Triangulum Galaxy (M33),
a spiral galaxy, about 3 million light years from Earth, is the most distant object that can be viewed with the naked eye in low light-pollution areas.
(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Mount: Vixen SXD, Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Antenna Site, Date: 11/5/10)

Andromeda Galaxy(M31),
is a spiral galaxy about 2.5million light years away. Andromeda is the closest galaxy to our Milky Way galaxy. 

(Scope: Vixen ED103 with focal reducer,  Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Griffen Ranch )

 

Horse Head Nebula, (IC434),
is a dark nebula in the constellation Orion, and is 1500 light years from earth. The dark horse head shaped nebula is illuminated from behind by the red glow of ionized hydogen gas.

(Scope: Vixen ED103 with focal reducer,  Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Alpine,TX ) 

 

M13 Globuler Cluster,
is about 145 light-years in diameter, and is 25,100 light-years from earth. It is made up of several hundred thousand stars.

(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Camera: ST-8300C, Location/Date: Chandler,AZ 5/8/10 ) 

 

M17, Swan Nebula,

(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Camera: ST-8300C, Location/Date: Tahoe, CA 6/16/10 ) 

 

M1, Crab Nebula,
(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Mount: Vixen SXD, Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Antenna Site, Date: 11/5/10)

 

Orion Nebula (M42) & NGC1977,

Taken near Alpine, TX., Oct., 2010. Vixen ED103S on a Vixen Sphinx SXD Mount with SBIG8300C.

NGC7293, Helix Nebula,
also known as the "Eye of God", is a large plnetary nebula, is estimated to be about 700 light years from Earth.
(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Mount: Vixen SXD, Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Antenna Site, Date: 11/6/10

Eagle Nebula (M16),
is a relatively young open cluster of stars about 6,500 light years away. It is the subject of one of the most famous Hubble Images, entitled the "Pillers of Creation".

(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Griffen Ranch )

 

Western Veil Nebula (NGC6960),
also referred to as the "Witches Broom" is located in the constallation Cygnus, and is the remnant of a supernova that exploded some 5,000 to 8,000 years ago.


(Scope: Vixen ED103 with focal reducer,  Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Globe, AZ ) 

 

M82(Cigar) & M81(Bode) Galaxy, Gravitational influence of larger M81 on M82, has deformed the Cigar shaped galaxy, and increased star formation 10-fold compared to normal galaxies.

(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Camera: ST-8300C, Location/Date: AASP, 11/5/10

 

Eastern Veil Nebula(NGC6992),

(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Camera: ST-8300C, Location/Date: Chandler,AZ 5/8/10 ) 

 

M3 Globular Cluster,
(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Mount: Vixen SXD, Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Chandler, AZ, Date: 4/9/10)

M101, Spiral Galaxy,
(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Mount: Vixen SXD, Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Rancho Hidalgo, Date: 1/29/11)

NGC253, Sculptor Galaxy,
also known as the Silver Coin Galaxy, is an intermediate spiral galaxy that is currently undergoing a period of intense star formation.
(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Mount: Vixen SXD, Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Antenna Site, Date: 11/7/10)

Pleiades (M45),
also known as the "Seven Sisters", is actually comprised of over 3000 stars. At 400 light years away, its blue reflection nebulosity makes it appear as a hazy patch in the sky to the naked eye. 
(Scope: Vixen ED103 with focal reducer,  Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Griffen Ranch )

 

Orion Nebula (M42),
is one of the brightest nebulas visible to the naked eye. At 1,344 light years away, it is the closest star forming region to earth.


(Scope: Vixen ED103 with focal reducer,  Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Alpine,TX & Animas,NM & Globe,AZ) 

 

M27 (Dumbbell Nebula),
was the first planetary nebula to be discovered by Carles Messier in 1764. Its distance from earth is about 1,360 light years.

(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Camera: ST-8300C, Location/Date: Chandler,AZ 5/8/10 ) 

 

M51, Whirlpool Galaxy,

(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Camera: ST-8300C, Location/Date: Griffin Ranch, Globe,AZ 5/15/10 ) 

 

M66 Group, Leo Triplet,
(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Mount: Vixen SXD, Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Griffen Ranch Site, Date: 5/15/10)

M44, BeeHive Cluster 
(Scope: Vixen ED103,  Mount: Vixen SXD, Camera: ST-8300C, Location: Picket Post, Date: 1/1/11)