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starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
StarCatcher 🇨🇦
@starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
6.9K followers 8.5K following 370 posts
Exploring the universe through my telescopes. Astrophotographer, foodie, and lover of all animals, often more than humans.

#Astrophotography #DeepSpace #Astronomy

My images: https://telescopius.com/profile/jean_legros
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starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(2/2) As always, here is are a starless version of the reprocessed data to enjoy the sheer beauty of the object.

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Comet #Astronomy
C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) was discovered as an asteroidal object with an apparent magnitude of about 21.5 by the Mount Lemmon Survey in images obtained on 3 January 2025 when it was 4.5 AU from the Sun. Consequently, precovery images by PanSTARRS dating from 12 November 2024 were found.[2] The object was found to have a very condensed coma, 2.2 arcseconds across. A short tail, two arcseconds long was found in images from 21 February 2025.[7] When first discovered the comet was expected to only brighten to apparent magnitude 10, but is now expected to brighten to apparent magnitude of about 3.5, which would make it about 400 times brighter than original expectations.[8] After being hidden in the Sun's glare during June and July as it came to solar conjunction on 2 July 2025,[9] the comet was spotted again in the morning sky, significantly brighter than predicted. On 12 August the comet had a coma about one arcminute across and an apparent magnitude of 13.9. By August 19, when the comet was 1.7 AU from the Sun, its total magnitude (nucleus+coma) was estimated to be 11, but the comet did not show an obvious tail.[10] A short spiky tail was visible in images from 25 August.[11] The future brightness of the comet is unknown, but the comet is not expected to have been in an outburst when it exited solar conjunction.
October 24, 2025 at 12:46 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(1/2) Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon.I reprocessed my data to extract more of the tail. It's slightly better.

Shot taken on 2025-10-11 from my backyard.

🔭 William Optics Pleiades 111
📷 ZWO ASI 2600
Total exposure: 31 x 30s (15m30s)

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Comet #Astronomy
C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is a non-periodic comet discovered by the Mount Lemmon Survey in images obtained on 3 January 2025. It has an inbound orbital period of about 1,350 years and will pass perihelion on 8 November 2025 when it will be 0.53 AU (79 million km; 49 million mi) from the Sun. This perihelion passage will reduce the orbital period to about 1,150 years. It makes its closest approach to Earth on 21 October 2025 and may be visible to the naked eye 42 degrees from the Sun after sunset. As of 24 October 2025, the comet is about apparent magnitude 4.2,[3] and the nucleus and coma are visible in binoculars about 12 degrees above Arcturus and near the magnitude 2.5 star Izar. (The handle of the Big Dipper points towards Arcturus.) Both Arcturus and the comet may be visible in the same field of view using low power binoculars such as 7x35s.
October 24, 2025 at 12:46 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
The Pleiades (M45) AKA the Seven Sisters, in the northwest constellation Taurus. It is also the inspiration for the Subaru logo.

Shot taken on 2025-10-11 from my backyard.

🔭 William Optics Pleiades 111
📷 ZWO ASI 2600
Total exposure: 45 x 120s (1h30)

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
The Pleiades also known as Seven Sisters and Messier 45 (M45), is an asterism of an open star cluster containing young B-type stars in the northwest of the constellation Taurus. At a distance of about 444 light-years, it is among the nearest star clusters to Earth and the nearest Messier object to Earth, being the most obvious star cluster to the naked eye in the night sky. It contains the reflection nebulae NGC 1432, an HII region, and NGC 1435, known as the Merope Nebula. Around 2330 BC the Pleiades marked the vernal point. Due to the brightness of its stars, the Pleiades is viewable from most areas on Earth, even in locations with significant light pollution. The cluster is dominated by hot blue luminous stars that have formed within the last 100 million years. Reflection nebulae around the brightest stars were once thought to be leftover material from their formation, but are now considered likely to be an unrelated dust cloud in the interstellar medium through which the stars are currently passing. This dust cloud is estimated to be moving at a speed of approximately 18 km/s relative to the stars in the cluster. Computer simulations have shown that the Pleiades were probably formed from a compact configuration that once resembled the Orion Nebula. Astronomers estimate that the cluster will survive for approximately another 250 million years, after which the clustering will be lost due to gravitational interactions with the galactic neighbourhood. Together with the open star cluster of the Hyades, the Pleiades form the Golden Gate of the Ecliptic. The Pleiades have been said to "resemble a tiny dipper," and should not be confused with the "Little Dipper," or Ursa Minor.
October 13, 2025 at 1:31 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(2/2) As always, here is are a starless version and a zoomed-in view of the comet to enjoy the sheer beauty of the object.

