Elephant's Trunk Nebula in RGB

 Elephant's Trunk Nebula in RGB

So here is one hour each on Red, Green, Blue of the Elephant's Trunk Nebula:

1 Hour each of RGB

I'll be using the stars from this in my narrowband photos.

Starless Version

Just the Stars

Preview of my first HSO palette with the Elephant's Trunk

 Preview of my first HSO palette with the Elephant's Trunk

So, I thought about holding on posting this photo because I want to capture more sulfur for the Blue channel of (Red/Green/Blue) but it is a good effort so far with what I have.

Elephant's Trunk in HSO: Hydrogen Alpha in Red; Oxygen 3 in Green; Sulfur 2 in Blue.

Fun stuff!

HSO Palette

Ha

Oiii

S2

Starless Version

The Great Andromeda Galaxy

 

Really happy with this outcome. This was a tougher object to process so it is especially rewarding.

• Imaging telescope / lensGSO Newtonian 150/610 mm HPS Newtonian
• Imaging cameraZWO Optical ASI533MC Pro (CMOS)
• MountEquatorial Losmandy GM8
• Guiding telescope / lensQHYCCD Refractor 30/130 mm QHY MINI GUIDE SCOPE
• Guiding cameraQHYCCD QHY 5L-II
• FiltersOptolong Light pollution L-Pro Filter 2.00" 90%
• AccessoriesComa corrector Explore Scientific 2.00"
• Processed withSequence Generator Pro 3.1.0.544

FRAMES / SUBS

• Lights35 x 300 sec
• Darks30 x 300 sec
• Flats50 x 0.4 sec
• Dark Flats50 x 0.4 sec
• Total lights integration time2:55 hours
• 
  

ACQUISITION

• DateSat Sep 19th 2020
• Seeing3 / 5
• Transparency4 / 5
• Sky Darkness#7 Suburban/urban transition - 3/9
• Ambient Temperature8.0 ºC
• Camera Sensor Temperature-20.0 ºC
• Binning1x1
• Gain101
• Mean FWHM4.2 arcsec

The Cygnus Wall

The Cygnus Wall

Here is a wonderful section of Nebulosity in Cygnus. This is the Cygnus Wall which is part of the North America Nebula. This wall is actually a region of star formation. This cosmic ridge spans about 20 light-years and lies about 1,500 light years away.

The wide field view picture contains both the North America Nebula and the Pelican Nebula which I took earlier in May.

#cyguswall #ngc7000
#astrophotography #astrobackyard #losmandy #losmandygm8 #zwo #asi533mcpro #optolong #l-enhance

Technical Info:

Optics: SGO 6" f/4 Imaging Newtonian @ 610mm FL
Explore Scientific 2" HR Coma Corrector
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro
Filter: 2" Optolong L-Enhance
Mount: Losmandy GM8
Guiding: QHY Mini Guide Scope + PHD2 Software
Acquisition: Sequence Generator Pro
Exposure: Light (Gain 300) - 58 exposures @ 240 Seconds (3 hours, 52 Minutes)
Calibration: 50 Bias, 30 Darks, 0 Flats
​Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Adobe Photoshop, Topaz Denoise AI, Astronomy Action Set plug in for PS, Astro Flat Pro plug in for PS

Where it is in the North America Nebula

Starless Version

Elephant Trunk Nebula (Sh2-131)

Sh2-131

This was night 5 of a run of clear nights. VERY unusual in Illinois to say the least. Very happy that I can automate the capturing. SO, here is the Elephant Trunk Nebula or Sh2-131 from the Sharpless Catalog of Emission Nebula.

The Elephant Trunk Nebula winds through the emission nebula IC 1396, in the constellation of Cepheus. IC 1396 is a young star cluster.

The 'cosmic' elephant's trunk is over 20 light-years long!

