Astronomy Picture of the Day: 23/01/2026

lizarmarego
Jan 23
2 min read

Object Name: NGC 6193 (Dragons of Ara with Dragons Egg)

Copyright: Glenn Pickford

Location: Chisholm, NSW 2232

Connect: https://www.youtube.com/@waterford_astro

Instagram: waterford_astro

Skill level: Intermediate (2-4 years)

Image Title

Dragons of Ara

Artists' statement

Wanted more data time - 6 images used out of 10 taken - will try this target again

How This Image Was Captured

Gear used

Scope: ZWO FF107 Camera: ASI 2600MC Filter: Optolong L-Ultimate Mount: ZWO AM5

Exposure details

6x600s Gain 100

Processing notes

6 Lights, 10 Darks, 20 Bias, 20 Flats processed in PixInsight and slight tweak in Photoshop

Exploring NGC 6193

This region of sky is a dramatic emssion nebula, about 4,000 light years away from Earth, in the constellation Ara. The nebula is nicknamed for its dark, curling pillars of dust and gas that resemble two mythical dragons locked in battle. It is an active star-forming region sculpted by the intense ultraviolet radiation and powerful stellar winds of young, massive stars in the nearby NGC 6193 open cluster.

Located just below the "fighting dragons," this is a rare, symmetric bipolar emission nebula created by a massive O-type star roughly 40 times the mass of the Sun.

Behind the Selection

Artistically, the composition is very strong: the bright, turbulent core near NGC 6193 anchors the left side, while the darker, elongated structures sweep across the frame like opposing forms, naturally reinforcing the “Fighting Dragons” narrative. The inclusion of the compact “Dragon’s Egg” on the right provides a visual counterweight and a clear point of interest, preventing the scene from feeling one-sided or chaotic. Your framing gives the nebula room to breathe, making the scale feel vast rather than cropped.

Technically, the dynamic range is well controlled. The bright ionized regions are luminous without being blown out, while the faint dust and hydrogen structures are cleanly separated from the background. Star sizes are consistent and restrained, which keeps attention on the nebulosity instead of letting stars dominate the scene. The color palette is cohesive and intentional: warm reds and oranges contrast beautifully with cooler teal background tones, adding depth and three-dimensionality rather than flat colour saturation.