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Comet #Astronomy
Starless version of C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), a non-periodic comet discovered by the Mount Lemmon Survey in images obtained on 3 January 2025. It has an inbound orbital period of about 1,350 years and will pass perihelion on 8 November 2025 when it will be 0.53 AU (79 million km; 49 million mi) from the Sun. This perihelion passage will reduce the orbital period to about 1,150 years. It makes its closest approach to Earth on 21 October 2025 and may be visible to the naked eye 42 degrees from the Sun after sunset. As of 12 October 2025, the comet is about apparent magnitude 5.6,[6] and is visible in binoculars about 15 degrees (approximately one and a half fists) below the cup of the Big Dipper. It is currently about 2 degrees southwest of the star Psi Ursae Majoris. A zoomed in view of Starless version of C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), a non-periodic comet discovered by the Mount Lemmon Survey in images obtained on 3 January 2025. It has an inbound orbital period of about 1,350 years and will pass perihelion on 8 November 2025 when it will be 0.53 AU (79 million km; 49 million mi) from the Sun. This perihelion passage will reduce the orbital period to about 1,150 years. It makes its closest approach to Earth on 21 October 2025 and may be visible to the naked eye 42 degrees from the Sun after sunset. As of 12 October 2025, the comet is about apparent magnitude 5.6,[6] and is visible in binoculars about 15 degrees (approximately one and a half fists) below the cup of the Big Dipper. It is currently about 2 degrees southwest of the star Psi Ursae Majoris.
October 12, 2025 at 8:55 PM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(1/2) Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon is a non-periodic comet discovered by the Mount Lemmon Survey on 3 January 2025.

Shot taken on 2025-10-11 from my backyard.

🔭 William Optics Pleiades 111
📷 ZWO ASI 2600
Total exposure: 31 x 30s (15m30s)

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Comet #Astronomy
C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is a non-periodic comet discovered by the Mount Lemmon Survey in images obtained on 3 January 2025. It has an inbound orbital period of about 1,350 years and will pass perihelion on 8 November 2025 when it will be 0.53 AU (79 million km; 49 million mi) from the Sun. This perihelion passage will reduce the orbital period to about 1,150 years. It makes its closest approach to Earth on 21 October 2025 and may be visible to the naked eye 42 degrees from the Sun after sunset. As of 12 October 2025, the comet is about apparent magnitude 5.6,[6] and is visible in binoculars about 15 degrees (approximately one and a half fists) below the cup of the Big Dipper. It is currently about 2 degrees southwest of the star Psi Ursae Majoris.
October 12, 2025 at 8:55 PM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
Yes indeed and in this case, it was done with a small telescope with a 61mm aperture and 300mm focal length
October 8, 2025 at 12:01 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(2/2) As always, here is are a starless version and 2 zoomed-in views of the Nebula to enjoy the sheer beauty of the object.

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
Starless version of NGC 7822 is a star-forming emission nebula and the "Cosmic Question Mark" nebula located in the constellation Cepheus, approximately 3,000 light-years from Earth. It's a vibrant region containing the Sharpless 171 emission region and the young Berkeley 59 star cluster, illuminated by hot, young stars that ionize the surrounding gas and dust, forming intricate structures. Detail of the starless version of NGC 7822 Detail of the starless version of NGC 7822
October 7, 2025 at 1:52 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(1/2) NGC 7822 is a star-forming emission nebula located in the constellation Cepheus, ~3,000 light-years from Earth.

Shot taken on 2025-10-05 from my backyard.

