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Harvard University

Astronomy Lab and Clay Telescope

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The Clay Telescope Photo Gallery

All photos were taken by past classes (unless otherwise stated) using the Clay telescope.

 

Galaxies

 

Andromeda Galaxy Bulge (BVR) larger image

M31 is our nearest spiral galaxy at 2.5 Mly

 

photo by Max Moe

Andromeda Galaxy Spiral (BVR) larger image

This slightly off-center image of M31 shows features of the spiral arm.

 

Triangulum Galaxy (BVR) larger image

M33 is about 2.8 Mly away. One of the most distant objects to view with your naked eye!

 

Fireworks Galaxy (BVR) larger image

Also known as NGC 6946, this galaxy is about 65 million lightyears away!

 

M82 - SN2014J (BVR) larger image

M82 with the bright SN2014J taken on January 30, 2014.

 

 

 

Nebulae and Clusters

Crab Nebula (BVR) larger image

1054 AD supernova remnant (M1) located 6,500 ly away

Orion Nebula (B,V,H alpha) larger image

This diffuse nebula (M42) is located at a distance of 1,200 ly in Orion's Belt and is one of the closest massive star forming regions to us!

 

Dumbell Nebula (B,V,H alpha) larger image

Planetary Nebula (M27) located about 1,300 ly away

Ring Nebula (BVR) larger image

Planetary Nebula (M57) is located 2,300 ly from Earth

 

Eagle Nebula (B,V,H alpha) larger image

This young open cluster (M16) is located at a distance of 7,000 ly and is known for its famous "Pillars of Creation" region.

M2 (BVR) larger image

This globular cluster (NGC 7089) is located at a distance of 33 kly and is one of the largest known globular clusters.

Solar System Objects

Comet Holmes (BVR) larger image

Periodic comet imaged during its 2007 temporary brightening of a factor of a half million! Briefly it was the largest object in the Solar System!

photo by Allyson Bieryla

Jupiter (RVB) larger image

This is an image of the beautiful planet Jupiter. You can see the striped bands due to the rotating clouds in the atmosphere. Jupiter was approximately 4.3 AU away when this image was taken.

 

photo by Allyson Bieryla

Saturn (BVR) larger image

This image of Saturn shows the spectacular rings almost edge-on! Saturn was approximately 10.5 AU away!

photo by Allyson Bieryla, Zach Murray

Jupiter (ZWO color image) larger image

Color image of Jupiter taken with the ZWO ASI224 camera in August 2020.

 

 

photo by Allyson Bieryla, Zach Murray

Saturn (ZWO color image) larger image

This image of Saturn was taken with the ZWO camera in August 2020.

photo by Zach Murray

 

 

Mars (ZWO color image) larger image

Color image of Mars taken with the ZWO ASI224 camera in October 2020.

 

 

 

photo by Allyson Bieryla

Moon (ZWO color image) larger image

Color image of the Moon was taken with the ZWO camera in June 2019.

photo by Allyson Bieryla

 

 

Moon (ZWO color image) larger image

Color image of the Moon taken with the ZWO ASI224 camera in April 2019.

 

 

 

saturn

 

Asteroid 2005YU55 (clear) larger image

Asteroid 2005YU55 had its closest approach on November 8, 2011. It was just over 200,000 miles (320,000 km) at its closest approach. That is closer to us than the moon! The asteroid is about 1,300 feet (400 m) in diameter. This movie was made with a sequence of 9 images.

Asteroid 2005YU55 (R) larger image

This is an image of asteroid 2005YU55 when it had its closest approach on November 8, 2011. It was just over 200,000 miles (320,000 km) at its closest approach. That is closer to us than the moon! The asteroid is about 1,300 feet (400 m) in diameter.