Gallery: Southern Celestial Hemisphere - astroanderson.com

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Southern Celestial Hemisphere

For the purpose of celestial mapping, the sky is considered as the inside of a sphere divided in two halves by the celestial equator.

The southern celestial hemisphere is that half of the celestial sphere that is south of the celestial equator. At all times, the entire Southern Sky is visible from the geographic South Pole; less of the Southern Sky is visible the further north the observer is located.

Many objects within the southern celestial hemisphere can also be viewed from the northern terrestrial hemisphere, depending on the latitude.

Monochrome image of Lagoon Nebula M8, looking ike a horsess head. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Monochrome image of Lagoon Nebula M8, looking ike a horsess head.

Cosmic reef, with giant red nebula (NGC 2014) and smaller blue nighbour (NGC 2020), 160,000 light-years distant in Large Magellanic Cloud. Collections: LMC _ Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Cosmic reef, with giant red nebula (NGC 2014) and smaller blue nighbour (NGC 2020), 160,000 light-years distant in Large Magellanic Cloud.

Monochrome image of Trifid Nebula M20. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Monochrome image of Trifid Nebula (M20, NGC 6514), a star-forming nebula 7,000 light-years distant, a rare combination of emission and reflection nebular and dark dust lanes.

Lagoon Nebula M8, NGC 6523; here, it looks like a horse's head. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Colour image of Lagoon Nebula (M8, NGC 6523), a massive interstellar cloud of gas and dust 4500 light-years distant, a stellar nursery, spanning roughly 100 light-years; here, it looks like a horse’s head.

Jellyfish Nebula IC 443, remnant of a supernova. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere _ Supernovae — Jellyfish Nebula, IC 443, is the remnant of a supernova, 5,000 light years distant.

Colour image of Pillars of Creation, Eagle Nebula M16. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Colour image of Pillars of Creation, 7,000 light-years distant in the Eagle Nebula (M16), active star-forming regions, with the pillars 4 to 5 light-years tall, famoulsy captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Close-up of Running Chicken Nebula IC 2944; on the left-hand side, seems like an astronaut walking. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Close-up of Running Chicken Nebula (IC 2944); on the left-hand side, seems like an astronaut walking.

Centaurus A (NGC 5128), 12 million light-years distant; features dark dust across its centre, a remnant of a smaller spiral galaxy that merged with the larger elliptical galaxy about 450 million years ago, triggering intense star formation. The galaxy houses a very active supermassive black hole at its core and has intense radio emission lobes one million light-years wide. Collections: Galaxies _ Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Centaurus A (NGC 5128), galaxy 12 million light-years distant; features dark dust across its centre, a remnant of a smaller spiral galaxy that merged with the larger elliptical galaxy about 450 million years ago, triggering intense star formation. The galaxy houses a very active supermassive black hole at its core and has intense radio emission lobes one million light-years wide.

Cat’s Paw Nebula NGC 6334. copied four times and inverted with Adobe photoshop to place four paws in image, and invert image (a cat walking on snow). Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334), a stellar nursery and emission nebula 4750 light-years distant; adjusted with Adobe photoshop to place four paws in image, and invert image (a cat walking on snow).

Colour image of "Statue of Liberty" Nebula NGC 3576. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Colour image of Statue of Liberty Nebula (RCW 57, NGC 3576/3582), a 100 light-year-wide stellar nursery, 9,000 light-years distant.

Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC, NGC 292), a dwarf galaxy, companion to the Milky Way, 200,000 light-years distant, with 3 billion stars. Collections: Galaxies _ Souhtern Celestial Hemisphere — Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC, NGC 292), a dwarf galaxy, companion to the Milky Way, 200,000 light-years distant, with 3 billion stars.

Trapezium cluster (Theta1 Orionis), ionizing and illuminating the Orion Nebula (M42). Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Trapezium cluster (Theta1 Orionis), one million-year old 20 light-year-sized cluster of massive stars ionizing and illuminating the Orion Nebula (M42).

Dragons of Ara (NGC 6188) fighting over Dragon’s Egg nebula (NGC 6164) seen at bottom of image. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Colour image of Dragons of Ara (NGC 6188) fighting over Dragon’s Egg nebula (NGC 6164) seen at bottom of image, 4,000 light-years distant; Egg Nebula thought to be formed by the merger of two stars 7,500 years ago.