🔭 William Optics Red Cat 61
📷 ZWO ASI 2600 + L-Extreme
Total exposure: 13 x 600s (2h10)

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
NGC 7822 is a star-forming emission nebula and the "Cosmic Question Mark" nebula located in the constellation Cepheus, approximately 3,000 light-years from Earth. It's a vibrant region containing the Sharpless 171 emission region and the young Berkeley 59 star cluster, illuminated by hot, young stars that ionize the surrounding gas and dust, forming intricate structures. Key Features Location: Constellation Cepheus. Distance: About 3,000 light-years from Earth. Composition: A complex of emission regions, including Sharpless 171, and a young open star cluster known as Berkeley 59. Star Formation: It is a stellar nursery where massive, hot stars are actively forming. Illumination: Intense radiation from these hot stars ionizes the surrounding hydrogen gas, causing it to glow. Structures: Stellar winds from these stars create "pillar-like" structures and intricate dust lanes within the nebula.
October 7, 2025 at 1:52 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
The Moon this evening at 57% illumination (Waxing Gibbous 8.01 days old). 🔭 🧪 🎨

Shot taken on 2025-09-31 from my backyard.

Moon Distance: 395,789.39 km

Telescope: SCT 8 in
Camera: ZWO 2600 MC OSC
50 best of 500 exposures stacked

#Astrophotography #Space #Moon #MoonHour #Planetary #Astronomy
The Moon this evening at 57% illumination (Waxing Gibbous 8.01 days old). 🔭 🧪 🎨 Shot taken on 2025-09-31 from my backyard. Moon Distance: 395,789.39 km Telescope: SCT 8 in Camera: ZWO 2600 MC OSC 10% best of 5000 exposures stacked Phase: Waxing Gibbous Illumination: 57% Moon Age: 8.01 days Moon Angle: 0.50 Moon Distance: 395,789.39 km Sun Angle: 0.53 #Astrophotography #Space #Moon #MoonHour #Planetary #Astronomy
October 1, 2025 at 12:49 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(2/2) As always, here she is with no stars and a zoomed-in version of the galaxy to enjoy the sheer beauty of the object. Remember that the light captured that evening took 2.5 millions years to get to us.

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
Starless version of The Andromeda Galaxy (M31). It is the closest major spiral galaxy to our Milky Way, located about 2.5 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. It is visible to the naked eye as a faint, fuzzy spot and contains roughly a trillion stars. Astronomers study Andromeda to better understand the evolution of spiral galaxies, including our own Milky Way, and it is a crucial target for research into dark matter. A closer look a the Starless version of The Andromeda Galaxy (M31). It is the closest major spiral galaxy to our Milky Way, located about 2.5 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. It is visible to the naked eye as a faint, fuzzy spot and contains roughly a trillion stars.
September 23, 2025 at 12:45 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(1/2) The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) our neighbour, located about 2.5 million light-years away. This is a work in progress.

Shot taken on 2025-09-21 from my backyard.

🔭 William Optics Red Cat 61
📷 ZWO ASI 2600
Total exposure: 30 x 180s (1h30)

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is the closest major spiral galaxy to our Milky Way, located about 2.5 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda.
September 23, 2025 at 12:45 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(2/2) As always, here is a starless and 2 zoomed-in versions of the Nebula to enjoy the sheer beauty of the object.

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
Starless version of IC 1396, a large emission nebulae, a region of ionized gas, located in the constellation Cepheus about 2,400 light years away from Earth. Zoomed in version of the starless image of IC 1396 Zoomed in version of the starless image of IC 1396
September 21, 2025 at 1:36 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(1/2) IC 1396 is an emission nebulae, located in the constellation Cepheus about 2,400 light years away from Earth.

Shot taken on 2025-09-19 from my backyard.

🔭 William Optics Red Cat 61
📷 ZWO ASI 2600 + L-Extreme
Total exposure: 45 x 300s (3h45)

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
IC 1396 is a large emission nebulae, a region of ionized gas, located in the constellation Cepheus about 2,400 light years away from Earth.[1] IC 1396 is illuminated and ionized by a very bright, massive multiple star HD 206267 at its center, except for dense globules that can protect themselves from the star's harsh ultraviolet rays. This hierarchical triple star system has two members that form a spectroscopic binary that orbit each other with a period of 3.7 days, while a third member lies further away—it is unclear whether this third member is gravitationally bound to the pair. The system is emitting a stellar wind that reaches an exceptional velocity of 3,225 km/s, among the highest measured for stars of this type.[2] Jutting from the rim of the nebula is IC 1396A, commonly called the Elephant's Trunk Nebula, a dark, dense globule with a bright, sinuous rim being illuminated by HD 206267.[3]
September 21, 2025 at 1:36 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(2/2) As always, here is a starless and 2 zoomed-in versions of the Nebula to enjoy the sheer beauty of the object.

