Two super deep sky images taken by member Neil Webster from St Mary Platt, Kent.
M97 – The Owl Nebula and M108. The Owl Nebula is on the left of the image and M108 on the right.
The Owl Nebula (M97) or NGC 3587 is a faint planetary nebula in the constellation Ursa Major, located approximately 2030 light-years away. Discovered in 1781, it is famous for two dark, eye-like spots produced by a hollow, barrel-shaped inner shell, giving it an owl-like appearance through telescopes.
M108 (also known as NGC 3556, nicknamed the Surfboard Galaxy) is a barred spiral galaxy about 46 million light-years away from Earth.
From the Earth, the galaxy is seen almost edge-on.
Neil acquired the image using an AA 115mm APO, EQ6 R, ZWO ASI294 MC, Optolong L Pro filter, Orion 50mm Guide Scope, and ZWO ASI290 MM Guide Camera.
Processed in APT, PHD, Nebulosity, and PS.
55 x 120s Subs, 30 x Flats/Bias, 29 x Darks.
06/04/2026
M44 The Beehive Cluster/Praesepe (also known as NGC 2632 or Cr 189)
M44 is an open cluster in the constellation Cancer.
Image taken using an AA 115mm APO, EQ6 R, 0.79x Reducer/Flattener, ZWO ASI294MC, Optolong L Pro filter, Orion 50mm Guide Scope, and ZWO ASI290 MM Guide Camera.
APT, PHD, Nebulosity, PS
121 x 60s Lights, 30 x Flats/Bias/Darks.
07/04/2026