Astrodoc: Astrophotography by Ron Brecher

Messier 71

Ron Brecher — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:04:29 +0000

Messier 71 Click image for full size version June 21, 2026 Messier 71 (M71, also known as NGC 6838, Cr 409, the Angelfish Cluster) is a globular cluster located about 12,000 light years away in the constellation Sagitta, the Arrow. It is about 27 light years across, and relatively young at around 9 or 10 [...]

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The Sun – June 19 2026

Ron Brecher — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 13:08:05 +0000

The Sun, June 19, 2026 Click image for full size version June 20, 2026 Here is another picture of the Sun made using a Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76α H-alpha telescope and a Player One Xena 585-M camera, all on a Sky-Watcher Wave 100i mount. I controlled the mount with a very old hand controller that I [...]

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The Sun – June 15 2026

Ron Brecher — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 23:53:05 +0000

The Sun, June 15, 2026 Click image for full size version June 16, 2026 Well, it's official. I think I enjoy solar imaging. The equipment and software available to amateurs makes it much easier than it used to be to get really high quality photos of the Sun. I am using a Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76α [...]

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M92 and Quasars

Ron Brecher — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:35:44 +0000

M92 and Quasars Click image for full size version June 15, 2026 Globular cluster Messier 92 (M92) lies in Hercules, not far from M13, which usually gets more attention from both visual observers and imagers. M92 is one of my favourite telescope targets, especially in my 20" reflector. It lies about 26,700 light years away [...]

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NGC 6366

Ron Brecher — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 08:00:58 +0000

NGC 6366 Click image for full size version June 13, 2026 Meet NGC 6366, one of more than 150 globular clusters orbit the Milky Way's core. Each is a more-or-less spherical grouping of hundreds of thousands of stars tightly held together by gravity. Some, like M13 are big, bright, tightly packed and spectacular. Others... not so [...]

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M101, The Pinwheel Galaxy

Ron Brecher — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:00:50 +0000

M101, The Pinwheel Galaxy Click image for full size version June 12, 2026 This galaxy is catalogued as M101, but is commonly referred to as the Pinwheel Galaxy. It is close to the handle of the Big Dipper. I have always found this a particularly difficult target to image well. For this image, I combined [...]

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Abell 1656 – The Coma Galaxy Cluster

Ron Brecher — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:09:21 +0000

Abell 1656 - The Coma Galaxy Cluster Click image for full size version June 10, 2026 Abell 1656 is better known as the Coma Galaxy Cluster. It lies in Coma Berenices and contains at least 1,000 galaxies with an average distance of 321 million years. The two large galaxies in the centre are NGC [...]

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M51, The Whirlpool Galaxy

Ron Brecher — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 06:00:24 +0000

M51, The Whirlpool Galaxy Click image for full size version June 7, 2026 M51 is the galaxy in which spiral structure was first seen, by Lord Rosse in 1845 using a 72-inch telescope known as the "Leviathan of Parsonstown." The galaxy was discovered in 1773 by Charles Messier. It's fairly bright and I've seen it [...]

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M11, the Wild Duck Cluster

Ron Brecher — Sat, 30 May 2026 13:31:35 +0000

M11, The Wild Duck Cluster Click image for full size version September 8, 2020 This image shows open cluster Messier 11 (M11) set in the rich summer Milky Way. I've shot this many times before, but never with such a llong focal length. There are so many stars! This shot really makes you think about [...]

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Messier 13 – Poseidon-C First Light

Ron Brecher — Thu, 28 May 2026 17:54:30 +0000

Messier 13 - Poseidon-C Pro First Light Click image for full size version May 28,2026 This is the first light for my new camera, a Player One Poseidon-C Pro. It is on my Sky-Watcher Esprit 120, along with all the fixins from Primalucelab (computer, focuser, rotator, flat panel, cover motor, dew management). The whole rig [...]

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