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
Starless version of IC 1396, a large emission nebulae, a region of ionized gas, located in the constellation Cepheus about 2,400 light years away from Earth. Detail of a Starless version of IC 1396, a large emission nebulae, a region of ionized gas, located in the constellation Cepheus about 2,400 light years away from Earth. Detail of a Starless version of IC 1396, a large emission nebulae, a region of ionized gas, located in the constellation Cepheus about 2,400 light years away from Earth.
September 21, 2025 at 1:31 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(3/3) Here's the rig that took that picture.
A very small telescope (300mm focal length @ ƒ4.9) with excellent optics from William Optics

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy #WilliamOptics #RedCat
Fully autonomous Telescope system with a William Optics Red Cat 61 Fully autonomous Telescope system with a William Optics Red Cat 61 Fully autonomous Telescope system with a William Optics Red Cat 61
September 17, 2025 at 8:15 PM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(2/3) Of course, here are a starless and 2 zoomed-in versions of the Nebula to enjoy the sheer beauty of the object.

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
Starless version of the North America Nebula (NGC 7000 or Caldwell 20) is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, close to Deneb (the tail of the swan and its brightest star) in the night sky. It is named because its shape resembles North America. Detail of Starless version of the North America Nebula (NGC 7000 or Caldwell 20) is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, close to Deneb (the tail of the swan and its brightest star) in the night sky. It is named because its shape resembles North America. Detail of Starless version of the North America Nebula (NGC 7000 or Caldwell 20) is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, close to Deneb (the tail of the swan and its brightest star) in the night sky. It is named because its shape resembles North America.
September 17, 2025 at 8:15 PM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(1/3) NGC 7000, The North American Nebula + the Pelican Nebula are emission nebulae located in the constellation Cygnus.

Shot taken on 2025-09-16 from my backyard.

🔭 William Optics Red Cat 61
📷 ZWO ASI 2600
Total exposure: 32 x 300s (2h40)

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
The North America Nebula (NGC 7000 or Caldwell 20) is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, close to Deneb (the tail of the swan and its brightest star) in the night sky. It is named because its shape resembles North America.
September 17, 2025 at 8:15 PM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(2/2) Of course, here are a starless and 2 zoomed-in versions of the Soul Nebula to enjoy the sheer beauty of the object.

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
Starless version of the Soul Nebula Zoomed in version 1 Starless version of the Soul Nebula Zoomed in version 2 Starless version of the Soul Nebula
September 1, 2025 at 9:40 PM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(1/2) IC 1848, also known as the Soul Nebula, is an emission nebula located in Cassiopeia.

Shot taken on 2025-08-31 from my backyard.

🔭 William Optics Pleiades 111
📷 ZWO ASI 2600
Total exposure: 42 x 300s (3h30)

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
Westerhout 5 (Sharpless 2-199, LBN 667, Soul Nebula) is an emission nebula located in Cassiopeia. Several small open clusters are embedded in the nebula: CR 34, 632, and 634[citation needed] (in the head) and IC 1848 (in the body). The object is more commonly called by the cluster designation IC 1848. Small emission nebula IC 1871 is present just left of the top of the head, and small emission nebulae 670 and 669 are just below the lower back area. The galaxies Maffei 1 and Maffei 2 are both nearby the nebula, although light extinction from the Milky Way makes them very hard to see. Once thought to be part of the Local Group, they are now known to belong to their own group- the IC 342/Maffei Group. This complex is the eastern neighbour of IC1805 (Heart Nebula) and the two are often mentioned together as the "Heart and Soul".
September 1, 2025 at 9:40 PM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(2/2) Of course, here are a starless versions of the Wizard to enjoy the sheer beauty of the object.

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
🧵(2/2) Of course, here are a starless versions of the Wizard to enjoy the sheer beauty of the object.
August 16, 2025 at 10:17 PM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(1/2) IC 63, also known as the Ghost of Cassiopeia, is a reflection and emission nebula located in the constellation Cassiopeia.

