As we near the end of May’s third week, the astrophotography community continues to amaze with breathtaking cosmic scenes. This time, the cosmic highlights of the week collection features a mesmerising take on the rare Squid Nebula (Ou4), where glowing tendrils stretch across the night sky.
We also journey to the mysterious Moonland landscape in Ladakh, illuminated by the rising Milky Way, witness stunning monochrome aurora over Northern Ireland, and an iconic ‘reverse moonhenge’. Join us as we explore these incredible celestial snapshots and more!
The Veil Nebula (NGC 6960) Over Ireland
This detailed view of NGC 6960, part of the famous Veil Nebula, was captured on 19 May from Roscrea, Ireland. Ferenc Borbás combined 24 exposures of 300 seconds each to reveal the delicate filaments of this beautiful supernova remnant.
Cosmic Highlights of the Week: Squid Nebula (Ou4)
This beautiful image by Cassiano Diniz showcases the Squid Nebula, also known as Ou4. This rare and enormous bipolar planetary nebula is located in the constellation Cepheus. It is famous for its striking, tentacle-like gas structures stretching across the sky.
Sky Full of Stars
Captured from a rooftop in Bhagabanpur, Purba Medinipur, this image by Abhishek Manna reminds us that no part of the sky is truly empty. Every dot you see here is a star, and nestled among them are stunning nebulae, including the North America Nebula, Pelican Nebula, Sadr Region, and Gamma Cygni Nebula.
Horsehead and Flame Nebulae
This Bruno Saisi’s photo depicts two of Orion’s most iconic deep-sky objects: the Flame Nebula and the elusive Horsehead Nebula.
Galactic Rise Over Moonland by Naiteek Vikamsey
Captured on a cold, windy night in Ladakh, this stunning photo by Naiteek Vikamsey shows the Milky Way rising above the surreal terrain of Moonland near Lamayuru. Moonland is a landscape of soft, rounded hills and ancient crater-like formations believed to be the remnants of a long-gone lake. Under the stars, the golden earth takes on an otherworldly glow.
The Fighting Dragons of Ara by Lisa Bromfield
Lisa Bromfield gathered around 4 hours of data and processed it in PixInsight to reveal the NGC 6188, also known as the Rim Nebula or the Fighting Dragons of Ara. The image showcases this stellar nursery’s intricate dust lanes and glowing gas.
Aurora Over the Giant’s Causeway
Alistair Hamill’s photo, captured around 1:00 AM on 17 May, reveals a stunning aurora display above Northern Ireland’s iconic Giant’s Causeway. Despite the lingering twilight, the vibrant arcs and beams of the northern lights were visible to the naked eye. A rare and magical treat for night sky watchers!
Reverse Moonhenge Over Manhattan
Photographer Mike Carroll captured a breathtaking celestial alignment known as the “reverse moonhenge”: when the full Moon rises perfectly between the skyscrapers of Manhattan’s 42nd Street. The shot was taken from across the Hudson River in New Jersey, and the Moon in it glows like a spotlight framed by the city’s iconic skyline.
Tadpole Nebula
Italian astrophotographer Carlo Cito captured this stunning portrait of the Tadpole Nebula (IC 410), located in the constellation Auriga.
The two dense, tadpole-shaped structures at the centre, after which the nebula is named, are regions of star formation sculpted by stellar winds.
Thank you to all the photographers who shared their amazing images for our Cosmic highlights of the week collection! We greatly appreciate your dedication and passion for astrophotography and wish you clear skies for your future captures!
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