Best astrophotos of the week: Vulcan Rocket’s launch, the Witch Head Nebula and other wonders

This week has brought us not only new captures of celestrial wonders. In the new collection of the best space photos of the week, among nebulae and constellations, see the launch of Vulcan rocket, through the lens of amateur photographers on Facebook and Twitter.

The Vulcan rocket launch in the images of photographers

On January 8th, ULA’s Vulcan rocket successfully launched, carrying the Peregrine lander. This pivotal moment became the focal point for several photographers, capturing the awe-inspiring event and contributing to the documentation of this historic space mission. Let’s see how it was!

Chuck & Jen Briggs’s image of Vulcan rocket launch-1. Image Credit: C and J Images

Chuck & Jen Briggs’s image of Vulcan rocket launch-2. Image Credit: C and J Images

The Witch Head Nebula by Luigi Morrone

Now, let’s turn our attention to the celestrial objects caught by talented photographers in their lens. Luigi Morrone captured a fantastic image of the Witch Head Nebula. Also known as IC 2118, it is an intriguing and visually striking reflection nebula located in the constellation Eridanus. This nebula gets its name from its distinctive shape, which some observers interpret as resembling the profile of a witch’s head with a pointed hat.

Image Credit: Luigi Morrone

The scattering of constellations by Ilyas Kurban

What a breathtaking scene captured by Ilyas Kurban! Here is the scattering of constellations over the night city in Turkey. The sky bathes in the combination of yellow and blue hues illuminated by millions of stars. This astrophoto creates an absolutely incredible and captivating impression.

Image Credit: Ilyas Kurban

The Rosette Nebula by Israel Ramirez

The Rosette Nebula has already become our favourite object in this section! Being a vast cloud of gas and dust located in the constellation Monoceros, this nebula is a stellar subject for astrophotography. Capturing it from a backyard observatory, Israel Ramirez adds a personal touch to the experience.

Image Credit: Israel Ramirez

The winter Milky Way and the constellation Orion by Ralf Raab

Our last astrophotography in this week’s collection represents the winter Milky Way above Radom and the constellation Orion over the dome by Ralf Raab. This kind of astrophotography provides a stunning juxtaposition of the cosmic wonders and the earthly environment!

Image Credit: Ralf Raab