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

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

Supernova Remnant Abell 85

Supernova Remnant Abell 85

This target is probably beyond the capabilities of a One Shot Color camera. This represents just under 5 hours of data. I'm glad I tried as it tells me my limitations.

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) - 240 subs @ 180 Seconds (4 hours, 45 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

A Quick Take on the Crescent Nebula

So while waiting for the Eastern Veil to rise last night above my roof line, I took this easy pickings object... The Crescent Nebula.

It formed by the fast stellar wind from the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136 (Bright star in the middle) colliding with and energizing the slower moving wind ejected by the star when it became a red giant.

18 minutes of 6 stacked, 3 minute exposures.

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

Limits of One Shot camera with a Light Pollution filter

So I've tested to see just how much detail one can capture before there are diminishing returns on my equipment.

So for me, that includes:

• Bortle 7/8 Skies
• SGO 6" f/4 Imaging Newtonian
  
• ZWO ASI 533MC Pro camera (3.76 x 3.76 micron sensor)
  
• Optolong L-Pro filter

I can't seem to improve details beyond 2 hours on small galaxies or 3 hours on nebula

Here are the results:

Draco Trio of Galaxies

Bubble Nebula

For nebulas, I'm receiving on Optolong L-Enhance tomorrow which will allow the Ha, Hb, and Oiii through.

The Fireworks Galaxy and an Open Cluster

NGC 6946, or "The Fireworks Galaxy", is one of a ~dozen nearby neighbors to the Milky Way. The galaxy, is a 9th magnitude face-on spiral galaxy positioned on the border between Cepheus and Cygnus. 

At ~22.5 Million light-years it's one of the nearest galaxies outside of the Local Group. In the past 100 years, 9 supernovae have been observed in NGC 6946, hence the nickname the Fireworks Galaxy!

I so enjoy capturing photons from two different objects and this photo contains a lovely open cluster, NGC 6939. Discovered by William Herschel in 1798, it contains some ~630 stars. With the use of photometric studies, the age of the cluster was estimated to be between 1,0 and 1,3 billion years

The Fireworks Galaxy and Open Cluster NGC 6939

This is one of my favorite photos even though it could use another hour of data. I may go back and add some to it.

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 100) - 57 subs @ 120 Seconds

Calibration: 50 Bias, 30 Darks, 0 Flats

​Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Adobe Photoshop, Topax Denoise AI, Astronomy Action Set plug in for PS, Astro Flat Pro plug in for PS

The Apple Core Nebula

Messier 27 (M27) as known as the Apple Core Nebula, is a planetary nebula in Vulpecula. M27 is approximately 1,360 light years away. Discovered by Charles Messier in 1764 who added it to his now famous catalog used by amateur astronomers around the world. A planetary nebula has nothing to do with planets but is created when a star blows off its outer layers after it has run out of fuel to burn. Our own sun will suffer this fate without some external intervention in some 5 billion years.

M27; Apple Core Nebula

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 100) - 15 subs @ 120 Seconds

Calibration: 50 Bias, 30 Darks, 0 Flats

​Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Adobe Photoshop, Topax Denoise AI, Astronomy Action Set plug in for PS, Astro Flat Pro plug in for PS

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

Continuing Needle Galaxy and experiment on Globular

So, what I need to do tonight adding to my 26 minutes of time

1. Tune the RA axis on my GM8 (Done)
2. Calibrate PHD on the ecliptic.
3. Use Unity Gain (100 w/ 70 Offset)
4. Test out various times on M3 to see how the core does
5. Accumulate time on Needle Galaxy