Name: Michael Sidonio: The Dark Doodad in Musca Poster
Brand: Michael Sidonio
Price: 59.0 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.9 (52 reviews)

The Dark Doodad in Musca by Michael Sidonio

The Dark Doodad Nebula drifts through southern skies, in the constellation Musca, The Fly.

The dusty cosmic cloud is seen against rich star fields just south of the Southern Cross. Stretching for about 3 degrees the Dark Doodad is joined in this wide field scene by globular star cluster NGC 4372.

NGC 4372 is located in the more distant halo of our Milky Way Galaxy, a background object some 20,000 light-years away and only by chance along our line-of-sight to the Dark Doodad.

The Dark Doodad belongs to the Musca molecular cloud and is around 700 light-years distant and over 30 light-years long.

Photo details & setup

Data collected over two nights on 17 and 23 April 2018, average seeing, poor transparency

Setup:

Takahashi FSQ106EDX4
FLI Proline 16803, CFW-5-7, Robofocus
LRGB = 330 70 70 70min = 9hrs total exposure (bin 1X1)
New Deep-Sky RGB Astronomik filters
-30C chip temp, dark frames and flats (using Aurora Flat Field Panel) applied
Focal length 530mm, FOV = 4deg X 4deg
Image scale 3.5"/pix
Guide Camera: Starlight Xpress Lodestar

Michael Sidonio, also known as "Strongmanmike," is a well-known Australian amateur astronomer and astrophotographer with a background in strength athletics. He studied astronomy at Dickson College and worked at the Canberra Observatory for over a decade. After retiring from strongman competitions in 2005, Michael focused on astronomy and astrophotography. His work has been featured in various exhibitions worldwide and has won numerous awards.

Michael has made significant contributions to astronomy research, including discovering a galaxy 11 million light-years away. His astrophotography is displayed at Australia's National Science and Technology Centre in Canberra. Michael recently completed the construction of the highest astronomical observatory in Australia, located in the Tinderry Mountains.

View the gallery

Unmatched Print Quality

Astrography uses cutting-edge fine art pigment printers, the same technology found in top art galleries and museums. Every print is crafted in-house, ensuring exceptional clarity, color, and durability. Experience the difference with Astrography.

Learn more

Explore Astrography™ Prints

Charts

Astrophotography

Spaceflight Photography

Space Art

Super Happy Customers

We are immensely grateful to our fans for helping us become the leading global seller of Space Art. With our products reaching over 30,000 customers across 70 nations, your support has truly been invaluable.

View all reviews

Our Founder

Meet Jesion

Hey there, space enthusiasts! I’m Adam Jesionkiewicz, the founder of Astrography. A few years ago, I decided to step off the corporate ladder and follow my lifelong dream—immersing myself in the breathtaking beauty of the cosmos. Astrography isn't just a business; it's a sanctuary for anyone captivated by the stars, planets, and galaxies far, far away.

Click here for an interview with Jesion on Insider.com

Learn more about us