NGC6914 and the Butterfly Nebula

NGC6914. This diffused reflection nabula is a very colourful region of the milky way lying
at a distance of about 6,000 light years in the constellation of Cygnus.This PHD guided
exposure was taken using ten minute sub frames with matching dark frames.The total
exposure times was twenty minutes for each colour channel and one hour using a Lumicon H-
alpha filter. Taken using a four inch f/7 refractor with a field flattener making it
f/6.3. The camera was an Atik 383L:

IC 1318, The Butterfly nebula. The nebula lies in the constellation of Cygnus near the

bright star Gamma Cygni. Five minute sub frames were captured with matching dark frames of

the luminance channel, H-alpha with a total exposure time of twenty minutes. The colour

channels had exposure times sixty seconds. The image was taken using a ten inch reflector

with PHD guiding:

 

 



The Cocoon nebula and the Andromeda galaxy

NGC5146, The Cocoon Nebula. This unguided image was taken using a ten inch, f/4.8 reflector with an Atik 314L CCD camera. Sixty second sub-frames were captured and with matching dark frames. The total exposure times were ten minutes for each colour channel and 120 minutes for the luminance channel, H-alpha:

This unguided image of M31 reveals the dust lines of our nearest neighbouring galaxy, the Andromeda galaxy. Sixty second sub frames was captured with matching dark frames. The total exposure time was 15 minutes for each colour channel using a  ten inch, f/4.8 reflector and an Atik 314L CCD camera:

M1 and NGC7000

This unguided image of the Crab Nebula M1, was taken using an Atik 314L CCD camera, a ten
inch f/4.8 reflector. The total exposure times were twenty minutes for each colour filter
and thirty minutes using a H-alpha filter. One minute sub-frames were captured with
matching dark frames:

This image is a small section of NGC7000, A section of the south westen limb commonly named the wall of the North America Nebula in Cygnus the Swan. This unguided image was made by capturing sixty second sub-frames and matching dark frames. The total exposure times were 15 minutes for each colour filter and 40 minutes using an H-alpha filter:

The Crescent and Veil nebulae

NGC6888, The Crescent nebula. This image was taken using exposure times of 15 minutes for
each colour filter and one hour using a H-alpha luminance filter. Unguided, 60 seconds
sub-frames with matching dark frames were captured. A ten inch f/4.8 reflector and an Atik
314L CCD camera were used:

This unguided image of the Veil nebula NGC6960 was taken using an Atik 314L CCD camera
using a ten inch reflector. 60 second subframes were captured with matching dark frames.
The total exposure times were five minutes for each colour filter and 120 minutes for the
luminance H-alpha channel:

NGC7635 and NGC891

NGC7635, The Bubble nebula. This emission nebula lies in the constellation of Cassiopeia at a distance of about 11,000 light years. This unguided image was taken using one minute sub frames stacked with dark frames. An Atik 314L CCD camera was used with a ten inch, f/4.8 reflector. The exposure times for the colour channels was two minutes through each RGB filter. However the luminance channel in H-alpha had a total exposure time of two hours

NGC891. This edge on spiral galaxy lies in the constellation of Andromeda, shining at magnitude 10.8, at a distance of 27 - 30 million light years. Four, five minute sub-frames were captured for each colour channel, with matching dark frames. A ten inch, f/4.8 reflector was used with PHD auto guiding and an Atik 383L CCD camera.

The Crab Nebula and M42

M1 The Crab nebula, NGC1952 lies in the constellation of Taurus. It is a supernova remnant
at a distance of about 6,500 light years. The total exposure times was twenty minutes for
each colour channel capturing five minute sub-frames with matching dark-frames . An Atik
383L CCD camera and a ten inch, f/4.8 reflector were used with PHD auto guiding:

M42. The RGB exposure times were twenty five minutes for each colour channel using sets
of five one minute sub-frames combined with four, five minute sub-frames and matching
dark-frames. The luminance channels, H-alpha and Olll were taken capturing five minutes
sub-frames. The total exposure time was ninety minutes using an Olll filter and 120
minutes using a H-alpha filter. This image was captured using a ten inch, f/4.8 reflector
with PHD auto guiding and an Atik 383L CCD camera:

RGB

 

 

Narrowband

 

RGB & Narrowband Combined

Comet Lulin and M87

Comet Lulin . Comets move against the starry sky This causes complications with image calibration. This image contains three exposures using red, green and blue filters . The exposures were sixty seconds long. This unguided image was taken with an Atik 314L CCD camera and a ten inch f/4.8 reflector:

