Astrophotography of the Year 2025
LTNF 1, PNG 144.8+65.8 is an old very faint planetary nebula in the constellation Ursa Major, here elaborated in H(L)OO narrowband
LTNF 1, PNG 144.8+65.8 is an old very faint planetary nebula in the constellation Ursa Major with very low surface brightness and a diameter of about 6 arc minutes.
The central star of this planetary nebula is a cataclysmic variable star known as BE UMa. It is a highly excited nebula with an eclipsing binary star system (BE Ursae Majoris) at its center, which has given rise to its unusual morphology. It is about 5,000 light-years from Earth and is so transparent that galaxies can be seen through it.
It was discovered in 1995 by James Liebert, Richard Tweedy, Ralf Napiwotzki and Michael Fulbright.
At that time it was a joint project with Sven Eklund.
RA: 11 57 46.3
DEC: +48 56 24.0
Taken by me on March 2nd and 4th, 2025 at Ebenwaldhöhe in Lower Austria, at an altitude of 1020m.
Lum 68x45sec., Red 18x60sec., Green 20x60sec., Blue 18x60sec., OIII 20x1800sec..
Total exposure 11 hours 47 minutes.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Baader Filter CMOS-optimized 6,5nm f/2, iEQ45, MGEN2, MFOC2 und N.I.N.A.
Elaboration with PI & PS in H(L)OO with Lum and RGB stars.
Ha is not available there in sufficient quantities!
Ausarbeitung vom: 11.03.2025
https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl
LTNF 1, PNG 144.8+65.8 is an old very faint planetary nebula in the constellation Ursa Major, here elaborated in LRGB without narrowband data
LTNF 1, PNG 144.8+65.8 is an old very faint planetary nebula in the constellation Ursa Major with very low surface brightness and a diameter of about 6 arc minutes. In the LRGB elaboration, the LTNF 1 only guess.
An incredible number of small galaxies are located in the LRGB shot with only 1 hour 47 minutes exposure.
The central star of this planetary nebula is a cataclysmic variable star known as BE UMa. It is a highly excited nebula with an eclipsing binary star system (BE Ursae Majoris) at its center, which has given rise to its unusual morphology. It is about 5,000 light-years from Earth and is so transparent that galaxies can be seen through it.
It was discovered in 1995 by James Liebert, Richard Tweedy, Ralf Napiwotzki and Michael Fulbright.
At that time it was a joint project with Sven Eklund.
RA: 11 57 46.3
DEC: +48 56 24.0
Taken by me on March 2nd and 4th, 2025 at Ebenwaldhöhe in Lower Austria, at an altitude of 1020m.
Lum 68x45sec., Red 18x60sec., Green 20x60sec., Blue 18x60sec..
Total exposure 1 hour 47 minutes.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Baader Filter CMOS-optimized 6,5nm f/2, iEQ45, MGEN2, MFOC2 und N.I.N.A.
Preparation with PI & PS in LRGB.
Drafted on: 12.03.2025
https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl
Messier 97 and Messier 108 in the constellation Ursa Major (Ursa Major), here in LRGB+Ha
Messier 97 and Messier 108 in the constellation Ursa Major (Ursa Major), is home to many galaxies worth seeing.
Messier 97 (NGC 3587), known as the "Owl Nebula," is a planetary nebula in our Milky Way galaxy, 2,600 light-years away. It has an apparent diameter of about 3.5′ and an apparent magnitude of 9.9. The actual diameter of the ejected gas envelope is about 2 light-years, and it is expanding at about 40 km/s.
Messier 108 (NGC 3556), known as the "Surfboard Galaxy," is an extragalactic object, a Hubble-type Sc spiral galaxy located 34 million light-years away. It appears to us with angular dimensions of 8.7' × 2.2' and an apparent magnitude of 9.9. We see the galaxy almost edge-on, comparable to Messier 82.
M97 and M108 were discovered in 1781 by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain.
RA: 11 13 21.5
DEC: +55 19 13.2
Recorded on March 19, 2025 on the Ebenwaldhöhe in Lower Austria, at an altitude of about 1020m.
Lum 117x45sec., Red 43x60sec., Green 44x60sec., Blue 43x60sec., Ha 18x240sec..
Total exposure LRGB and Ha: 4 hrs 49 mins.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Baader Filter CMOS-optimized 6,5nm f/2, iEQ45, MGEN2, MFOC2 und N.I.N.A.
Elaboration with PI & PS in LRGB and Ha
Drafted by: 22.03.2025
https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl
NGC 5363 and NGC 5364 = NGC 5317. The NGC 5364 group, also LGG 362 with Abell 1809, is located in the constellation Virgo in the northern sky.
NGC 5363 and NGC 5364 = NGC 5317. The NGC 5364 group, also LGG 362 with Abell 1809, is located in the constellation Virgo in the northern sky.
It is about 54 million light-years away from the Milky Way and has a diameter of about 105,000 light-years.
The object has a companion galaxy, NGC 5363, whose gravitational forces are responsible for the extensive star-forming regions in the spiral arms.
The galaxy was discovered on February 2, 1786 by William Herschel (listed as NGC 5364).
“Rediscovered” on April 7, 1828 by John Herschel and listed as NGC 5317.
RA: 13 55 51.2
DEC: +05 09 48.6
Recorded on May 1, 2025 on the Fuscher Törl at an altitude of approximately 2400m in the beautiful Großglockner region in the Austrian Alps.
Lum 84x60sec., Red 28x90sec., Green 25x90sec., Blue 25x90sec., Ha 8x360sec..
Total exposure LRGB+Ha: 4 hrs 09 mins.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Baader Filter CMOS-optimized 6,5nm f/2, iEQ45, MGEN2, MFOC2 und N.I.N.A.
Preparation with PI & PS in LRGB+Ha Ausarbeitung vom: 11.06.2025
https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl
The Whirlpool Galaxy, Messier 51 or NGC 5194/5195, is called, is a large spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici.
The Whirlpool Galaxy, Messier 51 or NGC 5194/5195, is called, is a large spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici.
It is a Hubble-type Sc star, meaning it has a distinct spiral structure. According to current measurements, its distance from our Milky Way is 24.3 ±0.8 million light-years. M 51 has a nearby, interacting companion, listed in the New General Catalogue as NGC 5195; M 51 itself has the number NGC 5194.
M 51 is currently experiencing exceptionally active star formation, likely caused by tidal interaction with NGC 5195. Therefore, the galaxy has a high proportion of young and massive stars, but these will have relatively short lives, a few million years. Three supernovae have been observed in M 51 within 17 years, and a supermassive black hole is located at its center.
The galaxy was discovered on October 13, 1773 by the French astronomer Charles Messier discovered and added to his catalogue of diffuse objects with the number 51.
In 1845, the Irish astronomer William Parsons (Lord Rosse) with his giant telescope Leviathan was the first to observe the spiral structure of the object.
RA: 13 29 51.2
DEC: +47 11 55.8
Recorded on March 19, 2025 on the Ebenwaldhöhe in Lower Austria. and on April 28, 2025 on the Fuscher Törl at an altitude of approx. 2400m in the beautiful Großglockner area in the Austrian Alps.
Red 16x90sec., Red 20x60sec., Green 20x90sec., Green 22x60sec., Blue 22x90sec.. Blue 19x60sec., Lum 111x60sec., Lum 98x45sec., Ha 24x300sec.. Total exposure time in LRGB Ha: 7 hrs 33 mins. Preparation with PI (MARS) & PS in LRGBHa.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Baader Filter CMOS-optimized 6,5nm f/2, Ioptron iEQ45, MGEN2, MFOC2 und N.I.N.A.
Drafted on: 24.05.2025
https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl
Messier 102, also known as NGC 5866, is a lenticular galaxy in the constellation Draco.
Messier 102, also known as NGC 5866, is a lenticular galaxy with dimensions of 6.5′ × 3.1′ and an apparent magnitude of 9.9 in the constellation Draco.
Because it is considered the prototype of a lenticular galaxy, i.e., a Hubble-type S0 galaxy, it is also known as the "Spindle Galaxy." However, this name is ambiguous, as, for example, the also lenticular galaxy NGC 3115 is also referred to by the same name.
Diameter: 60,000 ly, distance: 44 million light years, surface brightness: 13.0 mag/arcmin².
There are many other beautiful galaxies in this image, such as IC1099, NGC5905, NGC5906, NGC5907, NGC5908, PGC54267, PGC54154, PGC54015, PGC54065 and an unknown nebula at PGC166188 at about 16h, etc.
RA: 15 11 10.8
DEC: +55 56 0.2
Taken on May 21st and 22nd, 2023, at the Ebenwaldhöhe in Lower Austria, and on May 3rd, 2025, at the Fuscher Törl at an altitude of 2400m in the beautiful Großglockner area in the Austrian Alps.
Filter: Red 11x120sec., Red 19x60sec., Green 9x120sec., Green 19x60sec.,Blue 11x120ec., Blue 20x60sec., Lum 77x60sec.. Lum 73x90sec., +(Lums 60x60sec. from May. 2025 Fuscher Törl)
Total exposure time: 6 h 6 min.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Baader LRGB CMOS-optimized Filter, Ioptron iEQ45, Lacerta MGEN2, Lacerta MFOC2, N.I.N.A.
New draft in LRGB. Version from May 25, 2025.
https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl
The Ursa Minor dwarf galaxy UGC 9749
The Ursa Minor dwarf galaxy UGC 9749 is an elliptical dwarf galaxy approximately 225,000 light-years away in the constellation Ursa Minor.
Its diameter is about 2,000 light years.
It was founded in 1954 by Albert George Wilson discovered at the Lowell Observatory and is a satellite of the Milky Way.
217 / 5.000
Although unspectacular, UMi Dwarf is difficult to image and therefore rarely photographed. The galaxy consists primarily of an older star population and shows little to no recent star formation.
In 1999, the Astrophysiker Kenneth Mighell und Christopher Burke Using the Hubble Space Telescope, scientists were able to show that the Ursa Minor dwarf galaxy experienced only a single phase of star formation until about 11 billion years ago, which lasted for about 2 billion years.
RA: 15 09 14.7
DEC: +67 12 48.4
Recorded on May 1 and 2, 2025 on the Fuscher Törl at an altitude of 2400m in the beautiful Großglockner area in the Austrian Alps.
Lum 68x60sec., Red 30x90sec., Green 30x90sec., Blue 25x90sec.. Total exposure LRGB: 3 hrs 15 mins.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, Baader Filter CMOS-optimized 6,5nm f/2, Ioptron iEQ45, MGEN2, MFOC2 und N.I.N.A. Preparation with PI & PS in LRGB. Drafted on: 26.05.2025
https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl
W 63, SNR G82-2+5.3 a very faint supernova remnant in Cygnus.
W 63, SNR G82-2+5.3 a very faint supernova remnant in Cygnus.
The main element of the image is the ancient and dimly luminous supernova remnant W 63 (SNR G082.2+5.3) in the constellation Cygnus. The object, located approximately 5,000 light-years away, has a perspective size of approximately 86' x 65' and a real diameter of about 150 light-years.
W 63 or SNR G82-2+5.3 appears predominantly as a very weak OIII signal, with strong Ha in the background.
RA: 20 19 29.2
DEC: +45 38 23.1
Recorded by me on 09.and 29.07.2024 on 18.08.2025 and on 26 and 27 August 2025 all at 2400m on the Fuscher Törl in the beautiful Austrian Alps.
Exposure and filters: Red 17x60sec., Green 16x60sec., Blue 16x60sec., Lum 58x45sec., Ha 17x900sec., Ha 8x1200sec., OIII 10x900sec., OIII 16x1200sec..
Total exposure time: 16 h 18 min.
Elaborated in HOO with LRGB integrated.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, iEQ45, Lacerta MGEN2, Lacerta MFOC2, Baader LRGB, Ha, OIII CMOS-optimized Filter 6,5nm f/2.
Tools used: PI (MARS) & PS & N.I.N.A..
Revised and supplemented on 03.09.2025
https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl
Sh2-119 the clamshell nebula core in SHO
Sh2-119 the clamshell nebula core
with the star 68 A Cyg at its center is one of many emission nebulae in the constellation Cygnus.
Sh2-119 is located just 3 degrees east of the prominent North America Nebula NGC 7000.
The distance to Sh2-119 is estimated at 2,200 light-years.
The image is a false color representation in the Hubble SHO palette with orange/red for sulfur and hydrogen and blue for ionized oxygen.
RA: 21 18 14.5
DEC: +43 51 1.2
Recorded on 25, 26 and 27 August 2025 at an altitude of 2400m on the Fuscher Törl in the beautiful Austrian Alps.
Exposure and filters: Red 16x60sec., Green 16x60sec., Blue 16x60sec., Lum 44x45sec., Ha 16x900sec., OIII 14x900sec., SII 12x900sec..
Total exposure time: 11h 51min.
Elaborated in SHO with RGB stars.
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..
Elaborated am 05.09.2025
https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl
IC 5146 also known as the Cocoon Nebula in Cygnus, here integrated in HOO with LRGB
IC 5146, also known as the Cocoon Nebula, is an astronomical nebula with an embedded open star cluster in the constellation Cygnus.
The nebula is about 3,000 light-years from Earth and its physical extent is about 10 light-years.
The nebula is a star-forming region with ionized atomic hydrogen and has both emitting, reflecting, and absorbing components. The active star formation taking place within the cloud is leading to the formation of a young open star cluster called Collinder 470, estimated to be a few hundred thousand years old.
This star cluster and in particular the brightest star in its center, BD +46° 3474 (type B0 V, 10 mag), is responsible for the ionization of the nebula and thus for its luminosity.
They create a “cave” in the dust and gas of the molecular cloud, thus allowing us to see into its interior.
RA: 21 49 10.1
DEC: +47 32 27.5
Recorded on August 28th, 31st, 2025 and September 1st, 2025 on the Ebenwaldhöhe in Lower Austria.
Exposure and filters: Red 28x60sec., Green 28x60sec., Blue 31x60sec., Lum 147x45sec., Ha 16x900sec., OIII 15x900sec..
