Albireo's Universe

Pelican Nebula in Cygnus

Site built by Doug Dakin

Double Cluster in Perseus

The Double Cluster (NGC869/NGC884) is an  open cluster and a spectacular sight when viewed through binoculars or a low powered telescope. The stars glitter like multi coloured diamonds!  The combined light of these two clusters is about 200,000 times that of our sun! Exposure time was 20 mins.

M33 in Triangulum

Floating like an island in the the vastness of space lies Messier object #33. Sometimes referred to as  the Pinwheel galaxy, M33 is a large object but with  low surface brightness. It is visible to the naked eye but only at the darkest sites. Several nebula can be seen in the arms of this giant but only through time exposure photography can we see the rich colours. Exposure was guided for 90 mins.

NOTE: All images taken at Mt Sutton Quebec in the spring of 1998. An Astro-Physics 13cm f6 telescope was used at prime focus atop a 600E and guided through an 80mm telehoon via an SBIG ST4. All images shot on Kodak E-200 slide film.

The ghostly Pelican  Nebula is not visible to the naked eye. In order to locate it, one must "star-hop" via a star map. It can be found at the top of the northern cross and to the left of the bright star Deneb.  Part of the North  American Nebula can be seen to the left and between them lies the Skull Nebula (with the Star eyes). In order to better capture the Hydrogen-Alpha (red) regions, I used a Lumicon Deep Sky filter. The exposure for this image took 45 mins.

The Pleiades

The Pleiades (M45), often referred to as "The Seven Sisters" is THE quintessential open cluster. It lies some 410 light years away in  the constellation Taurus. The brighest star (Alcyone) is 1000 times brighter than our sun. This grouping of "young" stars formed some 20 million years ago and are Hot...Hot...Hot!! They are bathed in an ice blue nebulous haze which is a reflection of these hugh stars. Exposure time was 45 mins.