M1 (NGC 1952) (supernova remnant)

Called the crab nebula, this supernova remnant is from a star that exploded in 1054 AD and first noted by Chinese astronomers in that year as a "new star". It is about 6292 light years from Earth.

Coathanger Cluster (Col. 399) (open cluster)

Connect the dots between the 10 brightest stars and you'll see a coathanger of the type you often find on the back of a door.

Eagle Nebula (M16) (NGC 6611) (emission nebula)

Called the Eagle Nebula because its shape reminds some observers of the bird

Gamma Cygni region (emission nebula)

The bright star in the middle of the picture is Gamma Cygni, which causes the nebulae in the area to shine. A barely noticable cluster of stars at the far right (M29) is estimated to be about 5542 light years from Earth.

M8 and M20 (emission and reflection nebulas)

Called the Lagoon (M8) and Trifid (M20) nebulas because astronomers have active imaginations

DoubleCluster (NGC 869 and NGC 884; open clusters)

Physically unrelated clusters of stars separated by about 400 light years. NGC 884 is about 7500 and NGC 869 is abouty 7100 light years from Earth

The Horsehead Nebula (NGC 2024) (dark nebula)

Located below the far left star in Orion's belt, the Horsehead Nebula is a cloud of fine sooty dusk particles that intrudes into a bright emission nebula (IC 434)

California Nebula (NGC 1499; emission nebula)

A large (160' X 40') and faint cloud of glowing hydrogen gas named after the state because of its similarity in shape

Antares region in Scorpius

Antares is a double star system with the largest being a red giant that reflects light from cosmic dust in the area. M4 is a globular cluster to the right of Antares

Centaurus A (NGC 5128; galaxy)

Belongs to the southern sky but can be seen just above the horizon in southern Texas (at Fort Davis, home of the Texas Star Party). It is about 15 million light years from Earth.