Technical Info:

Optics: SGO 6" f/4 Imaging Newtonian @ 610mm FL
Explore Scientific 2" HR Coma Corrector
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro
Filter: 2" Optolong L-Enhance
Mount: Losmandy GM8
Guiding: QHY Mini Guide Scope + PHD2 Software
Acquisition: Sequence Generator Pro
Exposure: Light (Gain 300) - 28 exposures @ 240 Seconds (112 Minutes)
Calibration: 50 Bias, 30 Darks, 0 Flats
​Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Adobe Photoshop, Topaz Denoise AI, Astronomy Action Set plug in for PS, Astro Flat Pro plug in for PS

#SH2131 #elephantstrunk #ic1396
#astrophotography #astrobackyard #losmandy #losmandygm8 #zwo #asi533mcpro #optolong #lenhance

The Eastern Veil Nebula

the Eastern Veil Nebula

Finally finished up the Eastern Veil Nebula. This is a supernova remnant which is obviously just one side of it.

The veil complex is six times larger than the full moon! That translates to over 70 light-years at its estimated distance of 1,500 light-years. Amazing to me.

#C33 #easternveilnebula #ngc6992
#astrophotography #astrobackyard #losmandy #losmandygm8 #zwo #asi533mcpro #optolong #l-enhance

Technical Info:

Optics: SGO 6" f/4 Imaging Newtonian @ 610mm FL
Explore Scientific 2" HR Coma Corrector
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro
Filter: 2" Optolong L-Enhance
Mount: Losmandy GM8
Guiding: QHY Mini Guide Scope + PHD2 Software
Acquisition: Sequence Generator Pro
Exposure: Light (Gain 300) - 25 subs @ 240 Seconds (100 Minutes)
Calibration: 50 Bias, 30 Darks, 50 Flats
​Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Adobe Photoshop, Topaz Denoise AI, Astronomy Action Set plug in for PS, Astro Flat Pro plug in for PS

The Lion Nebula, (Sh2-132)

The Lion Nebula

The Lion Nebula, or Sh2-132 has an extended emission nebula visible in the constellation of Cepheus. My picture captures the mane and body but not the tail. That will be another day. It is located on the southern edge of Cepheus, at a distance of almost 10,400 light years.

Technical Info:

Optics: SGO 6" f/4 Imaging Newtonian @ 610mm FL
Explore Scientific 2" HR Coma Corrector
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro
Filter: 2" Optolong L-Enhance
Mount: Losmandy GM8
Guiding: QHY Mini Guide Scope + PHD2 Software
Acquisition: Sequence Generator Pro
Exposure: Light (Gain 300) - 55 exposures @ 240 Seconds (220 Minutes)
Calibration: 50 Bias, 30 Darks, 50 Flats
​Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Adobe Photoshop, Topaz Denoise AI, Astronomy Action Set plug in for PS, Astro Flat Pro plug in for PS

Sharpless 2-121

Sharpless Catalog 2-171

Sharpless Catalog 2-171, is a star forming nebula located in the constellation Cepheus, ~3,000 light years from the Earth.  A very young cluster of stars known as Berkeley 59, is located in the lower center right of the image.  

#sh2171 #ngc7822

#astrophotography #astrobackyard #losmandy #losmandygm8 #zwo #asi533mcpro #optolong #l-enhance

Technical Info:

Optics: SGO 6" f/4 Imaging Newtonian @ 610mm FL
Explore Scientific 2" HR Coma Corrector
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro
Filter: 2" Optolong L-Enhance
Mount: Losmandy GM8
Guiding: QHY Mini Guide Scope + PHD2 Software
Acquisition: Sequence Generator Pro
Exposure: Light (Gain 200) - 23 subs @ 240 Seconds (92 Minutes)
Calibration: 50 Bias, 30 Darks, 50 Flats
​Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Adobe Photoshop, Topaz Denoise AI, Astronomy Action Set plug in for PS, Astro Flat Pro plug in for PS

Pelican Nebula with Optolong L-Enhance Filter

The Pelican Nebula has been on my bucket list since I've been in my 20s. I'm delighted to have finally captured it! 

