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Picture
The California Nebula
I came across this data that was captured in January 2017. It is a very small part of this feint Nebula. 

All data collected using my Atik 490 and TS65Q astrograph. Filters were narrowband Ha, SII and OIII. 

Ha x25 5 mins each
SII x16 5 mins each
OIII x16 5 mins each

Guide camera QHY 5II and PHD2 on finder scope

Processing was in the main done in PixInsight but I also played around with Astro Pixel Processor APP to mainly learn the software.

The Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405) in Auriga
IC 405 (also known as the Flaming Star Nebula, SH 2-229, or Caldwell 31) is an emission/reflection nebula in the constellation Auriga, surrounding the bluish star AE Aurigae. It shines at magnitude +6.0.
I captured the data for this image over 5 nights in November and December 2016. First processed in April 2017. There is around 8 hours data using Ha, SII and OIII narrowband filters. Colour was blended in Pixinsight PixelMath process. Almost Hubble palette.
TS APO65Q Telescope
Atik 490EX CCD Camera
QHY5L Guide Camera on 90x50 finder scope
Baader Ha, OIII and SII narrow band filters.
Artemis Capture.
PHD2 Guiding.
All processing Pixinsight incl stacking (image integration) plus some actions in PS.
Picture

Milky Way

My first real attempt at the Milky way. I imaged this while on a weekend break to Hayling Island.
Canon 1100d with 10-20mm (10mm used)
40 seconds Iso400
Camera was mounted on Skywatcher Star Adventurer
Some Pixinsight adjustments.
Wind was very gusty. A gust or two definitely hit the tripod on every exposure so I am most pleased with star shape. I need a LP filter for this lens.
Picture taken around 4:30am 25th March 2017, but there were lots of lights on around me which I did not expect at that time of night.

Picture

Picture
NGC 7822 is a young star forming complex in the constellation of Cepheus. The complex encompasses the emission region designated Sharpless 171, and the young cluster of stars named Berkeley 59. The complex is believed to be some 800-1000 pc distant, with the younger components aged no more than a few million years.
TS APO65Q Telescope
Atik 490EX CCD Camera
QHY5L Guide Camera on 90x50 finder scope
Baader Ha, OIII and SII narrow band filters.
Artemis Capture.
PHD2 Guiding.
All processing Pixinsight incl stacking (image integration) plus some actions in PS
Around 14 hours exposure using Ha,OIII and SII. Luminance created from Ha (Ha-L)
Data collected 31st Oct, 2nd Nov, 7th Nov and 25th Nov


Cygnus Wall
The North America Nebula is large, covering an area of more than four times the size of the full moon; but its surface brightness is low, so normally it cannot be seen with the unaided eye. Binoculars and telescopes with large fields of view (approximately 3°) will show it as a foggy patch of light under sufficiently dark skies. However, using a UHC filter, which filters out some unwanted wavelengths of light, it can be seen without magnification under dark skies. Its prominent shape and especially its reddish color (from the hydrogen Hα emission line) show up only in photographs of the area.

Cygnus's Wall is a term for the "Mexico and Central America part" of the North America Nebula. The Cygnus Wall exhibits the most concentrated star formations in the nebula.
Picture

Picture
Bubble Nebula and Open cluster M52
TS APO65Q Telescope, Atik 490EX CCD Camera, QHY5L Guide Camera on 90x50 finder scope
Baader Ha, OIII and SII narrow band filters. Artemis Capture. PHD2 Guiding.
All processing Pixinsight incl stacking (image integration) plus some actions in PS
 Ha=x12 600 SecondsOIII=x12 600 Seconds
SII=x12 600 Seconds.                     Total of 6 hours July and August 2016


Picture
Witches Broomstick. Western Veil
TS APO65Q Telescope
Atik 490EX CCD Camera
QHY5L Guide Camera on 90x50 finder scope
Baader Ha, OIII and SII narrow band filters.
Artemis Capture.
PHD2 Guiding.
All processing Pixinsight incl stacking (image integration) plus some actions in PS
This version is a blended image made up of the following.
R= SII and Ha
G= Ha +OIII
B= OIII
L= Ha
Around about 6.5 hours usable exposures. 38 in total. 7 were discarded.
Imaging was done over 6 nights in July 2016. Many interuptions! Been so busy only just managed to process this.
This image is just part of The Veil Nebula.

