Today's Image

March’s deep sky for 2022: Peering into the dark

Pink, blue and gray dust with bright lights buried beneath clouds.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Jelieta Walinski in Caballo Lake State Park, New Mexico, took this image on March 10, 2022. Jelieta wrote: “When I was setting up my telescope, people were asking me if I graduated as an astronomer. I told them honestly that I taught elementary mathematics, but I love to wander in the night. When I came home from work, I climbed up to the top of our roof stargazed. I just love it so much and now this is a different feeling while seeing the image that I captured.” Thank you, Jelieta! See more photos of the deep sky below.

March photos of the deep sky

Enjoy these March deep-sky photos taken by members of the EarthSky community. Do you have a great photo to share? Submit it to us here.

Tight cluster of dots of white light at center, diffuse around into blackness.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | David Hoskin in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, took this image of a star cluster on March 5, 2022. David wrote: “Messier 5 is a bright, densely populated, globular cluster that is one of the oldest in our galaxy, as most of its stars were formed 12 billion years ago. The young hot blue stars in the cluster are believed to be the result of stellar collisions. Messier 5, which is 24,500 light-years from Earth, is located in the constellation Serpens near the star 5 Serpentis.” Thank you, David!
Blue and yellow dots with spikes with black background.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Stephane Picard in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada, took this image of a star cluster on March 4, 2022. Stephane wrote: “M41/NGC 2287, the Little Beehive Cluster in Canis Major. Directly south of Sirius (brightest star in the sky). About 29 minutes of total integration. Outdoor conditions, no/little wind and temperature was around -15 Celsius/5 Fahrenheit.” Thank you, Stephane!
Slight blue glow at center around close group of small white lights.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Dirk Van Ingelgem in Heverlee, Leuven, Belgium, took this image on March 3, 2022. Dirk wrote: “Orion Nebula, with the Trapezium star cluster.” Thank you, Dirk!

Gorgeous galaxies in the deep sky

Diagonal slash of light with brighter center and starry background.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | David Hoskin in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, took this image on March 23, 2022. David wrote: “The Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565) is a fine example of an edge-on spiral galaxy that is located in the constellation Coma Berenices. It is about 30 million light-years from Earth. Several other distant galaxies are visible in this image.” Thank you, David!
Face-on spiral in light cream with thin vertical slash of light on right.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Jelieta Walinski in Caballo Lake State Park, New Mexico, shared this photo on March 8, 2022. Jelieta wrote: “For long years I have been photographing our very own Milky Way. This is my first exploration to photograph galaxies like the M81 and M82 in this image. There is always a feeling of awe upon experiencing the so called “first time.” First exploration, first time to photograph, and first image. Though it was so cold out there … but the excitement of having the first time really arouses my interest.” Thank you, Jelieta!
Spiral of faint light with brighter center, scattered stars and one fuzzy slash upper left.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | David Hoskin in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, took this image on March 4, 2022. David wrote: “Messier 106 is an intermediate spiral galaxy that is about 24 million light-years from Earth. It is similar in size and luminosity to the Andromeda Galaxy. The center of Messier 106 contains a supermassive black hole. Look for Messier 106 in the constellation Canes Venatici.” Thank you, David!

Amazing nebula photos

Red nebulous light like one side of a butterfly, dot labeled above.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | David Hoskin in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, shared this photo on March 15, 2022. David wrote: “The Tulip Nebula (Sharpless 101), imaged last week, is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus. The nebula is about 70 light-years across and 8,000 light-years from Earth. Cygnus X-1, which is one of the strongest X-ray sources in our sky and the location of a black hole, is also in frame.” Thank you, David!
Pink and purple glow with white center and black cave-like surrounding.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Priyanka Chobey took this image on March 10, 2022. Priyanka wrote: “The Great Orion Nebula captured from Jaipur, India.” Thank you, Priyanka!
Bright blue star with sharp outline of woman's face in gas.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Brian Maurer in Desert Center, California, took this image on March 6, 2022. Brian wrote: “IC2118 (Witch Head Nebula). This is a reflection nebula in Orion. It is being illuminated by the star Rigel.” Thank you, Brian!
Deep sky: Green and lavender glow around a bright white light with dark cave-like surrounding.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Malcolm Wilton-Jones in St. Columb Major, Cornwall, UK, took this image on March 5, 2022. Malcolm wrote: “Orion Nebulae M42, M43.” Thank you, Malcolm!

A supernova and a comet

Bright star at left, fuzzy galaxy at center with bright spot by arrow.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Eliot Herman used the iTelescope T32 from Siding Spring Observatory in Australia to take this image of a supernova. Eliot wrote: “Supernova SN 2022crv in galaxy NGC 3054 makes for a nice composition in its field of background stars.” Thank you, Eliot!
Starfield with oval spiral on left and fuzzball at right center.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Eliot Herman used the iTelescope T21 in Mayhill, New Mexico, to take this image on March 23, 2022. Eliot wrote: “Comet C/2019 T4 (Atlas) had a close conjunction with galaxy NGC 3955 both magnitude 12.” Thank you, Eliot!

Bottom line: Members of the EarthSky community shared these amazing photos of March’s deep sky. Have a great photo of your own? Submit it to EarthSky Community Photos.

Posted 
March 30, 2022
 in 
Today's Image

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