Caldwell Object – The Garden Astronomer

The Crescent Nebula: A Star’s Fiery Farewell

Discover the NGC 6888 Crescent Nebula—its turbulent origins, glowing arcs, and my sketch and photo showcasing this breathtaking deep-sky marvel.

NGC 6946: The Fireworks Galaxy in Cepheus

Discover NGC 6946, the Fireworks Galaxy—an active spiral rich in star formation. Includes Seestar S50 photo, sketch, and backyard observation notes.

Caldwell 56: The Haunting Skull Nebula in Cetus

The Skull Nebula, known as NGC 246 or Caldwell 56, resides in the constellation Cetus. Discovered by William Herschel in 1785, the planetary resembles a human skull due to gas distribution. It features a white dwarf and two companion stars. Though challenging to observe, it captivates astronomers, symbolizing change and the cosmos’ enduring nature.

NGC 253: A Starburst Galaxy in Sculptor

The Silver Coin Galaxy, or NGC 253, located 11.4 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor, is a prominent starburst galaxy notable for its intense star formation. Discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1783, it captivates astronomers and stargazers alike, showcasing dynamic stellar activity and vibrant colors through advanced imaging techniques.

NGC 4565: The Needle Galaxy

The post discusses the Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565) located in the Coma Berenices constellation, notable for its thin, edge-on spiral structure. It features a sketch of the galaxy as it appears through a telescope along with a photo from a Seestar S50. Also known as Caldwell 38 (C38). The article also mentions and shows NGC 4562 nearby.

NGC 2419: The Intergalactic Wanderer in Lynx

NGC 2419, known as The Intergalactic Wanderer, captivates with its extraordinary isolation, sitting 300,000 light-years from the Milky Way yet still bound to it. This magnificent cluster, containing hundreds of thousands of stars, may even be remnants of a lost dwarf galaxy, a testament to the universe’s boundless beauty and mystery.

NGC 7635 (Caldwell 11): The Bubble Nebula

NGC 7635, also known as Caldwell 11 and the Bubble Nebula, is a beautiful emission nebula located in the constellation Cassiopeia, which is best viewed in autumn. From my backyard, I’m able to sketch the very faint nebula as a small smudge.

NGC 40: The Bow-Tie Nebula

NGC 40, also known as the Bow Tie nebula, is a somewhat dim planetary nebula in the Cepheus constellation. It’s a good target for the casual backyard observer with a moderate telescope.