Press ctrl+F and type an object name to find it M31 - The Great Andromeda Nebula    Image of the Month - March 2013 About this Image Date: 5 Nov 2012 > Telescope: Teleskop Service 65mm Astrograph > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 2.3hrs Of all the deep sky pictures I've taken - this is my favourite. I remember the first time I saw this galaxy through the eyepiece of a 254mm newtonian - it was absolutely stunning even though it was in black and white (as all deep sky objects are when visually observed). Another reason it's a favourite is that I finally found a colour palette I was happy with. as you can see below there are a number of different ways to interpret the image in processing - many opt for a golden base for the stars but I found that far removed from reality and started to investigate. The colours I've settled on seem to have met with agreement from layman and scientists alike. It's a relief as whenever you're processing these images it's tempting to get carried away highlighting certain colours you like - and you might as well just be "painting" the image if you do that. Previous examples Albireo - The Beak Star  About this Image Date: 20 Aug 2012 > Telescope: C8-N 200mm newtonian > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 90 sec If you haven't seen this star (or stars as you can see above) then ask someone with a telescope to show it to you when you can. It's an object that has such striking colour contrast that it really isn't surpassed by many other objects you'll see. IC 1396 - The Elephant's Trunk Nebula  About this Image Date: 10 Dec 2012 > Telescope: Teleskop Service 65mm astrograph > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 80 min I was really surprised by this object - it's quite intricate (see if you can spot the trunk in the image above) and the colour varies quite a bit across the face of it. I'd like to spend some more time on this in the Winter of 13' - now that I'm taking flat field images I should see a big improvement.  About this Image Date: 5 Dec 2012 > Telescope: C10-N 254mm newtonian > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 80 min This was the "great C10-N test" of 12' :-) I had a 254mm newtonian that I put on my NEQ-6 heavy duty mount to see if I could get a decent image with it - it worked - the NEQ-6 is a great mount. I've now sold that scope so this year I'll have to image the detail of the trunk with the Celestron C8-N 200mm newtonian. IC 5070 (Pelican) and NGC 7000 (North America) Nebula's  About this Image Date: 6 Oct 2012 > Telescope: Teleskop Service 65mm astrograph > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 60 min This vast area of nebulosity in the constellation Cygnus is great fun to image and process because of the rich hues of red it contains. The Pelican is easily spotted here next to the North America Nebula.  About this Image Date: 18 Sept 2012 > Telescope: Teleskop Service 65mm astrograph > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 77 min I liked the processing on this image for it's affect on the stars which have resolved as luminous balls of light instead of the usual pin point - also notice the myriad of stars at the sop of the image - a rich star field looking towards the centre of our galaxy. IC 5146 Cocoon Nebula  About this Image Date: 27 Feb 2011 > Telescope: Orion ED-80 > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 80min An early success in my astro-imaging hobby :-) I liked this image for the clouds of stars in the area and the real impression you get of the nebula being in a cocoon as the names suggest - I recommend having a read on WIKI about this (link above) About this Image Date: 1 Dec 2012 > Telescope: Celestron C10-N 254mm newtonian > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 60min Taken with the "big" scope - the fainter surrounding nebulosity is beginning to appear - again, no flat field images subtracted from this so it will be better when imaged in 2013. About this Image Date: 1 Dec 2012 > Telescope: Celestron C10-N 254mm newtonian > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 60min A zoom of the above image M27 Dumbbell Nebula  About this Image Date:14 Nov 12 > Telescope: 200mm newtonian > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 1.5hrs A good example of being able to image with a big newtonian and a guidescope on the supposedly over capacity EQ-5 mount from Sky-Watcher. Glad I didn't listen to those saying it was pointless trying.  M1 Crab Nebula  About this Image Date:16 Feb 12 > Telescope: 80mm refractor > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 75min I'm looking forward to retaking this shot with the new mount and a 200mm newtonian - the 80mm refractor just isn't gathering light fast enough for it M33 Great Spiral in Triangulum  About this Image Date:12 Nov 12 > Telescope: 200mm newtonian > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 2.6hrs Another outrageous success with the EQ-5 and the big newtonian M42 - Orion Nebula About this Image Date:15 Jan 12 > Telescope: Unknown > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: JUnknown This object is very near the limit of imaging from my observatory so I've only managed to image it once - 2013 was mostly cloudy and I think I need to raise the platform on the mount by 10cm to capture it again.    IC 434 or Barnard 33 Horse Head Nebula About this Image Date:3 March 13 > Telescope: 200mm newtownian > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 50min Another of my favourite deep sky objects - this area has recently been imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope to celebrate 23 years in space - follow the link above to have a look. About this Image A detail of the image above NGC 2024 The Flame Nebula and an amazing object in it's own right. NGC 2244 - Rosette Nebula About this Image Date:18 Feb 12 > Telescope: 80mm refractor > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 2.5hr M45 - The Pleiades About this Image Date: 25 Feb 12 > Telescope: 65mm astrograph > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 160min  About this Image Date:30 March 13 > Telescope: 200mm newtonian > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 20min The first object I viewed when I got back into amateur astronomy in 2002. It must be viewed directly with a 6 inch scope or larger to be fully appreciated. M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy About this Image Date: 1 Apr 13 > Telescope: 200mm newtonian > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 105min One of the first images I processed using the new light box described in the "How To" section M57 - The Ring Nebula  About this Image Date: 19 Aug 12 > Telescope: 200mm newtonian > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 40min M65 66 and NGC 3628 - The Leo Triplet  About this Image Date: 5 Apr 13 > Telescope: 200mm newtonian > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 75min NGC 281 - Pacman Nebula  About this Image Date: 30 Sept 11 > Telescope: 80mm refractor > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 70min NGC 869 - Perseus Double Cluster  About this Image Date: 15 Jan 13 > Telescope: 65mm astrograph > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 40min NGC 2392 - Eskimo Nebula  About this Image Date: 29 Mar 12 > Telescope: 200mm newtonian > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 85min NGC 6960 - Veil Nebula (Witches Broom element)  About this Image Date: Sept 11 > Telescope: 80mm refractor > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 160min NGC 6992 - Veil Nebula (Western element)  About this Image Date: 29 Sept 11 > Telescope: 80mm refractor > Camera: QHY8 > Duration: 70min |
Deep Sky |
