Messier 73 (NGC 6994) - wonderfuluniverse.de

Messier 73 (NGC 6994) – VdS Remote Hakos

As a member of the VdS remote observatory group, I have the privilege of using the VdS remote observatory in Hakos, Namibia. Members may process both their own datasets and those recorded by other users. In this case, the final result is based entirely on my own observations from the site.

For this dataset of Messier 73 (M73), I used the 12″ astrograph and the Takahashi Epsilon 160D simultaneously, combining the resolving power of the larger aperture with the wide-field capabilities of the Epsilon. This dual-setup approach allows both a detailed and a broader contextual view of the field.

Scientifically, Messier 73 is a particularly interesting object. Although traditionally cataloged as an open cluster, modern studies have shown that M73 is actually an asterism—a chance alignment of four unrelated stars in the constellation Aquarius. These stars only appear close together from our viewpoint on Earth but are located at very different distances and are not gravitationally bound. Despite this, M73 remains an intriguing target because its sparse stellar foreground offers an unusually clear window into the distant universe behind it.

The deep imaging conditions in Hakos reveal a rich background of galaxies and quasars, extending far beyond what typical telescopes in light-polluted regions can capture. Among these distant objects, the most remote confirmed quasar is WISEA J205848.93–123109.5, with a redshift of z = 3.3—meaning its light has been traveling for over 11 billion years. This juxtaposition of a simple foreground asterism with the immense depth of the cosmic background highlights the scientific and visual value of high-quality remote imaging.

All data calibration, registration, and final processing were performed in PixInsight.