The Herschel 400 Astronomical League Project is underway
It’s not too late to join. We are about 30 objects into the Herschel 400. Hope to get another session in soon. Please subscribe to the YouTube channel so you get notifications on LIVE STREAMS.
Angels in Monoceros: The Monoceros M2 Complex
The Monoceros R2 molecular complex (often shortened to Mon R2) is a massive giant molecular cloud and one of the nearest active star-forming regions to Earth. It's a dynamic stellar nursery embedded in dense gas and dust, where new stars—particularly massive ones—are actively being born.
Key Facts
Location: Southwestern part of the constellation Monoceros (the Unicorn), near the border with Orion. It's part of the larger Orion-Monoceros cloud complex.
Distance: Approximately 2,400–2,700 light-years (around 830 parsecs).
Size and Structure: The main dense core is relatively compact (a few light-years across), but the overall molecular cloud and associated nebulae span a wide area—reflection nebulae alone stretch up to about 2° in the sky. It's situated well below the galactic plane, which makes it stand out in certain observations.
Age and Activity: Star formation here began roughly 6–10 million years ago. It hosts an OB association (young, hot, massive B- and A-type stars) that illuminates surrounding dust, creating prominent reflection nebulae with bluish hues. There's also significant emission from ionized gas (red glows) and dark nebulae that appear as shadowy silhouettes blocking background light.
Notable Features:
A central hub of massive star formation with embedded clusters, molecular outflows, and HII regions.
Infrared observations (like those from VISTA or 2MASS) penetrate the dust to reveal hidden young stars and protoplanetary disks.
It's a key site for studying early stellar evolution, variability in young stellar objects (YSOs), and the interplay between massive stars and their natal clouds.
The most famous and photogenic part of Mon R2 is the region around NGC 2170 (the Angel Nebula), a striking reflection nebula with wing-like dust structures, glowing blue from scattered starlight, mixed with red emission and dark lanes. Wider views of the complex reveal a richer tapestry of colorful gas, dust filaments, and star clusters.
Credit: GROK 2/28/26
Click on image for larger view.
New Astro Camera: OM-3
Join me for a LIVE conversation about this new astro camera coming to the market. Is this the best option for you? How does it compare to other options? https://www.earthandskyphoto.com Correction: when discussing Bulb mode with Canon, I incorrectly said it had a limit of 30”. I meant to say manual exposure has a max of 30”. In bulb, you need to use a remote control or app for exposure time control. The problem is you can’t set exposure time for stills in the camera menu. I was made aware that Olympus no longer owns the OM system. It is owned by Japanese industrial Partners, a private equity firm. For content on the OM-3 for astrophotography, please see Ben Chapell’s Narrow Band channel. https://youtube.com/@TheNarrowbandChannel?si=GcWY-BM9skG9LPhY
Elegant Elakala Falls in the highlands of West Virginia
Elakala Falls, copyright 2010 Jeff BallA new image has been added to the "water" portfolio of the elegant Elakala Falls in the highlands of West Virginia. The image was taken during a brief spring shower with the Canon 5DMKII and 24mm tilt/shift lens. The image is actually a blend of two images to maintain detail in the waterfalls. I hope you enjoy the image and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to drop me an email. Take care.
New Print and Print of the Month Specials
Blackwater Falls, WVThe first image from Blackwater Falls area will be the first image of a new portfolio as well as the first image in the Print of the Month collection.
The new portfolio will be "water" and will feature works that highlight the artistic beauty of water in nature. I am very excited about this portfolio and have many other images to come.
The Print of the Month is a very special offer for one frame and matted size print. The print size is approximately 16x20 framed to approximately 24x28 and can very slightly depending on the image aspect ration. The Print of the Month offers savings of 20% over the original retail price.
The Blackwater Falls print is a compositional element I have been working on involving a "near-far" composition in landscape orientation. Most near-far compositions have a portrait orientation, but for several reasons, I am exploring the landscape orientation especially in the forests of West Virginia.
I hope you enjoy the print and please let me know if you have any questions
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