NGC 188 is an open cluster in Cepheus. It is about 5,000 light years away and a bit further from the center of the galaxy than we are. It’s also above the disc of the galaxy. What makes NGC 188 unusual is that is an ancient cluster. It is 6.8 billion years old where most…
Category: Maurertown, VA
These images are from my home in Maurertown, Virginia. The sky ranges from 22.1 to 22.5 on moonless nights depending on the transparency.
Messier 53
It’s been said that if you have seen one globular cluster you have seen them all. There’s a bit of truth to that. Some are denser and some are sparser but they generally look pretty much like this. This particular cluster, M53, is about 58,000 light years away from us in the constellation Coma Berenices….
Whale and HockeyStick Galaxies
The Whale Galaxy (top right) is a barred spiral galaxy seen edge on. It has a catalog number of NGC 4631. Just above it is the dwarf elliptical galaxy NGC 4627. They are about 30 million light years away. The Hockey Stick Galaxy also known as the Crowbar Galaxy has two NGC numbers, 4656 and…
Linda's Astronomy Adventures 