# Stellar Objects

# Deep-sky Objects

# Cygnus Loop

[![IMG_0096.jpeg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0096.jpeg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0096.jpeg)

> **My best photo (mosaic) of the Cygnus Loop -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/199579/deep_sky/ngc-6960/veil-nebula-mosaic/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 28/Aug/2024  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 202x2min Lights, 20x2min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 800  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

### **Description**

The Cygnus Loop (radio source W78, or Sharpless 103) is a large supernova remnant (SNR) in the constellation Cygnus, an emission nebula measuring nearly 3° across. Some arcs of the loop, known collectively as the Veil Nebula or Cirrus Nebula, emit in the visible electromagnetic range. Radio, infrared, and X-ray images reveal the complete loop.

<p class="callout info">[Find more information about the Cygnus Loop on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cygnus_Loop)</p>

---

### **Personal Stats**

#### **First observation**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%F0%9F%93%86-12%2F01%2F2013-%F0%9F%93%8D-los-a" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 50%; border-width: 1px; height: 58px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 21.2346%;"></col><col style="width: 78.5185%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">📆

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">28/08/2022

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px; vertical-align: middle;">📍

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">Canadelo, Portugal

</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### **Imaging sessions**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0datebortle-classtot" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%; height: 87.5px; border-width: 1px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 86px;"></col><col style="width: 244px;"></col><col style="width: 298px;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29.5px;"><td class="align-center" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: none; height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Date</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Bortle Class

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Total Exposure Time

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;">28/8/2024

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Class 3</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 6h44min (202x2min)</span>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

---

**Captured media**

#### **Photographs**

[![IMG_0096.jpeg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0096.jpeg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0096.jpeg)

> **My best photo (mosaic) of the Cygnus Loop -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/199579/deep_sky/ngc-6960/veil-nebula-mosaic/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 28/Aug/2024  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 202x2min Lights, 20x2min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 800  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

[![combined2_crop.jpg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-09/scaled-1680-/combined2-crop.jpg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-09/scaled-1680-/combined1-crop.jpg)

> **My best photo of the East Veil Nebula -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/241592)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 6/Sep/2025  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 10x5min Lights, 3x5min Darks, 15x5s Flats, 15x5s Dark Flats  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Gain**: 126  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Sensor Temperature**: -10ºC  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Guiding**: Yes  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: ZWO ASI294MC Pro  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span>**Filters**<span style="color: rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">: SVBONY SV260 Light pollution filter</span>  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Orion Newtonian 8"/790 mm N 203/790 (0.95x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ6 modified with Onstep </span>

# Pacman Nebula / NGC281

#### **NGC 281**

[![erRWofJ - Imgur.jpg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/errwofj-imgur.jpg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/errwofj-imgur.jpg)

> **My best photo of the Pacman Nebula -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/240197/deep_sky/ic-11/ngc281/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 26/Aug/2025  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 10x5min Lights, 3x5min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Gain**: 105 (doh!)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Sensor Temperature**: -10ºC  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Guiding**: Yes  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: ZWO ASI294MC Pro  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span>**Filters**<span style="color: rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">: SVBONY SV260 Light pollution filter</span>  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

### **Description**

NGC 281, IC 11 or Sh2-184 is a bright emission nebula and part of an H II region in the northern constellation of Cassiopeia and is part of the Milky Way's Perseus Spiral Arm. This 20×30 arcmin sized nebulosity is also associated with open cluster IC 1590, several Bok globules and the multiple star, B 1. It collectively forms Sh2-184,\[3\] spanning over a larger area of 40 arcmin.\[4\] A recent distance from radio parallaxes of water masers at 22 GHz made during 2014 is estimated it lies 2.82±0.20 kpc (9200 ly) from us.\[5\] Colloquially, NGC 281 is also known as the Pacman Nebula for its resemblance to the video game character.

