Post a picture of your favorite DSO

[pokerfan]

DSO = Deep Sky Object

The http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_object">Messier List is a good starting point.




I'm partial to M57 myself:






But M100 is very nice too:




M13 is my favorite globular cluster:

[Fox Mulder]

1. Cat's Eye Nebula

[pokerfan]

2. One of the most popular HST pics

[laconicsax]

3. It isn't on the list, but I like it.

The Horse-head Nebula.



What's spectacular about it is what you can see in the head itself.

[Tyler Durden]

4. I love the "classics."

Andromeda

[pokerfan]

6. Interestingly, M31 is the furthest object

one can see with the unaided eye and is 2.5 million light-years distant.

Finder charts:





It's also hugh! Its outer spiral arms only show up in long exposure photographs when its true size becomes apparent. It is about three degrees long, i.e. six times the diameter of the Sun and full Moon.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. The "Sombrero" Galaxy is my favorite aside from the Eagle nebula

but it's within our galaxy, so it's OT.

[pokerfan]

7. Objects within our galaxy can be DSO's

They just have to be faint and fuzzy.

The Eagle Nebula is Messier #16.



HST image: