Amateur astrophotographer captures trio of breathtaking nebulas from the Central Australian Desert (photos)
Amateur astrophotographer and full-time wildlife conservationist Tim Henderson captured a trio of breathtaking nebula scenes adorning the pristine skies above the Central Australian Desert.
Henderson was able to capture detailed portraits of the Carina Nebula, along with the emission nebulas NGC 6188 and Sh2-1 in late April and May earlier this year using an Askar SQA55 scope coupled with a high-end astronomy camera and mount.
A total of 50 separate 240-second-long exposures were captured to reveal the colossal filaments of dust and gas that comprise the emission nebula NGC 6188, which orbits within the Milky Way some 4,000 light-years from Earth in the southern constellation Ara. The complex shapes are evocative of duelling monsters, granting it the unofficial nickname “the Dragons of Ara”. The bright form of a second nebula, NGC 6164, can be seen towards the bottom of the image, surrounded by a faint gaseous shell.
“The skies here have zero light pollution (apart from the moon) and the nights are cloudless 90% of the time, especially during winter,” Henderson told Space.com in an email. “It’s such an amazing place to enjoy the night sky! I’ve been slowly progressing my astrophotography journey over the last two years, starting with a DSLR camera + lens setup, to something more dedicated for astro. There’s some great targets in the southern hemisphere, including the Carina Nebula.”
Located 7,500 light-years from Earth, the Carina Nebula is a vast stellar nursery, which is home to at least a dozen stars with a mass between 50-100 times that of our sun, according to NASA. The intense radiation blasted out from these stellar monsters ionizes the surrounding nebula, causing it to glow. Henderson was delighted to find that his view of the Carina Nebula — captured over the course of 50 minute-long exposures — happened to take on the vague outline of Australia!
Henderson’s view of Sh2-1 — also known as Sharpless 1 — reveals the complex cloud-like structures and cavities of the emission nebula embedded in the constellation Scorpius, close to the magnitude +2.8 star Pi Scorpii.
“These images were all captured next to my house (which is a small cabin on a remote wildlife station), which allows for easy access to power, internet and clear skies,” said Henderson. “I often work nights, as the animals I work with (e.g. Bilby) are nocturnal. This allows me to set-up my astrophotography rig before work and schedule it to take photos until I get home.”
Stargazers interested in capturing the night sky for themselves should check out our roundup of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography available in 2025. Those new to the night sky should also see our guide to the top smartphone astronomy apps, which use augmented reality to help you navigate the night sky.
Editor’s Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com’s readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
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