Colour image of Gum Nebula (Gum 12), a vast emission nebula spanning 36° in the night sky, 1,000 light-years across, 1,500 light-years distant, believed to be a million-year-old expanding supernova remnant. Contains Gum 16 (the Vela Supernova Remnant). Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere - Supernovae — Colour image of Gum Nebula (Gum 12), a vast, faint emission nebula spanning 36° in the night sky, 1,000 light-years across, 1,500 light-years distant, believed to be a million-year-old expanding supernova remnant. Contains Gum 16 (the Vela Supernova Remnant).

Head of the Running Chicken Nebula complex (um 39, ionized by the hot, blue star HD 99897. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Head of the Running Chicken Nebula complex (Gum 39), a stellar nursery 6,500 light-years distant, ionized by the hot, blue star HD 99897.

Monochrome image of Eagle Nebula M16, contains the "Pillars of Creation", sculpted by a nearby hot star cluster, NGC 6611. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Monochrome image of Eagle Nebula M16, contains the “Pillars of Creation”, sculpted by a nearby hot star cluster, NGC 6611.

Monochrome image of Fighting Dragons of Ara NGC 6188. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Monochrome image of Fighting Dragons of Ara, (NGC 6188), a massive emission nebula 4,000 light-years distant, featuring dust clouds shaped like two dragons facing off, sculpted by intense stellar winds.

Monochrome image of "Statue of Liberty" Nebula NGC 3576. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Monochrome image of “Statue of Liberty” Nebula (RCW 57, NGC 3576/3582), a vibrant, 100 light-year-wide stellar nursery 9,000 light-years distant.

Colour image of Eagle Nebula M16, contains the "Pillars of Creation", sculpted by a nearby hot star cluster, NGC 6611. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Colour image of Eagle Nebula (M16), a young, active star-forming region 6,000 light-years distant, contains the “Pillars of Creation”, sculpted by a nearby hot star cluster, NGC 6611.

Colour image of Vela Supernova Remnant (SNR), Gum 16, (SNR G263.9-03.3), 700 light-years distant, the aftermath of a massive star that exploded 11,000 years ago; sits within Gum12.Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere - Supernovae _ VelaSNR — Colour image of Vela supernova remnant (SNR, Gum 16, SNR G263.9-03.3), 700 light-years distant, the aftermath of a massive star that exploded 11,000 years ago; sits within Gum12.

Cat’s Paw Nebula NGC 6334, a stellar nursery and emission nebula 4750 light-years distant, known for its distinctive red appearance due to ionized hydrogen gas. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334), a stellar nursery and emission nebula 4750 light-years distant, known for its distinctive red appearance due to ionized hydrogen gas.

Running Chicken Nebula IC 2944, a stellar nursery 6,500 light-years distant, spanning 100 light-years across. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Running Chicken Nebula (IC 2944), a stellar nursery 6,500 light-years distant, spanning 100 light-years across.

Monochrome image of Large Magellanic Cloud captured with Sigma 85mm lens, Ha filter and ASI 2600mm camera. Collections: LMC _ Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Monochrome image of LMC, (Large Magellanic Cloud), captured with Sigma 85mm lens; satellite galaxy of Milky Way Galaxy, 163,000 light-years distant.

Trifid Nebula M20, NGC 6514. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Trifid Nebula (M20, NGC 6514), star-forming nebula 7,000 light-years distant, a rare combination of emission and reflection nebular and dark dust lanes.

Monochrome image of Bean Nebula (NGC 1763), a stellar nursery 163,000 light-years distant in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Collections: LMC _ Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Monochrome image of Bean Nebula (NGC 1763), a stellar nursery 163,000 light-years distant in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

From left to right, Running Chicken, Statue of Liberty (in the middle) and Carina nebulae. Collections: Carina Nebula Complex _ Southern Celestial Hemisphere — From left to right, Running Chicken, Statue of Liberty (in the middle) and Eta Carinae nebulae.

Dove Nebula (NGC 6357), also known as the War and Peace Nebula, Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Monochrome image of Dove Nebula (NGC 6357), also known as the War and Peace Nebula, a massive, active stellar nursery 6750 light-years distant.

