2. Astronomy

NIGHT OVER ONTARIO

These photos were taken by Lynn Hilborn of Grafton, Ontario.
Pictures have appeared on the cover and inside editions of SkyNews magazine and in Sky & Telescope and Astronomy magazine, and as NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day.

“ Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,”
W.B.Yeats



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Omega Centauri and Centaurus A <br /> Taken by Lynn Hilborn in Aruba, Feb 2014 with modified Canon 6D, 200mm Canon f2.8 lens and 1.4x telecompressor at f4.5. 7 x 20 second exposures 3200 ISO.<br /> <br /> At the top of this skyscape, Centaurus A (NGC 5128). Spanning over 60,000 light-years, the peculiar elliptical galaxy is apparently the result of a collision of two otherwise normal galaxies. The left over cosmic debris is steadily being consumed by a black hole with a billion times the mass of the Sun which lies at the center of Centaurus A. It's likely that such black hole central engines generate the radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray energy radiated by Centaurus A and other active galaxies. For an active galaxy Centaurus A is close, a mere 10 million light-years away, and is well-studied by earthbound astronomers. At the bottom of this image, globular star cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) is some 15,000 light-years away and 150 light-years in diameter. Packed with about 10 million stars much older than the Sun, Omega Cen is the largest of 200 or so known globular clusters that roam the halo of our Milky Way galaxy. Though most star clusters consist of stars with the same age and composition, the enigmatic Omega Cen exhibits the presence of different stellar populations with a spread of ages and chemical abundances. In fact, Omega Cen may be the remnant core of a small galaxy merging with the Milky Way (text adapted from APOD).
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Omega Centauri and Centaurus A
Taken by Lynn Hilborn in Aruba, Feb 2014 with modified Canon 6D, 200mm Canon f2.8 lens and 1.4x telecompressor at f4.5. 7 x 20 second exposures 3200 ISO.

At the top of this skyscape, Centaurus A (NGC 5128). Spanning over 60,000 light-years, the peculiar elliptical galaxy is apparently the result of a collision of two otherwise normal galaxies. The left over cosmic debris is steadily being consumed by a black hole with a billion times the mass of the Sun which lies at the center of Centaurus A. It's likely that such black hole central engines generate the radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray energy radiated by Centaurus A and other active galaxies. For an active galaxy Centaurus A is close, a mere 10 million light-years away, and is well-studied by earthbound astronomers. At the bottom of this image, globular star cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) is some 15,000 light-years away and 150 light-years in diameter. Packed with about 10 million stars much older than the Sun, Omega Cen is the largest of 200 or so known globular clusters that roam the halo of our Milky Way galaxy. Though most star clusters consist of stars with the same age and composition, the enigmatic Omega Cen exhibits the presence of different stellar populations with a spread of ages and chemical abundances. In fact, Omega Cen may be the remnant core of a small galaxy merging with the Milky Way (text adapted from APOD).

  • IC 342 Face on spiral galaxy in Camelopardalis. Image taken by Lynn Hilborn WhistleStop Obs, Grafton, Ontario on October 12 and 26,2012. LHaRGB ( Lum 23x15m, bin 1x1, RGB 18x5m, bin 2x2, Ha 5x15m, bin 2x2). Taken with TEC 140 @f7 and FLI ML8300 camera with Baader filters on a Tak NJP Temma2 mount. Published in SkyNews, Jan 2013 edition.<br /> <br /> At a relatively close distance of 6.5 million light years IC342 would be one of the brightest galaxies in the sky if it weren't for its untoward location, only 10.5 degrees from the galactic equator (Milky Way disc plane). Obscured by the interstellar matter of the Milky Way, its light is heavily attenuated (by 2.4 magnitudes) before it reaches us and its field is cluttered with foreground Milky Way stars. IC342 is a member of the nearby IC 342/Maffei group. This loosely arranged group contains about 16 members including the two dominant members, IC 342 and Maffei 1. It represents the nearest grouping of galaxies to our local group and evidence tells of an interaction with the local group some eight billion years ago. The most luminous galaxies in the group are the giant spiral IC 342, the elliptical Maffei 1, and the intermediate spiral Maffei 2. Maffei 1 is the nearest normal giant elliptical galaxy to the local group but is also optically dim having its light extinguished 5.3 magnitudes by the Milky Way.<br /> <br /> IC 342 is an open two armed spiral and the closest galaxy to the Milky Way with a circumnuclear starburst ring. The cluster of stars near the nucleus formed in a short lived burst some 60 million years ago. Most likely the starburst was triggered by gas inflows into the central 1000 light years of the galaxy driven by the presence of a small scale bar. The newly arrived dense gas formed a central ring which triggered the starburst and now surrounds the nuclear starburst region. At least 5 prominent giant molecular clouds have been found associated with the molecular ring along with several large star forming regions. A prominent feature of IC342 is the numerous and very visible HII regions. IC 342 rivals M81 and M33 among local galaxies in the number of visible HII regions. Probably they are made more apparent by the relative extinction of the shorter wavelength light by the intervening interstellar dust of the Milky Way. Text by Robert Gendler.
