Astrophotography
Planetary nebulae
A planetary nebula is an emission nebula formed by a glowing shell of expanding ionized gas, expelled by certain types of stars during the final stages of their life.
Adriano Alfaro
Explore the astrophotography archive
This gallery is part of my astrophotography collection. Visit the main page to explore all categories, read insights and curiosities, and discover the equipment I use.
NGC 7293 Helix nebula
- Integrazione | 9 ore e 4 minuti in LP
- Sorrento | 2025
- Telescopio | ZWO Seestar S50
- Finalista | Contest Seestar Italia - ZWO 2025
- Drizzle | x2
NGC 7293, also known as the Helix nebula, is one of the most spectacular objects in the southern sky. Located in the constellation Aquarius, about 650 light-years from Earth, it is one of the closest and largest planetary nebulae visible from our planet.
It represents the final breath of a Sun-like star, which expelled its outer layers into space, leaving behind a white dwarf at its center — the fate that awaits our own Sun in a few billion years.
PK 164+31.1 Headphones nebula
- Integrazione | 15 ore e 37 minuti (9 ore, 57 minuti e 40 secondi in LP, 5 ore, 40 minuti e 10 secondi in IRCUT)
- Sorrento | 2026
- Telescopio | ZWO Seestar S50
- Drizzle | x2
M97 Owl nebula
- Integrazione | 21 ore e 20 minuti (15 ore, 46 minuti e 40 secondi in LP, 5 ore, 33 minuti e 20 secondi in IRCUT)
- Sorrento | 2025-2026
- Telescopio | ZWO Seestar S50
- Drizzle | x3
M97 — the Owl nebula, a planetary nebula in the constellation Ursa Major.
Planetary nebulae are among my favorite objects to image. They’re small, often overlooked, but incredibly rich in structure and detail.
Located about 2,000 light-years away, M97 is the glowing shell of gas expelled by a dying Sun-like star. Its nickname comes from the two darker regions inside the nebula that resemble the eyes of an owl.
The blue-green color is mainly due to ionized oxygen, while the outer, fainter halo reveals older material ejected in previous phases. These layered structures tell the story of how the star lost its outer envelope over time.
At the center lies a very faint white dwarf — the remnant core that will slowly cool down over billions of years.
Abell 39
- Integrazione | 18 ore e 56 minuti (12 ore, 56 minuti e 10 secondi in LP, 6 ore e 30 secondi in IRCUT)
- Sorrento | 2025-2026
- Telescopio | ZWO Seestar S50
- Drizzle | x3
Abell 39 — a beautiful and very delicate planetary nebula in the constellation Hercules. Located around 6,800 light-years away, Abell 39 is one of the most remarkably spherical planetary nebulae known. It was formed when a dying Sun-like star expelled its outer layers into space, creating this nearly perfect bubble of glowing gas.
What makes it especially fascinating is its symmetry. Unlike many planetary nebulae that appear irregular or complex, Abell 39 looks almost like a transparent cosmic shell suspended in space. Its soft turquoise color is mainly caused by ionized oxygen, while the faint reddish outer regions come from hydrogen emission.
The central star, visible near the middle of the nebula, is the hot stellar remnant responsible for making the gas glow. Over time, this shell will continue to expand and fade into the interstellar medium.
Galleries
Explore the astrophotography categories
Nebulae
HII regions, emission and reflection nebulae, and supernova remnants.
Galaxies
Spiral, elliptical, irregular, and interacting galaxies.
Planetary nebulae
Shells of gas expelled by dying stars.
Open clusters
Groups of stars formed from the same molecular cloud.
Solar system
The Moon, Sun, planets, and comets.
Milky Way
The Milky Way, constellations, and wide regions of the sky.
Auroras
Luminous phenomena in Earth’s atmosphere.
Dark nebulae
Clouds of interstellar dust.
Globular clusters
Dense groups of stars.