Total exposure time: 10h 39min.
Elaborated in HOO with LRGB integrated.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, iEQ45, Lacerta MGEN2, Lacerta MFOC2, Baader LRGB, Ha, OIII CMOS-optimized Filter 6,5nm f/2.
Tools used: PI (MARS) & PS & N.I.N.A., and prepared on 07.09.2025
https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl
IC 5146 also known as the Cocoon Nebula in Cygnus, here worked out in LRGB, without Ha
IC 5146, also known as the Cocoon Nebula, is an astronomical nebula with an embedded open star cluster in the constellation Cygnus.
The nebula is about 3,000 light-years from Earth and its physical extent is about 10 light-years.
The nebula is a star-forming region with ionized atomic hydrogen and has both emitting, reflecting, and absorbing components. The active star formation taking place within the cloud is leading to the formation of a young open star cluster called Collinder 470, estimated to be a few hundred thousand years old.
This star cluster and in particular the brightest star in its center, BD +46° 3474 (type B0 V, 10 mag), is responsible for the ionization of the nebula and thus for its luminosity.
They create a “cave” in the dust and gas of the molecular cloud, thus allowing us to see into its interior.
RA: 21 49 10.1
DEC: +47 32 27.5
Recorded on August 28th, 31st, 2025 and September 1st, 2025 on the Ebenwaldhöhe in Lower Austria.
Exposure and filters: Red 28x60sec., Green 28x60sec., Blue 31x60sec., Lum 147x45sec., Ha 16x900sec., OIII 15x900sec..
Total exposure time: 3h 17 min.
Prepared in LRGB.
Takahashi Epsilon 160ED, QHY268M, QHYCFW3, iEQ45, Lacerta MGEN2, Lacerta MFOC2, Baader LRGB, CMOS-optimized Filter 6,5nm f/2.
Tools used: PI (MARS) & PS & N.I.N.A., and prepared on 07.09.2025
https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl
NGC 281 the “Pac-Man Nebula” is an emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia in the northern sky, here in SHO with Lum and RGB stars
NGC 281 is an emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia in the northern sky,
which is 9500 light-years away from Earth. The nebula is listed in the Index catalog as IC 11 and is colloquially known as "Pac-Man-Nebula" designated.
Embedded within NGC 281 is the open star cluster IC 1590, whose stars are scattered around the nebula's center, some of which stand out for their X-ray emission. The brightest member of IC 1590, the multiple star system BD +55° 191 (HD 5005), is the nebula's ionizing source.
The nebula also contains several Bok globules, where infrared images have revealed signs of star formation. Also visible in infrared images is the molecular cloud, whose ionized part is the emission nebula.
NGC 281 was discovered on November 16, 1881 by American astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard.
RA: 0 52 48.9
DEC: +56 37 25.1
Recorded on October 10th and 11th, 2023 and September 19th, 2025 at an altitude of 2400m on the Fuscher Törl in the beautiful Austrian Alps.
Exposure and filters: Red 48x90sec., Green 21x90sec., Blue 19x90sec., Lum 40x60sec., Ha 18x600sec., Ha 10x720sec., OIII 18x600sec., OIII 9x720sec., SII 14x600sec., SII 9x720sec..
Total exposure time: 16h 48min.. Elaborated integrated in SHO with Lum and RGB stars.
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..
Newly developed on September 26, 2025
https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl
NGC 281 der „Pac-Man-Nebel“ ist ein Emissionsnebel im Sternbild Kassiopeia am Nordsternhimmel, hier in LRGB ohne Ha
NGC 281 is an emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia in the northern sky,
which is 9500 light-years away from Earth. The nebula is listed in the Index catalog as IC 11 and is colloquially known as "Pac-Man-Nebula" designated.
Embedded within NGC 281 is the open star cluster IC 1590, whose stars are scattered around the nebula's center, some of which stand out for their X-ray emission. The brightest member of IC 1590, the multiple star system BD +55° 191 (HD 5005), is the nebula's ionizing source.
The nebula also contains several Bok globules, where infrared images have revealed signs of star formation. Also visible in infrared images is the molecular cloud, whose ionized part is the emission nebula.
NGC 281 was discovered on November 16, 1881 by American astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard.
RA: 0 52 48.9
DEC: +56 37 25.1
Recorded on October 10th and 11th, 2023 and September 19th, 2025 at an altitude of 2400m on the Fuscher Törl in the beautiful Austrian Alps.
Exposure and filters: Red 48x90sec., Green 21x90sec., Blue 19x90sec., Lum 40x60sec..
Total exposure time: 2h 52min.. Elaborated in LRGB ohne Ha.
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..
Newly developed on September 26, 2025
https://www.DeepSkyElementsOfCreation.com/
(c) Herfried Exl