Deneb, Sadr and North America Nebula, Pelican and Butterfly Nebula

Thought I would have a go at wide field. Taken with my Canon 1100D. So I dusted it off, charged the battery and took this. I used my 18-55mm lens at 18mm

x21 30 second exposures.
As well as bad light pollution the moon was over 95% so it wasn't really a good time to experiment.
Processed mainly in Pixinsight with some extra help in Photoshop,
Picture

Picture
Rosette Nebula and NGC224
This is a crop of my previous image below. I love the detail in this.


TS APO65Q Telescope
Atik 490EX CCD Camera
QHY5L Guide Camera on 90x50 finder scope
Baader Ha, OIII and SII narrow band filters.
Artemis Capture.
PHD2 Guiding.
All processing Pixinsight incl stacking (image integration) plus some actions in PS

Just over 13 hours of imaging time, over 6 nights in February 2016.

Rosette Nebula and NGC224

TS APO65Q Telescope
Atik 490EX CCD Camera
QHY5L Guide Camera on 90x50 finder scope
Baader Ha, OIII and SII narrow band filters.
Artemis Capture.
PHD2 Guiding.
All processing Pixinsight incl stacking (image integration) plus some actions in PS

Just over 13 hours of imaging time, over 6 nights in February 2016.
Picture

Picture
Picture
The Tadpole Nebula IC410
There is over 11 hours of imaging time in this image which was captured 31st Dec, 7th Jan and 14th Jan 2016, using the following equipment and software.

TS APO65Q Telescope
Atik 490EX CCD Camera
QHY5L Guide Camera on 90x50 finder scope
Baader Ha, OIII and SII narrow band filters.
Artemis Capture.
PHD2 Guiding.
All processing Pixinsight incl stacking (image integration)

This image is blended from SII, OIII and Ha filters using the PixelMath component in Pixinsight. The mix is to suit my own taste.

The SII has added Ha
The Ha as some OIII added
The OIII is on it's own

M51 Whirlpool Galaxy

Reprocess while waiting for our UK weather to improve.

Data captured 10th, 13th, 14th and 15th April. Scope was Skywatcher 250pds. Atik 490EX CCD, Baader RGB filters and Astronomik CLS for L. Guiding was 90x50 finder with QHY5IIL. Software used was Artemis capture, PHD guiding, Pixinsight.
 
Processed to try to bring out the nebulosity area's as much as possible.
 
6 1/2 hours exposure in total and a similar time to process.
L x42 1x1 300 secs total 210 mins
R x12 1x1 300 secs total 60 mins
G x11 1x1 300 secs total 55 mins
B x14 1x1 300 secs total 70 minsk here to edit.
Picture

Picture
IC5070 and IC5067

This is a cropped and reprocess version of this wonderful nebula

The RGB is base with HA blended into the R and G. HA is finally used to sharpen as a Luminance.

TS APO65Q Telescope
Atik 490EX CCD
QHY5L Guide Camera on 90x50 finder scope
Baader Ha,R,G and B filters.
Artemis Capture.
PHD2 Guiding.
All processing Pixinsight incl stacking (image integration)

Data collected over 3 nights August 2015. 6th,7th and 8th.
Ha x13 600 secs 1x1
R x10 300 secs 1x1
G x10 300 secs 1x1
B x12 300 secs 1x1
Nearly 5 hours of data

NGC282 PacMan Nebula Narrowband

Taken with my TS 65QAPO telescope, filter wheel, LRGB filters and Atik 490ex. Guiding was 90x50 finder with QHY5IIL. Software used was Artemis capture, PHD guiding, Pixinsight and Photoshop.
Ha x15 1200 seconds
SII x17 1200 seconds
OIII x11 1200 seconds
 
