Orion Nebula | 02.21.2025

 Orion Nebula | 02.21.2025

The Orion Nebula is never a disappointment—a vast stellar nursery where new stars are born, glowing with cosmic fire 1,300 light-years away. In mythology, the nebula lies within the sword of Orion, the mighty hunter of Greek legend, immortalized in the stars by Zeus. Some interpretations even suggest the nebula represents where celestial bodies emerge from the cosmic forge, just as Orion himself was a son of the gods, shaped by divine hands.

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Rosette Nebula (Caldwell 49) | 02.05.2025

Rosette Nebula (Caldwell 49) | 02.05.2025

This is a 90-minute telescopic exposure of the Rosette Nebula (Caldwell 49): Located about 5,200 light-years away in the constellation Monoceros, the Rosette Nebula spans 130 light-years across. This vast emission nebula glows red from ionized hydrogen, illuminated by the young, hot stars of the central NGC 2244 cluster. Dense molecular gas and dust within the nebula hint at regions of future star formation. A long exposure captures the nebula’s intricate structure, including bright filaments, dust lanes, and the radiant cluster at its core.

The night sky is amazing.

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The Horsehead Nebula IC-434 | 01.24.2025

The Horsehead Nebula IC-434  | 01.24.2025

The Horsehead Nebula has always been one of my favorites, and tonight’s clear skies with only 21% moonlight made it a perfect opportunity to capture its delicate beauty. Located in Orion, near the star Alnitak, the easternmost star in Orion’s Belt, this dark cloud of gas and dust stands out dramatically against the glowing red hydrogen of IC-434, the emission nebula behind it.

At about 1,500 light-years away, the Horsehead Nebula is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, a vast region of space where stars are being born. Its distinct shape—resembling a horse’s head—is caused by dense clouds of interstellar dust blocking the light behind it. The surrounding reddish glow comes from hydrogen gas energized by nearby stars, like Sigma Orionis.

Winter skies are perfect for this kind of astrophotography—stable, crisp, and free from heat distortion.

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Deep Sky Photography | 01.21.2025

Jupiter and Its Moons 

The Pac-Man Nebula 

Deep Sky Photography | 01.21.2025

Jupiter and Its Moons Jupiter and the Pac-Man Nebula 

Jupiter and Its Moons Jupiter accompanied by its four largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. These tiny points of light lined up near the gas giant, each a fascinating world in its own right, visible even from millions of miles away.

The Pac-Man Nebula (NGC 281) also known as NGC 281, has a unique shape, living up to its playful nickname. Glowing faintly in hues of orange and pink, it’s a stunning star-forming region surrounded by dark dust and intricate patterns carved by stellar winds and radiation.

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Flaming Star Nebula and Orion Nebula | 01.20.2025

Flaming Star Nebula and Orion Nebula | 01.20.2025

Tonight’s clear sky and cold air provide the perfect conditions for deep-space photography. Winter’s crisp atmosphere, with lower humidity and less atmospheric turbulence, enhances visibility, allowing for sharper and more detailed images of the stars and distant galaxies.

Flaming Star Nebula

Orion Nebula 

The magenta image is IC 405, better known as the Flaming Star Nebula. It’s about 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Auriga and gets its fiery appearance from the radiation of a nearby “runaway star” called AE Aurigae. This star was flung out of the Orion region millions of years ago and now lights up the surrounding hydrogen gas, creating that striking magenta glow.

The second image, glowing gold and green, is the Orion Nebula—one of the most famous sights in the night sky. Sitting about 1,350 light-years away, it’s a bustling nursery where stars are born, surrounded by swirling clouds of gas and dust. The colors come from ionized gases lit up by young, massive stars, creating a vibrant, otherworldly masterpiece.

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M33 Triangulum Galaxy | 01.15.2025

M33 Triangulum Galaxy | 01.15.2025

Note: The Triangulum Galaxy (M33 or Messier 33) is a stunning spiral galaxy located about 3 million light-years away in the constellation Triangulum. It is one of the most distant objects visible to the naked eye under ideal dark-sky conditions. Measuring approximately 60,000 light-years in diameter, M33 is smaller than the Milky Way but still a significant galaxy with a mass estimated at 10–40 billion solar masses. With an apparent magnitude of 5.7, the galaxy is faint but can be seen without a telescope in excellent viewing conditions.

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
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Andromeda | 01.24.2025

Andromeda | 01.24.2025
Note: If Andromeda was brighter in the night sky, it would appear six times larger than our moon.

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
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M42 Orion Nebula | 01.13.2025

M42 Orion Nebula | 01.13.2025

Believe it or not, we’ve had cloudy skies for almost a month at night. Tonight, the sky finally cleared, so I took the opportunity for some deep space photography. This is what the Orion Nebula (M42) looks like tonight, captured from my backyard at about 6:30.

The Orion Nebula, also known as M42, is a massive cloud of gas and dust in the constellation Orion, where thousands of stars are born. It’s the closest large star-forming region to Earth, located 1,300–1,500 light-years away. Visible to the naked eye, it appears as the middle “star” in Orion’s Belt and as part of the sword hanging below the three belt stars. Best observed in January, it’s a stunning feature of the winter sky, easily spotted under moderately dark skies.

© 2025 John Bulmer Photography, John Bulmer Media, and Nor'easter Films
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