Omega Centauri (NGC 5139), the largest, brightest, and most massive globular cluster of stars in the Milky Way, 17,000 light-years distant, with 10 million stars. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere _ Stars — Omega Centauri (NGC 5139), the largest, brightest, and most massive globular cluster of stars in the Milky Way, 17,000 light-years distant, with 10 million stars.

This image shows the whole Eta Carinae complex, (top facing north, left facing east) centred on η (Eta) Carinae, a binary star system at least 120 times the mass of the Sun and five million times as luminous as the Sun, which, with other star clusters, shapes and illuminates the Nebula. Collections: Carina Nebula Complex _ Southern Celestial Hemisphere — This image shows the whole Carina Nebula complex, (top facing north, left facing east) centred on η (Eta) Carinae, a binary star system at least 120 times the mass of the Sun and five million times as luminous as the Sun, which, along with the dense star-forming region (Carina OB1) of which η Carinae is a part, and along with stars in the Trumpler clusters, shapes and illuminates the Carina Nebula.

Cat’s Paw Nebula NGC 6334. copied four times with Adobe photoshop to place four paws in image, and invert image (a cat walking). Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334), a stellar nursery and emission nebula 4750 light-years distant; adjusted with Adobe photoshop to place four paws in image.

Lagoon Nebula M8, NGC 6523, spanning roughly 100 light-years across. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Lagoon Nebula (M8, NGC 6523), a massive interstellar cloud of gas and dust 4,500 light-years distant, a stellar nursery, spanning roughly 100 light-years.

Part of Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, with Orion Nebula (M42) (just left of centre), De Mairan's Nebula (M43) almost connected to it, and Running Man Nebula (Sh2-279 to the further right. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Part of Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, with Orion Nebula (M42) (just left of centre), De Mairan’s Nebula (M43) almost connected to it, and Running Man Nebula (Sh2-279 to the further right; 1,500 light-years distant.

Lobster Nebula NGC 6357, producing some of the most massive and luminous stars in the Milky Way galaxy. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Lobster Nebula (NGC 6357), an emission nebula 6750 light-years distant, producing some of the most massive and luminous stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

Parts of the Carina Nebula Complex: to the bottom left is Gum 31 (IC 2599), bubble-shaped region known as Gabriela Mistral (a Chilean poet) nebula; in the middle, is NGC 3293, the gem cluster of stars; towards the top is Loden153 Nebula. Collections: Carina Nebula Complex _ Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Parts of the Carina Nebula Complex, 8,000 light-years distant; to the bottom left is Gum 31 (IC 2599), bubble-shaped region known as Gabriela Mistral (a Chilean poet) nebula; in the middle, is NGC 3293, the gem cluster of stars; towards the top is Loden153 Nebula.

Monochrome image of Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070), the most active starburst region in the local universe; only about 2 million years old. Collections: LMC — Blue-tinted monochrome image of Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070), the most active starburst region in the local universe, 163,000 light-years distant in the Large Magellanic Cloud, and only about 2 million years old.

Coalsack Nebula (Caldwell 99), dark nebula 600 light-years distant, a dense, interstellar cloud of hydrogen and cosmic dust, coated with water ice and organic molecules. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Monochrome image of Coalsack Nebula (Caldwell 99), dark nebula 600 light-years distant, a dense, interstellar cloud of hydrogen and cosmic dust, coated with water ice and organic molecules.

Monochrome image of Pillars of Creation, Eagle Nebula M16. Collections: Southern Celestial Hemisphere — Monochorme image of Pillars of Creation, 7,000 light-years distant in the Eagle Nebula (M16), active star-forming regions, with the pillars 4 to 5 light-years tall, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Supernova (SN 2024ggi), 22 million light-years distant in galaxy NGC 3621, first observed during April 2024 by Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, a Type II supernova from a red supergiant star. Arrow points to supernova. I thank Joseph Anderson, ESO Chile faculty chair, and FORS2 instrument scientist at the Paranal Observatory for alerting me to this event. Collections: Galaxies _ Southern Celestial Hemisphere - Supernovae — Supernova (SN 2024ggi), 22 million light-years distant in galaxy NGC 3621, a Type II supernova from a red supergiant star, first observed April 2024 by European Southern Observatory (ESO), Chile. Arrow points to supernova. I thank Joseph Anderson, ESO Chile faculty chair, and FORS2 instrument scientist at the Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert, for alerting me to this event.