Total 14.3 hours
 
Data captured early October and November 2015
Picture

Picture
Cygnus Wall in the North America Nebula

I have reprocessed this using different Pixinsight workflows.
This is just a small part of the North America Nebula. This is the part showing the central America and Gulf of Mexico area. In fact it is the main star forming area and is known as the Cygnus Wall. The wall is lit by bright young stars and partly hidden by dark dust clouds. This gives the amazing shapes that my image is trying to show.
Images were taken with my TS APO65Q Refractor and the imaging camera was Atik 490EX. Guiding was QHY5L. Software was Artemis capture and PHD Guiding. All processing was in Pixinsight including stacking. Data collected 21st, 29th and 30th June and 1st July 2014
HA x38 300 seconds 1x1  Total 3 hour 10 minutes
L x10 180 seconds 1x1 Total 30 minutes
R x10 180 seconds 2x2 Total 30 minutes
G x10 180 seconds 2x2 Total 30 minutes
B x10 180 seconds 2x2 Total 30 minutes
Total Integration 5 hours 10 minutes

Wizard Nebula NGC7380

Alternative Colour Palette

I imaged this back in August 2014. Never got round to process this as Hospital took over my life for some months! But glad I found it. Proves a logical file system I think.
 
Using my SW 250pds, filter wheel, LRGB filters and Atik 490ex. Guiding was 90x50 finder with QHY5IIL. Software used was Artemis capture, PHD guiding, Pixinsight.

This image is blended from SII, OIII and Ha filters

The SII has added Ha
The Ha as some OIII added
The OIII is on it's own

PixelMath formula is:-
 SII_Crop+(0.8*HA_Crop)                               Red
 (0.075*HA_Crop)+OIII_Crop                         Green
 OIII_Crop                                                        Blue
Picture

Wizard Nebula NGC7380

I imaged this back in August 2014. Never got round to process this as Hospital took over my life for some months! But glad I found it. Proves a logical file system I think.
 
Using my SW 250pds, filter wheel, LRGB filters and Atik 490ex. Guiding was 90x50 finder with QHY5IIL. Software used was Artemis capture, PHD guiding, Pixinsight.

This image is blended from SII, OIII and Ha filters

The SII has added Ha
The Ha as some OIII added
The OIII is on it's own

PixelMath formula is:-
 SII_Crop+(0.8*HA_Crop)                               Red
 (0.075*HA_Crop)+OIII_Crop                         Green
 OIII_Crop                                                        Blue

Picture
Picture
Soul Nebula Narrowband 13th September 2015
2nd process

What can you do when the weather won't allow us to image ! Reprocess !

One of my first ventures into Narrowband that I uploaded in September.  I have been running through further tutorials from Kayron Mercieca. Steep learning curve but a great improvement.
This is a standard Hubble Palette.

Taken with my TS 65QAPO telescope, filter wheel, LRGB filters and Atik 490ex. Guiding was 90x50 finder with QHY5IIL. Software used was Artemis capture, PHD guiding, Pixinsight and Photoshop.
HA x14 20mins
OIII x14 20mins
SII x12 20mins
BIN 1x1
Around 13.5 hours exposure
Around 6 hours process time


Wide-field M31

x30 30 second exposures. ISO 1600
Total 15 minutes.
Canon 1100d, Lens at 18mm, Used my portable tracker Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer on Skywatcher NEQ6 tripod. Stacking and process in Pixinsight. Capture in Backyard EOS.

For the first time in around 3 years my wife was well enough to go to the Brecon Beacons for a short Holiday. On our last night there the sky's improved despite the forecast and I was able to travel to the Black Mountain and capture this. 5 minutes later the sky was overcast again so I was very pleased and grateful to capture this.

I do need a wider angle lens and now I am familiar with using the portable setup I am on the look out for something like a 10mm lens.
Picture
Picture
NGC282 PacMan Nebula Narrowband

Still battling to process NB. Not sure why I find it so hard. More tutorials needed. Anyway...

Taken with my TS 65QAPO telescope, filter wheel, LRGB filters and Atik 490ex. Guiding was 90x50 finder with QHY5IIL. Software used was Artemis capture, PHD guiding, Pixinsight and Photoshop.
Ha x15 1200 seconds
SII x17 1200 seconds
OIII x11 1200 seconds

Total 14.3 hours

Data captured early October and November 2015

Soul Nebula Narrowband 13th September 2015

IC1884
My first venture into Narrowband. Processing seems very difficult so need to work on that. Will try further process versions.

