SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
Jon Greif
Location of Photo:
Alpine, CA, USA
Date/Time of photo:
May 9, 2025, between 9 pm and Midnight PDT
Equipment:
TS-Optics 8" f/4 ONTC Newtonian Telescope, 10Micron GM1000HPS Mount, ZWO ASI2600MM Pro camera, ZWO Ha Oiii and Sii filters, MoonLite focuser, NINA acquisition software and Pixinsight processing software.
Description:
This is the Owl Nebula (aka M97), a planetary nebula approximately 2,030 light years away in the constellation Ursa Major. Estimated to be about 8,000 years old, it is approximately circular in cross-section with a faint internal structure. It was formed from the outflow of material from the stellar wind of its central star as it evolved. The Owl Nebula was discovered by French astronomer Pierre Méchain on February 16, 1781. Méchain was Charles Messier's observing colleague, and the nebula was observed by Messier himself a few weeks later. This image was shot from our backyard observatory in nearly full moonlight, using narrow band filters and processed in Foraxx Palette.
