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.
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.
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.
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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. |
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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
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
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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. |
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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
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
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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. |
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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, |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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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 :) |
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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. |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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, 
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.
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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. |