  • M78 Reflection nebula. 16 hours of exposure taken by Lynn Hilborn, WhistleStop Obs, Grafton, Ontario. TEC 140 @f7 and FLI ML8300 camera on Takahashi NJP mount. LRGB each 160m and Ha 300m all binned 1x1. Imaged Nov 2011 thru Jan 2012. Image appears in Sky and Telescope magazine May 2012 and back cover Royal Astronomical Society of Canada magazine Journal, April 2012. <br /> <br /> An eerie blue glow and ominous columns of dark dust highlight M78 and other bright reflection nebula in the constellation of Orion. The dark filamentary dust not only absorbs light, but also reflects the light of several bright blue stars that formed recently in the nebula. Of the two reflection nebulas pictured above, the more famous nebula is M78, the upper , while NGC 2071 can be seen below. The same type of scattering that colors the daytime sky further enhances the blue color. M78 is about five light-years across and visible through a small telescope. M78 appears above only as it was 1600 years ago, however, because that is how long it takes light to go from there to here. M78 belongs to the larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex that contains the Great Nebula in Orion and the Horsehead Nebula. Text, with thanks, from APOD see<br /> <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080318.html">http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080318.html</a><br /> Thanks for looking
  • Antares and Rho Ophucius region with M4 globular cluster<br /> 32x5m Canon 60D modded at 800 ISO and Canon 200mm f2.8 lens @ f4.0<br /> Mount EQ6 with SSAG guider in 50mm finder.<br /> Taken by Lynn Hilborn at WhistleStop Obs, Grafton,Ontario on June 13,14, 2012. Picture appeared in November 2012 SkyNews magazine.
  • M27 The DumbbeII Nebula
  • M27 The Dumbbell Nebula 10 hours of exposure. 3 hours each of Ha and OIII added to 4 hours LRGB with TEC140@f7 and ML8300 camera. LRGB Lum 1x1 12x10m, RGB each 2x2 9x5m.<br /> Taken by Lynn Hilborn, WhistleStop Obs, Grafton, Ontario on July 24, 2012<br /> The first hint of what will become of our Sun was discovered inadvertently in 1764. At that time, Charles Messier was compiling a list of diffuse objects not to be confused with comets. The 27th object on Messier's list, now known as M27 or the Dumbbell Nebula, is a planetary nebula, the type of nebula our Sun will produce when nuclear fusion stops in its core. M27 is one of the brightest planetary nebulae on the sky, and can be seen toward the constellation of the Fox (Vulpecula) with binoculars. It takes light about 1000 years to reach us from M27, shown above in colors emitted by hydrogen and oxygen. Understanding the physics and significance of M27 was well beyond 18th century science. Even today, many things remain mysterious about bipolar planetary nebula like M27, including the physical mechanism that expels a low-mass star's gaseous outer-envelope, leaving an X-ray hot white dwarf. Text from APOD, Astronomy Photo of the Day sponsored by NASA.
  • M27 The Dumbbell Nebula in LRGB with TEC140@f7 and ML8300 camera. Lum 1x1 12x10m, RGB each 2x2 9x5m.<br /> Taken by Lynn Hilborn, WhistleStop Obs, Grafton, Ontario on July 24, 2012.