HA x14 20mins
OIII x14 20mins
SII x12 20mins
BIN 1x1
Picture
Picture
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy April 2015

Data captured 10th, 13th, 14th and 15th April. Scope was Skywatcher 250pds. Atik 490EX CCD, Baader RGB filters and Astronomik CLS for L. Guiding was 90x50 finder with QHY5IIL. Software used was Artemis capture, PHD guiding, Pixinsight.

Processed to try to bring out the nebulosity area's as much as possible.

6 1/2 hours exposure in total and a similar time to process.
L x42 1x1 300 secs total 210 mins
R x12 1x1 300 secs total 60 mins
G x11 1x1 300 secs total 55 mins
B x14 1x1 300 secs total 70 mins
Picture
M101 Galaxy April 2015

Data captured April 2015. Scope was Skywatcher 250pds. Atik 490EX CCD, Baader RGB filters and Astronomik CLS for L. Guiding was 90x50 finder with QHY5IIL. Software used was Artemis capture, PHD guiding,Pixinsight and Photoshop
Picture
M106 April 7th 2015

Using my SW 250pds, filter wheel, LRGB filters and Atik 490ex. Guiding was 90x50 finder with QHY5IIL. Software used was Artemis capture, PHD guiding, Pixinsight and Photoshop.

Not pleased with this one. Lost a lot of data as guiding was poor. This seemed very difficult to image.
38x HA at 300 seconds 1x1
8x RGB at 300 seconds 2x2

Picture
Horsehead and Flame Nebula Jan +Feb 2015
Captured over a few nights in Jan and Feb 2015
TS APO65Q Telescope
Atik 490EX CCD
QHY5L Guide Camera on 90x50 finder scope
Baader Ha,R,G and B filters.
Artemis Capture.
PHD Guiding.
All processing Pixinsight incl stacking (image integration)

The difficulty in processing was to bring out the nebulosity but not to ruin the stars.
R = 1x1 x16 300 secs
G = 1x1 x16 300 secs
B = 1x1 x15 300 secs
Ha = 1x1 x30 300 secs
Total exposure 6.4 hours
Total processing time 5 hours
Picture
M1 Crab Nebula 21st Feb 2015

Data collected 17th and 21st Feb 2015.

TS APO65Q Telescope
Atik 490EX CCD
QHY5L Guide Camera on 90x50 finder scope
Baader Ha,R,G and B filters.
Artemis Capture.
PHD Guiding.
All processing Pixinsight incl stacking (image integration)
x11 300 secs Ha 1x1
x7 300 secs R 2x2
x7 300 secs G 2x2
x5 300 secs B 2x2
Total exposure 2 1/2 hours

Picture
Comet Lovejoy 10th January 2015

Unfortunate for me Lovejoy is mostly in the bright lights of Gatwick airport which is very close by. All things considered I am quite pleased with this.
Picture
M42 and Running man Dec 2014

Captured on 19th Dec and 28th Dec 2014
My first image for some months now. Very good to get out into my Observatory again. Began to wonder if I ever would.
TS APO65Q Telescope
Atik 490EX CCD
QHY5L Guide Camera on 90x50 finder scope
Baader L,R,G and B filters in manual wheel.
Artemis Capture.
PHD Guiding.
All processing Pixinsight incl stacking (image integration)
R = 1x1 x20 120 secs
G = 1x1 x20 120 secs
B = 1x1 x20 120 secs
Picture
Horse Head Nebula and Flame 4th Dec 2013

Taken on 4th Dec on a freezing cold night. I used my ED120 with Canon 1100d (modded) prime focus. Guiding was with Synguider on a SW80. All on HEQ6pro pier mounted.
After checking Polar alignment I then did a single star alignment on Alnitak. I then slewed to Capella to focus using a Batinov mask. Then back to my target and a small framing adjustment.
21 Light frames of 240 seconds 1hour
24minutes, Darks and Bias files.
I used DSS to stack (going to try PI next time) and PI for process with tweak. Was collected with Backyard EOS.                                                                                                                                 in PS. Capture
I am dedicating this image to my wife who is currently in hospital undergoing
a stem cell transplant. Here is the old Horse Ellie :)

Picture
Iris Nebula NGC7023 September 2014
Over 3 hours exposure and taken over 3 nights 31/8, 2/9 and 3/9/2014.