<p class="callout info">[Find more information about the Pacman Nebula on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_281)</p>

---

### **Personal Stats**

#### **First observation**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%F0%9F%93%86-12%2F01%2F2013-%F0%9F%93%8D-los-a" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 50%; border-width: 1px; height: 58px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 21.2346%;"></col><col style="width: 78.5185%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">📆

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">26/08/2025

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px; vertical-align: middle;">📍

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">Fontão Fundeiro, Portugal

</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### **Imaging sessions**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0datebortle-classtot" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%; height: 87.5px; border-width: 1px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 86px;"></col><col style="width: 244px;"></col><col style="width: 298px;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29.5px;"><td class="align-center" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: none; height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Date</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Bortle Class

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Total Exposure Time

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;">26/8/2025

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Class 4</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 50min (10x5min)</span>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

---

**Captured media**

#### **Photographs**

[![erRWofJ - Imgur.jpg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/errwofj-imgur.jpg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/errwofj-imgur.jpg)

> **My best photo of the Pacman Nebula -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/240197/deep_sky/ic-11/ngc281/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 26/Aug/2025  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 10x5min Lights, 3x5min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Gain**: 105 (doh!)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Sensor Temperature**: -10ºC  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Guiding**: Yes  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: ZWO ASI294MC Pro  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span>**Filters**<span style="color: rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">: SVBONY SV260 Light pollution filter</span>  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

# North-America Nebula / NGC 7000

#### **NGC 7000**

[![IMG_0101.jpeg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0101.jpeg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0101.jpeg)

> **My best photo of the North America Nebula -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/230657/deep_sky/ngc-6997/ngc7000-quick-test/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_object_search_in_description=false&gallery_object_types=&gallery_filter_type_ids=&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 7/Jun/2025  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 27x1min Lights, 10x1min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 3200  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Guiding: Yes</span>  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Filters**: SVBONY SV206 Light pollution filter  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Orion Newtonian 8"/790 mm N 203/790  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**: Equatorial Sky-Watcher EQ6 (Upgraded with OnStep)

### **Description**

The North America Nebula (NGC 7000 or Caldwell 20) is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, close to Deneb (the tail of the swan and its brightest star) in the night sky. It is named because its shape resembles North America.

<p class="callout info">[Find more information about the North America Nebula on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America_Nebula)</p>

---

### **Personal Stats**

#### **First observation**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%F0%9F%93%86-12%2F01%2F2013-%F0%9F%93%8D-los-a" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 50%; border-width: 1px; height: 58px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 21.2346%;"></col><col style="width: 78.5185%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">📆

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">16/08/2022

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px; vertical-align: middle;">📍

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">Santa Cruz, Portugal

</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### **Imaging sessions**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0datebortle-classtot" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%; height: 87.5px; border-width: 1px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 86px;"></col><col style="width: 244px;"></col><col style="width: 298px;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29.5px;"><td class="align-center" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: none; height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Date</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Bortle Class

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Total Exposure Time

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;">16/8/2022

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Class 5</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 50min (50x1min)</span>

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;">7/6/2023

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Class 5</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 27min (27x1min)</span>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

---

**Captured media**

#### **Photographs**

[![IMG_0101.jpeg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0101.jpeg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0101.jpeg)

> **My best photo of the North America Nebula -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/230657/deep_sky/ngc-6997/ngc7000-quick-test/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_object_search_in_description=false&gallery_object_types=&gallery_filter_type_ids=&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 7/Jun/2025  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 27x1min Lights, 10x1min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 3200  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Guiding**: Yes  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Filters**: SVBONY SV206 Light pollution filter  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Orion Newtonian 8"/790 mm N 203/790  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**: Equatorial Sky-Watcher EQ6 (Upgraded with OnStep)

[![IMG_0102.jpeg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0102.jpeg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0102.jpeg)

> **My first photo of the North America Nebula (reprocessed) -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/230657/deep_sky/ngc-6997/ngc7000-quick-test/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_object_search_in_description=false&gallery_object_types=&gallery_filter_type_ids=&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 16/Aug/2025  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 50x1min Lights  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 3200  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Guiding**: Yes  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Lens**: Pentax Lens 200 mm Super Takumar 200mm  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**: Unknown EQ2 (Modified with OpenAstroMount)

# Galaxies

# Andromeda Galaxy / M31

#### **Messier 31**

[![picture-72ddf138cc5f8444f240050d923cbdca-original.jpg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/picture-72ddf138cc5f8444f240050d923cbdca-original.jpg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/picture-72ddf138cc5f8444f240050d923cbdca-original.jpg)

> **My best photo of the Andromeda galaxy -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/160129/deep_sky/m-110/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_object_search_in_description=false&gallery_object_types=&gallery_filter_type_ids=&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 22/Aug/2022  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 80x1min Lights, 10x1min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 1600  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

### **Description**

The Andromeda Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy and is the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way. It was originally named the Andromeda Nebula and is cataloged as Messier 31, M31, and NGC 224. Andromeda has a D25 isophotal diameter of about 46.56 kiloparsecs (152,000 light-years) and is approximately 765 kpc (2.5 million light-years) from Earth. The galaxy's name stems from the area of Earth's sky in which it appears, the constellation of Andromeda, which itself is named after the princess who was the wife of Perseus in Greek mythology.

