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