The Pelican is an emission nebula close to the bright star Deneb in Cygnus, the Swan. Named for its resemblance to a pelican, (although my wife says it looks like a pterodactyl!) the nebula is associated with the neighboring North America Nebula.  It is a particularly active mix of star formation and evolving gas clouds. 

https://www.constellation-guide.com/pelican-nebula/

#pelicannebula #Sh2-117 #IC5070 

#astrophotography #astroeverywhere #astrobackyard #losmandy #losmandygm8 #zwo #asi533mcpro #optolong #l-enhance 

Technical Info:

Optics: SGO 6" f/4 Imaging Newtonian @ 610mm FL
             Explore Scientific 2" HR Coma Corrector

Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro

Filter: 2" Optolong L-Enhance

Mount: Losmandy GM8

Guiding: QHY Mini Guide Scope + PHD2 Software

Acquisition: Sequence Generator Pro 

Exposure: Light (Gain 300) - 33 subs @ 180 Seconds

Calibration: 50 Bias, 30 Darks, 50 Flats

​Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Adobe Photoshop, Topaz Denoise AI, Astronomy Action Set plug in for PS

M52 and the Bubble Nebula

Open Cluster M52 and the Bubble Nebula.

"To the eye, this cosmic composition nicely balances the Bubble Nebula at the upper right with open star cluster M52. The pair would be lopsided on other scales, though. Embedded in a complex of interstellar dust and gas and blown by the winds from a single, massive O-type star, the Bubble Nebula (aka NGC 7635) is a mere 10 light-years wide. On the other hand, M52 is a rich open cluster of around a thousand stars. The cluster is about 25 light-years across. Seen toward the northern boundary of Cassiopeia, distance estimates for the Bubble Nebula and associated cloud complex are around 11,000 light-years, while star cluster M52 lies nearly 5,000 light-years away."

- https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap091030.html

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Likely the best I can do with the L-Pro filter.

Technical Info:

Optics: SGO 6" f/4 Imaging Newtonian @ 610mm FL

Explore Scientific 2" HR Coma Corrector

Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro

Filter: 2" Optolong L-Pro

Mount: Losmandy GM8

Guiding: QHY Mini Guide Scope + PHD2 Software

Acquisition: Sequence Generator Pro

Exposure: Light (Gain 200) - 130 subs @ 120 Seconds

Calibration: 50 Bias, 30 Darks, 50 Flats

Temperature: 17 C

Camera Temperature: -10 C

Bortle: 7/8

​Processing:

• Deep Sky Stacker
• Adobe Photoshop
• Topaz Denoise AI
• Astronomy Action Set plug in for PS
• Astro Flat Pro plug in for PS

Whale and Crowbar Galaxies

Whale and the Crowbar or Hockey Stick Galaxies.

NGC 4631 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. The galaxy's shape gives it the appearance of a whale. It is located 30 million light years from Earth. NGC 4656/57 is a warped barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici and is nicknamed the Crowbar Galaxy.

Last frame is a single frame with a satellite running through it.

191, 60 second exposures stacked in Deep Sky Stacker and processed in Photoshop.

Capture Information:

Optics: SGO 6" f/4 Imaging Newtonian @ 610mm FL
Explore Scientific 2" HR Coma Corrector
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro
Filter: 2" Optolong L-Pro
Mount: Losmandy GM8
Guiding: QHY Mini Guide Scope + PHD 2
Acquisition: Sequence Generator Pro
Exposure: Light (Gain 100) - 191 subs @ 60 Seconds
Calibration: 50 Bias, 50 Darks, 50 Flats
​Processing : Stacked in Deep Sky Stacker, Adobe Photoshop

M3 Globular Cluster

Messier 3 or M3 is contains the oldest stars in our universe (all Globular Clusters contain the oldest stars). M3 of course is in our Milky Way galaxy and is ~90 light years away and contains 500,000 stars.

Technical Info:

• Optics: SGO 6" f/4 Imaging Newtonian @ 610mm FL
  Explore Scientific 2" HR Coma Corrector

• Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro
• Filter: 2" Optolong L-Pro
• Mount: Losmandy GM8
• Guiding: QHY Mini Guide Scope + PHD 2
• Acquisition: Sequence Generator Pro 
• Exposure: Gain 100, Offset 70 - 136 subs @ 30 & 10 Seconds
• Calibration:    None
• ​Processing :   Stacked in DSS, Adobe Photoshop