  • Leo 1 Dwarf Galaxy...taken by Lynn Hilborn, WhistleStop Obs,Grafton,Ontario..April 25, May 11 and 14, 2012<br /> TEC 140 and ML8300 camera, Lum 1x1 29x5m, RGB 2x2 10x2m each. Appeared on back cover of RASC Journal, August 2012.<br /> The star near the bottom is so bright that it is sometimes hard to notice the galaxy toward the bottom. Pictured above, both the star, Regulus, and the galaxy, Leo I, can be found within one degree of each other toward the constellation of the Lion (Leo). Regulus is part of a multiple star system, with a close companion double star visible to the lower left of the young main sequence star. Leo I is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy in the Local Group of galaxies dominated by our Milky Way Galaxy and M31. Leo I is thought to be the most distant of the several known small satellite galaxies orbiting our Milky Way Galaxy. Regulus is located about 75 light years away, in contrast to Leo 1 which is located about 800,000 light years away. Text from APOD <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120110.html">http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120110.html</a>
  • The Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146, S125). TEC 140 @f7 and ML8300 camera with Baader filters. Lum 1x1 9x 10m, RGB 2x2 9x5m. Taken on July 20,2012 by Lynn Hilborn, WhistleStop Obs, Grafton, Ontario
  • Venus and cloudy dawn in Aruba, Feb 2014. Taken by Lynn Hilborn with modified Canon 6D, Samyang14mm lens @f 2.8, 3200 ISO single 22 second exposure.<br /> Astronomy Magazine Picture of the Day June 21,2014.
  • Omega Centauri and Centaurus A <br /> Taken by Lynn Hilborn in Aruba, Feb 2014 with modified Canon 6D, 200mm Canon f2.8 lens and 1.4x telecompressor at f4.5. 7 x 20 second exposures 3200 ISO.<br /> <br /> At the top of this skyscape, Centaurus A (NGC 5128). Spanning over 60,000 light-years, the peculiar elliptical galaxy is apparently the result of a collision of two otherwise normal galaxies. The left over cosmic debris is steadily being consumed by a black hole with a billion times the mass of the Sun which lies at the center of Centaurus A. It's likely that such black hole central engines generate the radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray energy radiated by Centaurus A and other active galaxies. For an active galaxy Centaurus A is close, a mere 10 million light-years away, and is well-studied by earthbound astronomers. At the bottom of this image, globular star cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) is some 15,000 light-years away and 150 light-years in diameter. Packed with about 10 million stars much older than the Sun, Omega Cen is the largest of 200 or so known globular clusters that roam the halo of our Milky Way galaxy. Though most star clusters consist of stars with the same age and composition, the enigmatic Omega Cen exhibits the presence of different stellar populations with a spread of ages and chemical abundances. In fact, Omega Cen may be the remnant core of a small galaxy merging with the Milky Way (text adapted from APOD).
  • The Trifids, M20. LRGB Lum 7x10m bin 1x1, RGB each 12x5m bin 2x2. Taken with TEC 140 @f7 and FLI ML8300 camera at -30C.<br /> Shot July 05,09,10, 2012 by Lynn Hilborn, WhistleStop Obs,Grafton, Ontario. COVER PHOTO, SkyNews Magazine, September 2012.<br /> M20 (Trifid Nebula) (Barnard 85) (NGC 6514)<br /> <br /> Distance: 5500 to 9000 light years<br /> <br /> Right Ascension: 18 : 02.3 (hours : minutes)<br /> Declination: -23 : 02 (degrees : minutes)<br /> <br /> Text Copyright Robert Gendler 2006<br /> A gem of the summer sky, M20 allows us a view into the exciting science of star birth. M20 is a young HII region (300,000 years old) about 30 light years across and is illuminated by the O-type supergiant HD 164492 at the center of its trilobed emission cloud. The ionizing star is about 30 times the mass of our sun and is the "A" component of a triple system ( A, B, and C components). In all there are seven members (HD 164492 A through G) of the small cluster packed within a half light year at the center of M20. As an HII region M20 is similar to M42 in its complexity and relationship to its parent molecular cloud but is much younger. A large blue reflection cloud forms the northern border of M20 and is illuminated solely by the F-type supergiant HD 164514. Recent X-ray and infrared observations have discovered an amazing array of very early stars and protostars within M20 giving us a rare glimpse of the earliest stages of star birth.<br /> <br /> Stars in the earliest formative stages are difficult to detect optically as they are shrouded from view by their parent molecular cloud. They reveal their presence by jets and outflows of gas which characterize their unstable and turbulent beginnings. The power of infrared observations (Spitzer Observatory) allows astronomers to "see" beyond the cloak of gas and dust that obscures young stars. Large populations of the earliest protostars or pre- main sequence stars (Class O and I) have been detected along the filamentary dark lanes near the reflection component. More evolved protostars (Class II) are found along ionization fronts within the rounded brighter parts of the emission cloud. Text with thanks to Robert Gendler.
