by manuelcp.astro@gmail.com | Feb 5, 2026
NGC 7284 and NGC 7285 Constellation: Aquarius NGC 7284 (right) and NGC 7285 (left) (ARP 93) are two galaxies in the process of merging in the constellation Aquarius. They are located 196 million Ly from Earth. NGC 7284 is variously listed as a barred spiral or a...
by manuelcp.astro@gmail.com | Feb 3, 2026
IC 434 and the Horsehead nebula Constellation: Orion IC 434 is a bright emission nebula in the constellation of Orion. It is located about 1’260 Ly away and spans about 42 x 85 Ly. This is an H II region ionized by the nearby σ Ori multi-star system (located to...
by manuelcp.astro@gmail.com | Feb 2, 2026
Abell 31 Constellation: Cancer Abell 31 (a.k.a Sh2-290 and PK 219+31.1) is a planetary nebula in the constellation Cancer. It is about 2’000 Ly away. Abell 31 is very old (about 130’000 years), and consequently, it is very large (~10 Ly across) and dim as...
by manuelcp.astro@gmail.com | Feb 2, 2026
PP 81 Constellation: Lupus PP 81* is a cometary reflection nebula hiding in the dark expanse of gas of Barnard 228, a large molecular cloud, in the constellation Lupus. Illuminating the nebulosity is the variable star HIP 77157, which is 518.54 Ly from Earth. Link to...
by manuelcp.astro@gmail.com | Feb 2, 2026
RCW 75 Constellation: Centaurus RCW 75 (a.k.a Gum 48a) is a faint emission nebula and H II region in the constellation Centaurus. It is located about 5’350-6’500 Ly away. HD 115669 is the bright star located in the central part of RCW 75. It is associated...