<p class="callout info">[Find more information about the Andromeda Galaxy on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andromeda_Galaxy)</p>

---

### **Personal Stats**

#### **First observation**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%F0%9F%93%86-12%2F01%2F2013-%F0%9F%93%8D-los-a" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 50%; border-width: 1px; height: 58px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 21.2346%;"></col><col style="width: 78.5185%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">📆

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">19/08/2022

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px; vertical-align: middle;">📍

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">Santa Cruz, Portugal

</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### **Imaging sessions**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0datebortle-classtot" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%; height: 87.5px; border-width: 1px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 86px;"></col><col style="width: 244px;"></col><col style="width: 298px;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29.5px;"><td class="align-center" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: none; height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Date</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Bortle Class

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Total Exposure Time

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;">22/8/2022

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Class 5</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 2h (60x2min)</span>

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;">22/8/2023

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Class 5</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 1h20min (180x1min)</span>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

---

**Captured media**

#### **Photographs**

[![picture-72ddf138cc5f8444f240050d923cbdca-original.jpg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/picture-72ddf138cc5f8444f240050d923cbdca-original.jpg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/picture-72ddf138cc5f8444f240050d923cbdca-original.jpg)

> **My best photo of the Andromeda galaxy -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/160129/deep_sky/m-110/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_object_search_in_description=false&gallery_object_types=&gallery_filter_type_ids=&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)  
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 22/Aug/2022  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 80x1min Lights, 10x1min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 1600  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

# Triangulum Galaxy / M33

#### **Messier 33**

[![IMG_0095.png](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0095.png)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0095.png)

> **My best photo of the Triangulum galaxy -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/201674/deep_sky/triangulum-galaxy/m-33/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)  
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 31/Aug/2024  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 63x1min Lights, 10x60min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 800  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

### **Description**

The Triangulum Galaxy is a spiral galaxy 2.73 million light-years (ly) from Earth in the constellation Triangulum. It is catalogued as Messier 33 or NGC 598. With the D25 isophotal diameter of 18.74 kiloparsecs (61,100 light-years), the Triangulum Galaxy is the third-largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, behind the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way.

<p class="callout info">[Find more information about the Triangulum Galaxy on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangulum_Galaxy)</p>

---

### **Personal Stats**

#### **First observation**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%F0%9F%93%86-12%2F01%2F2013-%F0%9F%93%8D-los-a" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 50%; border-width: 1px; height: 58px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 21.2346%;"></col><col style="width: 78.5185%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">📆

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">31/8/2024

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px; vertical-align: middle;">📍

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">Canadelo, Portugal

</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### **Imaging sessions**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0datebortle-classtot" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%; height: 87.5px; border-width: 1px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 86px;"></col><col style="width: 244px;"></col><col style="width: 298px;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29.5px;"><td class="align-center" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: none; height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Date</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Bortle Class

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Total Exposure Time

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;">31/8/2024

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Class 3</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 1h03min (63x1min)</span>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

---

**Captured media**

#### **Photographs**

[![IMG_0095.png](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0095.png)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0095.png)

> **My best photo of the Triangulum galaxy -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/201674/deep_sky/triangulum-galaxy/m-33/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)  
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 31/Aug/2024  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 63x1min Lights, 10x60min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 800  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

# Star Clusters

# Pleiades / M45

#### **Messier 45 (and NGC**1432 / NGC1435)

[![IMG_0094.png](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0094.png)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0094.png)

> **My best photo of the Pleiades -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/160122/deep_sky/ngc-1432/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_object_search_in_description=false&gallery_object_types=&gallery_filter_type_ids=&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)  
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 22/Aug/2023  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 45x1min Lights, 10x1min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 1600  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

**Description**

The Pleiades also known as Seven Sisters and Messier 45 (M45), is an asterism of an open star cluster containing young B-type stars in the northwest of the constellation Taurus. At a distance of about 444 light-years, it is among the nearest star clusters to Earth and the nearest Messier object to Earth, being the most obvious star cluster to the naked eye in the night sky. It contains the reflection nebulae NGC 1432, an HII region, and NGC 1435, known as the Merope Nebula. Around 2330 BC the Pleiades marked the vernal point. Due to the brightness of its stars, the Pleiades is viewable from most areas on Earth, even in locations with significant light pollution.