Shot taken on 2025-08-15 from my backyard.

🔭 William Optics Pleiades 111
📷 ZWO ASI 2600
Total exposure: 42 x 300s (3h30)

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
🧵(1/2) IC 63, also known as the Ghost of Cassiopeia, is a reflection and emission nebula located in the constellation Cassiopeia, about 550 light-years away. It's shaped by the radiation from the nearby bright star Gamma Cassiopeiae, a blue-white subgiant. The nebula's ethereal glow is due to the interaction of this radiation with the gas and dust clouds. Shot taken on 2025-08-15 from my backyard 🔭 William Optics Pleiades 111 📷 ZWO ASI 2600 Total exposure: 42 x 300s (3h30) #Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
August 16, 2025 at 10:17 PM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(2/2) Of course, here are a starless versions of the Wizard to enjoy the sheer beauty of the object.

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
August 15, 2025 at 3:32 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(1/2) The Wizard Nebula (NGC 7380) is an open cluster of stars in the constellation of Cepheus.

Shot taken on 2025-08-11 from my backyard

🔭: William Optics Pleiades 111
📷: ZWO ASI 2600
Total exposure: 26 x 300 sec (2h10)

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
NGC 7380 is a young open cluster of stars in the northern circumpolar constellation of Cepheus, discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1787. The surrounding emission nebulosity is known colloquially as the Wizard Nebula, which spans an angle of 25′. German-born astronomer William Herschel included his sister's discovery in his catalog, and labelled it H VIII.77. The nebula is known as S 142 in the 1959 Sharpless catalog (Sh2-142).It is extremely difficult to observe visually, usually requiring very dark skies and an O-III filter. The NGC 7380 complex is located at a distance of approximately 8.5 kilolight-years from the Sun, in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way. The cluster spans ~20 light-years (6 pc) with an elongated shape and an extended tail.[2] Age estimates range from 4[2] to 11.9 million years. At the center of the cluster lies DH Cephei, a close, double-lined spectroscopic binary system consisting of two massive O-type stars. This pair are the primary ionizing source for the surrounding H II region, and are driving out the surrounding gas and dust while triggering star formation in the neighboring region. Of the variable stars that have been identified in the cluster, 14 have been identified as pre-main sequence stars while 17 are main sequence stars that are primarily B-type variables. Shot taken on 2025-08-01 from my backyard 🔭: William Optics Pleiades 111 📷: ZWO ASI 2600 Total exposure: 26 x 300 sec (2h10) #Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
August 15, 2025 at 3:32 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(2/3) Cropped version to see the detail of the iris. This shot is particularly hard for me since I'm in a light polluted area (Bortle 8).

No filters were used.

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
The Bortle dark-sky scale (usually referred to as simply the Bortle scale) is a nine-level numeric scale that measures the night sky's brightness of a particular location. It characterizes the observability of celestial objects, taking into account the interference caused by light pollution. Amateur astronomer John E. Bortle created the scale and published it in the February 2001 edition of Sky & Telescope magazine to help skywatchers evaluate and compare the darkness of night-sky observing sites.
August 5, 2025 at 12:32 AM
starcatcherjohn.bsky.social
🧵(1/3) The Iris Nebula (also known as NGC 7023 and Caldwell 4) is a bright reflection nebula in the constellation Cepheus.

Shot taken on 2025-08-01 from my backyard

🔭: William Optics Pleiades 111
📷: ZWO ASI 2600
Total exposure: 56 x 120 sec (1h52)

#Astrophotography #Space #DeepSpace #Astronomy
The Iris Nebula (also known as NGC 7023 and Caldwell 4) is a bright reflection nebula in the constellation Cepheus. The designation NGC 7023 refers to the open cluster within the larger reflection nebula designated LBN 487. The nebula, which shines at magnitude +6.8, is illuminated by a magnitude +7.4 star designated HD 200775.[1] It is located near the Mira-type variable star T Cephei, and near the bright magnitude +3.23 variable star Beta Cephei (Alfirk). It lies 1,300 light-years away and is six light-years across.
August 5, 2025 at 12:32 AM