  • North American nebula to the Dark Horse..Canon 60D modified 2000 ISO 10mm fisheye lens f2.8. 12 exposures x 1minute each.<br /> Taken by Lynn Hilborn, Grafton,Ontario July 15 2012.
  • The world revolves around Shelter Valley...Shelter Valley Folk Festival star trails. 95 x 1 minute each, Canon 60D sigma 10mm lens @ f2.8, 1000 ISO. Taken by Lynn Hilborn, Grafton, Ontario on June 26, 2012. Picture appeared in November 2012 SkyNews magazine
  • 'Best in Show', 2011 Starfest Image Salon<br /> vdB 141 'Cosmic Surfers' in constellation Cepheus . <br /> Lum 18x10m bin 1x1, RGB 12x5m each bin 2x2, taken with TEC140 and FLI ML8300 camera.<br /> Taken by Lynn Hilborn, WhistleStop Obs, Grafton Ontario on June 02 and 06, 2011.<br /> <br /> Published in Sky&Telescope Magazine, October 2011 edition
  • New Camera Lens...Tokina 300mm f2.8 connected to ML8300 camera. IC1396, 8 hours of exposure, Ha bin 1x1 6x30 minutes, OIII binned 2x2 6x30 minutes, SII binned 3x3 4x30 minutes. 3.5 arcsec/pixel. Still have to adjust for some coma but quite surprised and pleased with the light gathering power of this lens. October 06, 2011.<br /> Published as Cover photo...The Journal, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, December 2011
  • Hickson Galaxy Group 68 and NGC 5371, in Canes Venatici. NGC 5371 is a spiral galaxy seen face-on. It is classified as an Sbc barred spiral galaxy and located about 100 million light years from Earth. Together with Hickson Galaxy Group 68, NGC 5371 makes up the Big Lick Galaxy Group. 6 hours of exposure. <br /> ***** Editors' Choice, Sky and Telescope magazine photo gallery.<br /> Taken by Lynn Hilborn, WhistleStop Obs, Grafton, Ontario on May 15 2012.<br /> Lum 1x1 19x10m, RGB each 2x2 12x5m. TEC 140 @f7 and FLI ML8300 camera with Baader filters
  • Flaming Star Nebula (IC405) and Tadpoles (IC410) in HaRGB...5 hours of Ha 15x20m binned 1x1, 4x5m each RGB binned 2x2.<br /> NP101is at f4.3 and FLI ML8300 camera. Taken by Lynn Hilborn, WhistleStop Obs, Grafton, Ontario November 10, 2009. Cover of SkyNews Magazine May/June 2010. ( Reprocessed in LAB, April 2011.)