Using my SW 250pds, filter wheel, LRGB filters and Atik 490ex. Guiding was 90x50 finder with QHY5IIL. Software used was Artemis capture, PHD guiding, Pixinsight and Photoshop.
x14 L 180secs 1x1
x8 R 300 secs 2x2
x7 G 300 secs 2x2
x14 B 300 secs 2x2
NGC7023 the Iris Nebula is bright reflection nebula in the constellation Cepheus. It is about 1300 light years away and 6 light years across. NGC7023 is the cluster inside the nebula. The nebula is illuminated by a +6.8 mag star SAO19158.
This subject is evidently very difficult to obtain much detail in light polluted sky's so I am reasonably pleased with this one. However there is rather to much Coma.

Picture
M31 Andromeda Galaxy September 2014

Image captured 14th, 15th, 21st and 22nd September 2014. from Lumacomi Observatory.
Quite pleased with this considering the Light Pollution around here. Total exposure just over 6 hours.
TS APO65Q Telescope
Atik 490EX CCD
QHY5L Guide Camera on 90x50 finder scope
Baader L,R,G and B filters in manual wheel.
Artemis Capture.
PHD Guiding.
All processing Pixinsight incl stacking (image integration)
L = 1x1 x40 120 secs
R = 1x1 x32 180 secs
G = 1x1 x35 180 secs
B = 1x1 x32 180 secs
Picture
IC 1396 Elephant's Trunk 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th July 2014
The Elephant's Trunk nebula is a concentration of interstellar gas and dust within the much larger ionized gas region IC 1396 located in the constellation Cepheus about 2,400 light years away from Earth. The piece of the nebula shown here is the dark, dense globule IC 1396A; it is commonly called the Elephant's Trunk nebula because of its appearance at visible light wavelengths, where there is a dark patch with a bright, sinuous rim. The bright rim is the surface of the dense cloud that is being illuminated and ionized by a very bright, massive star (HD 206267) that is just to the west of IC 1396A. The entire IC 1396 region is ionized by the massive star, except for dense globules that can protect themselves from the star's harsh ultraviolet rays
Images captured at Lumacomi Observatory on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th July using the following equipment and software. And YES! I did have 4 consecutive clear nights which made up for the short duration :))
TS APO65Q Telescope
Atik 490EX CCD
QHY5L Guide Camera on 90x50 finder scope
Baader Ha,R,G and B filters in manual wheel.
Artemis Capture.
PHD Guiding.
All processing Pixinsight incl stacking (image integration)
Ha x20 10 minutes 1x1
R x11 5 minutes 2x2
G x8 5 minutes 2x2
B x8 5 minutes 2x2
Total integration time 5hours 35mins

Picture
M13 Globular Cluster July 2014
I must admit that I am a little disappointed with this. I lost about 50% of my R frames due to poor tracking. Hence a weak R colour. Not really sure why. Maybe I will add some more to it ( maybe I won't) at some point.

M13 is about 145 light-years in diameter, and it is composed of several hundred thousand stars, the brightest of which is the variable star V11 with an apparent magnitude of 11.95. M13 is 25,100 light-years away from Earth.

Equipment used. Skywatcher 250pds, Atik 490ex Mono CCD, Guiding was QHY5L on finder scope.
Artemis Capture, PHD Guiding, Pixinsight and PS
L = 11x 180 seconds 1x1
R = 3x180 seconds 2x2 (lost 50%)
G = 6x180 seconds 2x2
B = 6x180 seconds 2x2

Picture
Needle Galaxy 3/5/2014

Needle Galaxy NGC 4565 and NGC 4562
Taken 3rd May 2014
 Vixen VC200L and QHY5L guide camera. Imaging camera was Atik 490Ex LRGB filters.
 
