318B and IC 1318C). With a little imagination, the complex resembles a butterfly, hence the alternative name "Butterfly Nebula."

RA: 20 25 23.7
DEC: +40 12 57.1

Taken by me on August 12th and 13th, 2026 on the Fuscher Törl at an altitude of approximately 2400m, in the beautiful Austrian Alps.
Exposure and filters: Red 18x60sec., Green 18x60sec., Blue 18x60sec., Ha 9x900sec., OIII 9x900sec., SII 10x900sec.
Total exposure time: 7 hours 54 minutes.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Ioptron iEQ45, MGEN2, MFOC2, Baader LRGB, Ha, OIII, SII CMOS-optimized Filter 6,5nm f/2. Elaborated in SHO with RGB stars.
Tools used: PI (Mars) & PS & N.I.N.A.
Prepared on August 18, 2026.

W 63 aka SNR G082.2+05.3 is a very faint supernova remnant in Cygnus.
Now included in SHO and reworked.

W 63 in SHO with RGB stars.
SII in yellow gold, Hin red and OIII in blue.

W 63 negatively annotated.

Ha stretched with GHS.
Exposure time: 2 hours 40 minutes.

OIII stretched with GHS.
Exposure time: 5 hours 20 minutes.

SII stretched with GHS.
3 hours exposure.

W 63 aka SNR G082.2+05.3 is a very faint supernova remnant in Cygnus.
The main element of the image is the old and faint supernova remnant W 63 (SNR G082.2+5.3) in the constellation Cygnus. Located approximately 5000 light-years away, the object has a perspective size of about 86′ x 65′ and actual dimensions of about 150 light-years in diameter.
W 63 or SNR G82-2+5.3 appears predominantly as a very weak OIII signal, with strong Ha and very structured SII in the background.

RA: 20 19 29.2
DEC: +45 38 23.1

Recorded on July 9th and 29th, 2024 on August 18th, 2025 on August 26th and 27th, 2025 and on 13.08.2026 on the Fuscher Törl pass in the beautiful Austrian Alps.
Exposure and filters: Red 17x60sec., Green 16x60sec., Blue 16x60sec., Ha 17x900sec., Ha 8x1200sec., OIII 10x900sec., OIII 16x1200sec., SII 9x1200sec.
Total exposure time: 19h 17min..
Designed in SHO with RGB stars. SII in yellow gold, Hin red and OIII in blue
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, iEQ45, Lacerta MGEN2, Lacerta MFOC2, Baader LRGB, Ha, OIII, SII CMOS-optimized Filter 6,5nm f/2.
Tools used: PI (MARS) & PS & N.I.N.A..
Revised on 29.08.2026

https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl

The giant “Squid Nebula” is cataloged as Ou4 and, together with Sh2-129, is also known as the flying bat nebula, or “the flying bat and giant squid nebula”.
Now included in SHO by me and reworked.

Sh2-129 in SHO with RGB stars.
SII in yellow gold, Hin red and OIII in blue.

Sh2-129 negative annotated.

Ha stretched with GHS.
Exposure time: 6 hours 12 minutes.

OIII stretched with GHS.
Exposure time: 7 hours 25 minutes.

SII stretched with GHS.
3 hours 20 minutes exposure.

The giant “Squid Nebula” is cataloged as Ou4 and, together with Sh2-129, is also known as the flying bat nebula, or “the flying bat and giant squid nebula”.
The field is 3 degrees, or 6 full moons, wide. The Octopus Nebula was discovered in 2011 by French astrophotographer Nicolas Outters.
We can recognize its special bipolar shape here by the special blue-green emissions of doubly ionized oxygen atoms.
The Squid Nebula appears to be completely surrounded by the reddish hydrogen emission region Sh2-129.
Nevertheless, its actual distance and nature were difficult to determine.
However, a recent study shows that Ou4 is about 2300 light-years away and is actually located inside Sh2-129.
Accordingly, Ou4 would be a spectacular outflow from HR8119, a triple system of hot, massive stars that we see in the center of the nebula.
The truly massive Squid Nebula is physically nearly 50 light-years across.

