StarFixer AI software

M31,M32 and M110

Antares and M4

Constellation Auriga widefield

Globular star cluster M15 widefield

 "All the above images were reprocessed using StarFixer artificial intelligence based software as a part of the data reduction process.. Thanks Filippo for letting us trial your excellent software".  - Joel Cairo CEO of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

https://www.starfixer.org/

The Andromeda Galaxy Group (our galactic neighbours)

 

The Andromeda Galaxy Group compilation location image created from images captured by Pip Stakkert at the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

" The Andromeda group of galaxies located just above the 'Square of Pegasus' rides high in the sky over the Jodrell Plank Observatory in November. When the street lighting goes out at 23.30 hours it is just possible to make out Messier 31, the largest of the three galaxies, with the naked unaided eye". - Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Messier 31 Messier 32 and Messier 110 Galaxies - a cropped stack of 60 sec lights at ISO800 taken with the Altair Astro 66mm doublet refractor with a 0.6x focal reducer and field flattener and the Canon 600d camera all on a Star Adventurer equatorial mount. Credit: Kurt Thrust

Messier 51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy

The Messier 51 Group -  M51A or NGC 5194 - interacting grand design spiral galaxy - and dwarf galaxy M 51B or NGC 5195- in the Constellation Canes Venatici  - COAST Robotic Telescope -telescope.org -Open University - credit: Pip Stakkert. 

" Two galaxies Messier 51A and the smaller NGC 5195 are interacting gravitationally and as a result creating star formation in the core area of M51. Both galaxies are estimated to be 25 million light years distant from Earth. The accentuated spiral structure of the Whirlpool Galaxy is thought to be the result of direct interaction between it and its companion galaxy NGC 5195, which may have passed through the main disk of Messier 51 about 500 - 600 million years ago. In this hypothesis, NGC 5195 came from behind Messier 51 through the disk towards the observer and made another  crossing as recently as 50 - 100 million years ago.  Currently, NGC 5195 is believed to be slightly behind Messier 51. A number of supernovae have been observed in M51." - Kurt Thrust - acting CEO and current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Credit : Wikipedia

The Andromeda Galaxy - a work in Progress

Messier 31 - The Andromeda Galaxy with attendant galaxies M32 (above and left) and M110 (below and right) Credit: Pip Stakkert 

"The Andromeda Galaxy was directly overhead the Jodrell Plank Observatory when the series of images were taken using the 127 mm. Meade Apo-refractor with a 0.6 focal reducer and field flattener. The 3 and 1 minute exposure images at ISO800 were obtained, using an unmodded Canon 600D DSLR, early last month in October 2018. The images were stacked using DeepSkyStacker software. This is an image in progress as many more exposures will be required to bring out the considerable detail that can be obtained with good weather and patience. It is incredible to think that this galaxy, at a distance of 2.5 million light years from Earth, may be seen with the unaided eye. After the street lights go out at midnight in Lowestoft and on a clear moonless night the Andromeda Galaxy can be seen as a faint smudge of light.  Messier 31 contains an estimated one trillion stars and is moving towards the Milky Way at approximately 300 km/second. It is predicted to collide and combine with the Milky Way in about 4 billion years time. Due to the great distances between stars there is little chance of actual collisions but there is a small probability that gravitational disturbance could lead to the ejection of the solar system from the Milky Way. It is thought that when the two spiral galaxies interact they will combine to create on giant elliptical or large disc galaxy". Kurt Thrust - acting CEO and current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

"The Andromeda Galaxy has a retinue of Globular Star Clusters that can be seen through amateur and professional telescopes. Some of what appear to be very faint stars in the above image are in fact globular star clusters similar to those which are, through gravitation, associated with our Milky Way".
Archie Mendes - theoretical physicist and mathematician.

The amazing American amateur astronomer and astro-imager, Robert Gendler, has created annotated mosaic images showing the globular star clusters associated with M31 - follow the link:

http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/M31NMmosaicglobs.html

Galactic Dust Lanes

Messier 63, The Sunflower Galaxy - Autonomous Robotic Telescope - PIRATE, Open University. Pip Stakkert

"The weather over the Jodrell Plank Observatory remains poor with strong winds and rain lashing those foolish enough to venture forth into the 'great outdoors'. Pip however has spent his free time wisely, using data collected from the remotely accessible PIRATE telescope on Mount Teide in the Canary Islands, to produce this image of the beautiful Sunflower Galaxy viewed amongst the stars of the constellation Canes Venatici. In reality the galaxy is much further away than these Milky Way stars at approximately 27 million light years distant from our Solar System. The spiral arms of the galaxy containing millions of stars can be seen clearly with dark dust lanes creating a visual 3-dimensional effect. The incredible amounts of gas and dust that make up these islands of matter in the universe have been brought together and set spinning by the the all pervading force of gravity. Each and every active star that we can see on any clear night is at some point in a gigantic nuclear tussle with gravity which will eventually lead to metamorphosis. When this will happen and what the star will become depends only upon the it's initial mass. Gravity will eventually overwhelm the radiative pressure of nuclear fusion at it's core and then it will commence a one way process which will end in the creation of a 'white dwarf star', a 'neutron star' or a 'back hole'." -  Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Obsevatory.

Messier 31, The Andromeda Galaxy - a dark dust lane seen against the galaxy's central core - Autonomous Robotic Telescope - PIRATE, Open University. Pip Stakkert