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 Crescent Nebula

 The Crescent Nebula

The Crescent nebula has always been on my wish list since the film days. I think this is a most interesting 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.

Had to overcome a bunch of issues last night. Think I ended up imaging our neighbors pine tree at one point and had some autoguiding issues. I expected higher quality... anyway, here is Crescent Nebula after 1 hour and 35 minutes.

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) - 19 exposures @ 300 Seconds (1 hours, 35 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

Messier 5 - Globular Cluster

Messier 5 - Globular Cluster

 Interesting, globular cluster are easy to obtain but hard to image. It is easy to 'blow out the core' both in exposure and in processing. One of these I'll try and do some really good images. For now, here is M5:

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.

The Wizard Nebula (Sh2-142)

The Wizard Nebula

NGC 7380 (also known as the Wizard Nebula) is an open cluster discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1787. It is also known as 142 in the 1959 Sharpless catalog (Sh2-142).

Located 7200 light years away, the Wizard nebula, surrounds developing open star cluster NGC 7380.

The active star forming region spans about 100 light years, making it appear larger than the angular extent of the Moon.

Although the nebula may last only a few million years, some of the stars being formed may outlive our Sun.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_7380

#Sh2-171 #wizardnebula #ngc7380
#astrophotography #astrobackyard #losmandy #losmandygm8 #zwo #asi533mcpro #optolong #lenhance #womenpower

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) - 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

To see the outline of the 'wizard' see: http://www.guidescope.net/nebulae/ngc7380_20131103c.jpg

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