RA: 21 11 50.6
DEC: +59 57 0.1

Recorded on August 3rd and 4th, 2022 at Steyersberger Schwaig in Lower Austria, on July 14th, 2023 and on 14.08.2026 on the Fuscher Törl in the beautiful Großglockner region of the Austrian Alps.
Exposure time: Lum 28x45sec., Red 12x45sec., Green 12x45sec., Blue 12x45sec., Ha 21x720sec., Ha 8x900sec. OIII 12x720sec., OIII 11x900sec., OIII 7x1200sec., SII 10x1200sec.
Total exposure time: 17 hours and 49 minutes..
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Ioptron iEQ45, Lacerta MGEN2 und Lacerta MFOC2, Baader LRGB, Ha, OIII, SII CMOS-optimized Filter 6,5nm f/2.
Processed in SHO with RGB stars. PI (Mars) & PS & N.I.N.A.
Revised on August 29, 2026

https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl

Sh2-116 and Abell 71 refer to exactly the same astronomical object in the constellation Cygnus, near the bright star Deneb. Photographed in SHO.

Sh2-116 and Abell 71 with RGB stars.
SII in yellow gold, Hin red and OIII in blue.

Sh2-116 and Abell 71 negatively annotated.

Sh2-116 and Abell 71 refer to exactly the same astronomical object in the constellation Cygnus near the main star Deneb.
It is a small, round gas cloud, the exact nature of which is still controversial in science.
The object lies on the edge of the larger, fainter emission nebula Sh2-115.
The inconspicuous but highly interesting object in the constellation Cygnus fascinates astronomy because of its unexplained nature.
Due to its perfectly round structure, the US astronomer classified it George Abell It was discovered in 1955 as the planetary nebula Abell 71, the ejected gas shell of a dying, sun-like star.
Only a few years later, he ordered Stewart Sharpless It is known as the classic HII region (emission nebula) Sh2-116.
Modern spectroscopic studies support the hypothesis of an interstellar gas bubble that is stimulated to glow by the intense UV radiation of a massive, embedded star.
It is a cosmic chameleon that still conceals its true nature.

RA: 20 33 49.6
DEC: +47 10 18.7

Taken by me on August 14th and 15th, 2026 and on September 6th and 7th, 2026 at the Fuscher Törl at an altitude of approximately 2400m, in the beautiful Austrian Alps.
Exposure and filters: Red 17x60sec., Green 18x60sec., Blue 18x60sec., Ha 11x900sec., OIII 11x900sec., SII 11x900sec..
Total exposure time: 9 hours 08 minutes.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Ioptron iEQ45, MGEN2, MFOC2, Baader LRGB, Ha, OIII, SII CMOS-optimized Filter 6,5nm f/2.
Elaborated in SHO with RGB stars.
Tools used: PI (Mars) & PS & N.I.N.A..
Prepared on September 17, 2026.

NGC 7380, also known as the Wizard Nebula or Sharpless Sh2-142, is an active galactic star-forming region in the constellation Cepheus. Photographed in SHO.

NGC 7380 with RGB stars.
SII in yellow gold, Hin red and OIII in blue.

NGC 7380 negatively annotated.

NGC 7380, also known as Wizard Nebula or Sharpless Sh2-142, is an active galactic star-forming region in the constellation Cepheus.
It lies at a distance of approximately 7,000 to 10,250 light-years from Earth and extends over a diameter of around 100 to 150 light-years.
The intense glow of the nebula is largely driven by the binary star system DH Cephei (HD 215835) at its center.
These are two extremely hot, massive giant stars of type O, whose surface temperatures exceed 30,000 °C.
The high-energy ultraviolet radiation from these giant stars ionizes the surrounding hydrogen gas, causing the nebula to glow a deep red (H-II region).

RA: 22 44 32.1
DEC: +57 58 2.5

Taken by me on September 20th and 21st, 2025 at the Fuscher Törl at an altitude of approximately 2400m, in the beautiful Austrian Alps, and on September 15th, 2026 at the Ebenwaldhöhe in Lower Austria.
Exposure and filters: Red 20x60sec., Green 20x60sec., Blue 20x60sec., Lum 60x45sec., Ha 16x900sec., OIII 17x900sec., SII 17x900sec..
Total exposure time: 14 hours 15 minutes.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Ioptron iEQ45, MGEN2, MFOC2, Baader LRGB, Ha, OIII, SII CMOS-optimized Filter 6,5nm f/2.
Elaborated in SHO with RGB stars.
Tools used: PI (Mars) & PS & N.I.N.A..
Prepared on 19 September 2026.