  • NGC 3718 galaxy pair...TEC 140 @f7 and FLI ML8300 camera. Taken by Lynn Hilborn, WhistleStop Obs, Grafton, Ontario on March 17,2013. LRGB Lum 12x10m 1x1, RGB 8x5m each 2x2.<br /> <br /> NGC 3718 and its companion NGC 3729 are physically related members of the Ursa Major galaxy cluster. The two galaxies appear to orbit each other at a projected separation of 147,000 light years. NGC 3718 seems to have a rudimentary bar and spiral structure although it is recognized as a peculiar galaxy and as such is listed within Arp's Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies. Its most prominent feature is its extraordinary dust lane and strongly warped disk which gives an S-shaped appearance. The dust lane runs through the entire stellar bulge of the galaxy and stretches some 80,000 light years in its full extent. The disk is seen almost edge on at the center and is strongly warped to almost 90 degrees, a situation quite unique among galaxies.<br /> <br /> The peculiar dust lane covers a large part of the galaxy's main body and extends all the way into the nucleus. Because of the strong warp, features seen close to the nucleus are actually far from the center being seen in projection. The warp is also present in the very complex gaseous infrastructure of the galaxy observed at radio wavelengths. Three dimensional reconstructions of the galaxy suggest that in some viewing angles its appearance may seem quite normal suggesting that other galaxies with similar severe warps could go unnoticed. Warping of galactic disks is a relatively frequent phenomenon although the cause of disk warping is still uncertain. Warping in most cases is believed to be due to tidal forces exerted by neighboring galaxies. In the case of NGC 3718 the most reasonable explanation is its close proximity to NGC 3729 which is likely responsible for the strange configuration of the galaxy. Other explanations for warping such as twisting forces exerted by massive outer halo structures has been suggested and may possibly play a role. The prominent dust lane of NGC 3718 is remarkably similar to another well known southern galaxy, NGC 5128 (Centaurus A), which is considered to be its southern counterpart.<br /> <br /> NGC 3718 contains an active galactic nucleus (AGN) and is known as a Seyfert type 1.9 galaxy. HI mapping of the galaxy shows a suggestion of a tidal tail that starts on the eastern side of the galaxy and extends north towards its companion NGC 3729 strongly suggesting a gravitational relationship between the two galaxies.<br /> <br /> A grouping of 5 background galaxies 300 million light years distant are projected to the south of NGC 3718 and are designated Arp 322 (also Hickson 56). Several members of the group appear to be a strongly interacting. This field of interesting galaxies highlights the collection of peculiar galaxies published by the American Astronomer Dr. Halton C. Arp. In 1966 Arp published a catalog of 338 unusual or peculiar galaxies and interacting groups using film images taken by the Palomar 200 inch telescope. Description with permission of Dr. Robert Gendler.
  • NGC 7822 Taken with Tec140@f5.6 Ha 12x30m (bin1x1), OIII 8x30m (bin 2x2), SII 5x30m (bin2x2). Total 12.5 hours. FLI ML8300 camera and Takahashi NJP mount.<br /> Imaged Nov 1,4,5,2011 at WhistleStop Obs, Grafton, Ontario by Lynn Hilborn. <br /> Editor's Choice, Sky & Telescope photo gallery<br /> <br /> Hot, young stars and cosmic pillars of gas and dust seem to crowd into NGC 7822. At the edge of a giant molecular cloud toward the northern constellation Cepheus, the glowing star forming region lies about 3,000 light-years away. Within the nebula, bright edges and dark shapes are highlighted in this colorful skyscape. The image includes data from narrowband filters, mapping emission from atomic oxygen, hydrogen, and sulfur into blue, green, and red hues. The atomic emission is powered by energetic radiation from the hot stars, whose powerful winds and radiation also sculpt and erode the denser pillar shapes. Stars could still be forming inside the pillars by gravitational collapse, but as the pillars are eroded away, any forming stars will ultimately be cutoff from their reservoir of star stuff. This field spans around 40 light-years at the estimated distance of NGC 7822. Text from APOD.
  • Garradd, galaxies and a globular....Comet Garradd ((C2009 P1), background galaxies and globular cluster M92. Lum 1x1 300seconds, RGB 2x2 each 120 seconds. TEC 140 @ f5.6 and FLI ML8300 camera at -30. Taken by Lynn Hilborn, February 3, 2012 at 4am, WhistleStop Observatory, Grafton, Ontario.<br /> When comets float by deep-sky objects, the combination can be beautiful. But it’s also deceiving. Here, Comet C/2009 P1 (Garradd) passes globular cluster M92, which lies in the constellation Hercules. At the time of this image, Comet Garradd shone at magnitude 7.1 and was approximately 154 million miles (248 million kilometers) from the Sun. M92, on the other hand, shines at magnitude 6.5 and lies some 26,000 light-years away — 990 million times more distant than the comet! <br /> Image was published in SkyNews magazine (May/June 2012)
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