<\/span>The Flame Nebula<\/h3>\nBut Mars is not the only lovely object up right now. <\/span>The Flame Nebula in Orion is visible to both hemispheres<\/b>, and like the Great Orion Nebula, it is an <\/span>emission nebula<\/span><\/i> \u2013 meaning that forming or nearby stars excite the gas and dust of the nebula to make it glow. However, the Flame is unique in that it has dark clouds that sit between it and our line of sight. These dark features block the glow behind it, causing this particular nebula to appear as if a dark flame sits in front of it. <\/span><\/p>\nAlthough this firey shape can be hard to make out in a normal telescope, it is easily identifiable when activating Enhanced Vision for about 5 minutes<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.unistellar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Flame_JohnShort.png” alt=”The Constellation Orion, showing the location of the Horsehead and Orion Nebula.” title_text=”Flame_JohnShort” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”68%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\nThe Flame Nebula, next to Alnitak in Orion. Image taken by John Short with his eVscope 2.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”1px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
The Rosette Nebula & Heart Shaped Cluster<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nThe<\/strong> Rosette Nebula is also a treat to the eyes of both hemispheres.<\/strong> Situated over 5,000 light years away in the constellation Monoceros, it too is an emission nebula. This stellar nursery is illuminated by its offspring, many of which can be seen in the center of the Rosette as part of the cluster NGC 2244, which contains stars formed by the nebula’s gas and dust only a few million years ago. The Rosette Nebula is quite large, spanning a distance 6 times that of the Great Orion Nebula; it is so big that you won’t even be able to see all of it in one pointing of your telescope! <\/span>The <\/span>Heart Shaped Cluster<\/b>, or Messier 50, is also in the constellation Monoceros and is a bit closer at around 3,000 light years away. This heart-shaped target is an <\/span>open cluster<\/span><\/i>, meaning it is quite young cosmically speaking with its stars loosely clustered. <\/span><\/p>\nBecause it is so far away, we suggest observing the Rosette Nebula for several minutes<\/strong> to see its first intricacies appear. However, the Heart Shaped Cluster is visible to the naked eye in dark sites, but viewing it with your eVscope or eQuinox will quickly clarify over 100 stars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>The Heart & Soul Nebulae<\/h3>\nIn addition to stars, did you know the sky has a heart and soul? The Heart and Soul Nebula<\/b> that is! These nebulae are close to one another as they both lie in the constellation of Cassiopeia, which is visible now in the Northern Hemisphere. The Heart nebula is so named because of its resemblance to our vital organ, and even though we don\u2019t know what a soul looks like, perhaps astronomers figured it would be close to the heart. <\/span><\/p>\nThe Soul nebula is quite bright, but the Heart is much fainter, so we recommend an Enhanced Vision time of a few minutes for the Soul and ~10 minutes for the Heart.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”123px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.unistellar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/RosetteNebula.jpeg” title_text=”RosetteNebula” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”77%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
A composite image of the Rosette Nebula, imaged and processed by Didier Cowen using their eVscope.<\/em><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
The Antennae Galaxy<\/strong><\/h3>\nOur final beau represents two galaxies entangled in a celestial dance: <\/span>the Antennae galaxy in the constellation of Corvus, easily visible in the Southern Hemisphere<\/b>. The Antennae galaxy is a result of two spiral galaxies colliding, interacting, and causing lots of star formation. (You can think of it as a preview for our own Milky Way in about 5 billion years, when we collide with the Andromeda galaxy!) These dancing spirals are stunning but a distant 45 million light years away; therefore, it is best to observe for at least 10 minutes to catch the detail of the Antennae galaxy<\/strong>. With a longer observation, you may even be able to see the antenna-like trails of material, extending from the leftover arms of each galaxy, that were ejected during the initial galactic clash.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\nThere is plenty more to love up in the sky this time of year: if you can\u2019t get enough, you may want to try out the Kissing Crescent Nebula in the Northern Hemisphere, or maybe the Jewel Box Cluster or Veil Nebula in the Southern. As always, feel free to tag us on social if you capture any glances of these, or other, captivating objects!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-929a6719-4323-4702-bd5a-fabceb4433c2″ global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-929a6719-4323-4702-bd5a-fabceb4433c2%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Further readings<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#FDB82B” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”15%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][dsm_post_carousel post_type=”blog” posts_number=”6″ pagi_color=”#FDB82B” pagi_active_color=”#FDB82B” navi_color=”#FDB82B” post_item_bg_color=”gcid-84086a3f-4df3-4dea-91c2-75d1b92f5c80″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-84086a3f-4df3-4dea-91c2-75d1b92f5c80%22:%91%22post_item_bg_color%22%93}”][\/dsm_post_carousel][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It’s the right time of year for viewing celestial objects that will remind you why you fell in love with the night sky.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":251035,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[121],"tags":[],"articles_categories":[],"class_list":["post-251246","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-observations"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Valentine's Observing Guide - 黑料网<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n