<p class="callout info">[Find more information about the Pleiades on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleiades)</p>

---

### **Personal Stats**

#### **First observation**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%F0%9F%93%86-12%2F01%2F2013-%F0%9F%93%8D-los-a" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 50%; border-width: 1px; height: 58px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 21.2346%;"></col><col style="width: 78.5185%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">📆

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">22/08/2023

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px; vertical-align: middle;">📍

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">Santa Cruz, Portugal

</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### **Imaging sessions**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0datebortle-classtot" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%; height: 87.5px; border-width: 1px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 86px;"></col><col style="width: 244px;"></col><col style="width: 298px;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29.5px;"><td class="align-center" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: none; height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Date</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Bortle Class

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Total Exposure Time

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;">22/8/2023

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Class 4</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 45min (45x1min)</span>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

---

**Captured media**

#### **Photographs**

[![IMG_0094.png](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0094.png)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0094.png)

> **My best photo of the Pleiades -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/160122/deep_sky/ngc-1432/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_object_search_in_description=false&gallery_object_types=&gallery_filter_type_ids=&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)  
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 22/Aug/2023  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 45x1min Lights, 10x1min Darks  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 1600  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Telescope**: Svbony Apochromatic 80/448 mm SV503 80ED Doublet (0.8x reducer/flattener)  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: EQ5 modified with Onstep </span>

# Comets

# Tsuchinshan–ATLAS / C/2023 A3

#### **Tsuchinshan–ATLAS**

[![IMG_0105.jpeg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0105.jpeg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0105.jpeg)

> **My only photo of the C/2023 A3 comet -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/203368/comet/m-5/c-2023-a3-tsuchinshan-atlas/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_object_search_in_description=false&gallery_object_types=&gallery_filter_type_ids=&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 13/Oct/2023  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 1x2.5s exposure  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 1600  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Lens**: Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**: Photography Tripod

### **Description**

Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS, also known as the Great Comet of 2024 and formally designated as C/2023 A3, is a comet from the Oort cloud discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory in China on 9 January 2023 and independently found by ATLAS South Africa on 22 February 2023. The comet passed perihelion at a distance of 0.39 AU (58 million km; 36 million mi) on 27 September 2024, when it became visible to the naked eye.\[7\] Tsuchinshan–ATLAS peaked its brightest magnitude on 9 October, shortly after passing the Sun, with a magnitude of −4.9 per reported observations at the Comet Observation Database (COBS).\[7\]

<p class="callout info">[Find more information about the Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2023_A3_(Tsuchinshan%E2%80%93ATLAS))</p>

---

### **Personal Stats**

#### **First observation**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%F0%9F%93%86-12%2F01%2F2013-%F0%9F%93%8D-los-a" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 50%; border-width: 1px; height: 58px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 21.2346%;"></col><col style="width: 78.5185%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">📆

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">13/08/2023

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px; vertical-align: middle;">📍

</td><td class="align-center" style="border-width: 1px; height: 29px;">Torrão, Portugal

</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### **Imaging sessions**

<table class="align-center" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0datebortle-classtot" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 80%; height: 87.5px; border-width: 1px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 86px;"></col><col style="width: 244px;"></col><col style="width: 298px;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 29.5px;"><td class="align-center" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: none; height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Date</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Bortle Class

</td><td class="align-center" style="height: 29.5px; border-width: 1px;">Total Exposure Time

</td></tr><tr style="height: 29px;"><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;">13/8/2023

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Class 3</span>

</td><td class="align-center" style="vertical-align: middle; height: 29px; border-width: 1px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 2.5s</span>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

---

**Captured media**

#### **Photographs**

[![IMG_0105.jpeg](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0105.jpeg)](https://astro.afonsomuralha.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-08/scaled-1680-/img-0105.jpeg)

> **My only photo of the C/2023 A3 comet -** [Full resolution picture available on Telescopius](https://telescopius.com/pictures/view/203368/comet/m-5/c-2023-a3-tsuchinshan-atlas/by-afonso_muralha?gallery_order=is_featured&gallery_object_search_in_description=false&gallery_object_types=&gallery_filter_type_ids=&gallery_page=1&gallery_user_id=39078#annotated=off)   
> **Details**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Date**: 13/Oct/2023  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Exposures**: 1x2.5s exposure  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**ISO**: 1600  
> **Equipment**:  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Camera**: Canon 6D  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Lens**: Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD  
> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span>**Mount**: Photography Tripod