L = 1x1 300 seconds
R = 2x2 300 seconds
G = 2x2 300 seconds
B = 2x2 300 seconds
Artemis Capture, DSS, Pixinsight, PS
NGC 4565 is a giant spiral galaxy more luminous than the Andromeda Galaxy[6] and it has been proposed that if it were viewed face-on, it would be the most spectacular of the galaxies of its type in the nearby Universe.

Picture
M45 Pleiades (Seven Sisters)
My second attempt to image this in the last week or so.Taken on 29/11/2013.
The clouds were a lot kinder to me this time as I was able to hit exposures of
240 seconds although not as many as I wanted. I managed 19 so 1hour and 16
minutes. I wanted 2 hours plus really.
I never touched Polar alignment as I now
find with my pier mount it never moves! I did a one star alignment on Alderbaren
and a focus on Capella using Batinov mask, then slewed to M45 and did a tiny frame adjustment.
Scope was 120ED with Canon 1100d prime
focus. Guiding was with synguider on SW80. Backdoor EOS to collect data. DSS and
Pixinsight plus a little PS to process
Picture
M27 Dumbbell Nebula
Taken with my SW 10" Newtonian, canon 1100D. 
SW80 with synguider for guiding.
Processed with DSS and Pixinsight. This was a very quick Pixinsight process. Hopefully I will be able to tease a bit more out of this. I have deliberately forced the image to show nebulosity which in turn has made the sky weak. 
X18 240 second exposures. darks and Bias files
Many of my recent exposures have been 300 seconds but I found that I burned out the core if I did that, so I cut it back to 240 Seconds on this one. If you click on the picture you will see I have managed to capture some outer nebulosity,


Picture
The Andromeda Galaxy M31
M31 is a spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth in the Andromeda constellation. Also known as Messier 31, M31, or NGC 224, it is often referred to as the Great Andromeda Nebula.
Scope was SW250pds, coma corrector,
Canon 1100d astro mod with CLS clip filter (LP) Guiding was on SW80 with
Synguider.. Data collected using BackyardEOS, DSS for stacking and Pixinsight
for processing x17 exposures 360 secs at ISO800. Darks,
and Bias images. Total 1 hour 42 minutes.

Picture
NGC6960 Witches Broomstick Nebula (Western Veil)
Taken with my SW 250pds, coma corrector, Canon 1100d, CLS clip filter, guided with synguider on SW80. All on pier mounted EQ6 pro mount.
Data collected with BackyardEOS, stacked in DSS and minimal processing in Pixinsight
I have finally got round to combining all my data from 3 different nights to produce this image.
Reprocessed using the less is more attitude. My last process of this data was really far to harsh. I prefer this.
x6 subs 300 secs ISO800 7th August Darks and Bias
x4 subs 300 secs ISO800 11th August.
x20 subs 300 secs ISO800 12th August,
Total 2.5 hours
Picture
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy


This is one of my earlier attempts at this target
Picture
M33 Galaxy 11th December 2012

This was a very early attempt at this quite difficult Galaxy. Equipment used was ED110,Vixen flip mirror, Canon 1100D. SW 80 guide scope with Synguider. Exposures were x20 80seconds and x1 240 seconds. About 30 minutes in total. Focus achieved with Batinov mask.

The synguider performed very well. I locked onto a tiny star and 40 minutes later it was still firmly locked on. I only stopped because the temperature was -5. I think I will be able to push my exposures well past 120 seconds, my test of 240 seconds on this shot was showing only limited trailing. Still need to sort filter out.
Picture
Capturing the data.

This was taken halfway through a light frame of the Crescent Nebula. Backyard office running on my laptop manages the exposure sequences that I set up.
Final result below.

Picture
NGC6888 Crescent Nebula June 2013

10" Newtonian, EOS1100D Astro Mod, Guided by Synguider on SW80. HEQ6pro mount.

Taken on 6th June CLS filter, 8th June H-Alpha filter.
10 x 300 Secs ISO 400 Lights
23 x 180 Secs ISO 800 HA (very windy hence high ISO)

Processed in Pixensight and PS
I had to resort to PS to get the HA into the main image. Not Pixinsights fault my lack of knowledge. I was rather pleased that I have avoided discolouring all the stars with insertion of H-Alpha. Often they all go red !
If it is of interest to you here is a Picture above shows the collection of Data process.

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