M87. This giant elliptical galaxy lies at a distance of about 50 million light years in the constellation of Virgo and exhibits a jet.  The jet consists of materiel ejected from the galaxys core that is believed to contain a super massive black hole. This unguided image was taken under bright moon light with clear sky conditions.  A ten inch f/4.8 reflector, an Atik 314L CCD camera. The total exposure time was 15 minutes for each colour channel using 60 second sub-frames:

The Swan and Hubble's variable nebulae

M17, The Omege or Swan nebula. This bright emission nebula lies in the constellation of
Sagittarius at a distance of about 5,000 light years. This object is about 15 light years
in diameter. This unguided image was taken using an Atik 314 L CCD camera, a ten inch
f/4.8reflector. Sixty second sub-frames was captured with matching dark-frames . Total
exposures times of five minutes for each colour filter were used and thirty minutes for
the luminance channel in H-alpha:

NGC2261, Hubbles variable nebula. This reflection nebula lies deep in the constellation
Monoceros the Unicorn at a distance of about 2,500 light years. This unguided image was
taken using an Atik 314L CCD camera, a ten inch, f/4.8 reflector. 60 second sub frames
were captured making total exposure times of twenty minutes for each colour channnel:

M97 and M42

M97. The Owl nebula lies in the constellation of Ursa Major at a distance of about 2,600
light years. Notice the surrounding galaxies, This demonstrates the sensitivity of CCD
imaging. Taken unguided, through a ten inch f/4.8 refector. An Atik 314L CCD camera was
used under very clear moonless sky conditions . Sixty second sub-frames and matching
dark-frames were used, making total exposure time of sixty minutes for each colour filter:

This image of M42 was taken using only RGB data. An Atik 314L CCD camera was used with a ten inch f/4.8 reflector, unguided.   Sixty second sub-frames and matching dark-frames were used. The exposure time was thirty minutes for each colour channel, giving a total exposure time of ninety minutes:

NGC6826 and NGC2392

NGC6826, The Blinking planetary nebula. This object lies in the constellation of Cygnus at a distance of about 2,000 light years. This unguided image was captured using a ten inch f/4.8 reflector and an Atik 314L CCD camera.  60 second sub frames were captured making a total exposure time of 15 minutes for each colour channel:

NGC2392. The Eskimo or Clownface nebula. This bright planetary nebula lies at a distance of about 2,800 light years in the constellation of Gemini. This image was captured using a 2x Barlow lens with a ten inch f/4.8 reflector. The camera was an Atik 314L CCD camera. Ten seconds sub-frames were used making a total of 15 minutes for each colour channel:

The Running Man and the Flame Nebulae

NGC1973, NGC1975 and NGC1977. This stellar complex contains The Running Man nebula . It
lies in the constellation of Orion at a distance of about 1,500 light years. A ten inch
f/4.8 reflector was used unguided, with an Atik 314L CCD camera. 30 sixty second exposures
were stacked making total exposure times of thirty minutes for each RGB colour filter:

NGC2924, SH2-277, The Flame Nebula. This emission nebula lies about one degree east of the
bright star Alnitak in the constellation of Orion at a distance of about 1,500 light
years. A ten inch f/4.8 reflector was used unguided. The camera was an Atik 314L
monochrome camera. 60 second sub-frames were used with total exposure times of 15 minutes
for each RGB colour filter:

NGC7331 and NGC4631

NGC7331. This galaxy is the brightest of a group of galaxies located in the constellation of Pegasus. It lies at a distance of about forty million light years. This unguided image was captured using an Atik 314L CCD camera , a ten inch f/4.8 reflector. Sixty second sub frames and matching dark frames were captured, making total exposure time of thirty minutes for each colour channel:

NGC4631, The Whale galaxy. This edge on spiral galaxy lies at a distance of about thirty million light years in the constellation of Canes Venatici. This unguided image was captured using an Atik 314L CCD camera through a ten inch f/4.8 reflector.The total exposure times were thirty five minutes for each RGB colour filter, using sixty second sub frames with matching dark frames:

NGC4565 and M64

NGC4565 The needle galaxy. This beautiful edge on spiral galaxy lies in the constellation
of Coma Berenices at a distance of about forty million light years. This image was taken
unguided, using an Atik 314L CCD camera through a ten inch, f/4.8 reflector. Sixty second
sub frames and matching dark frames were used, making a total exposure time of forty
minutes for each RGB colour filter:

M64 The Black Eye Galaxy . This image of M64  was taken unguided, using a ten inch, f/4.8
reflector.Sixty second sub frames and matching dark frames were used, making total
exposure times of twenty minutes for each RGB colour channel:

The Andromeda galaxy and the Heart Nebula

The Andromeda galaxy M31. Twenty minute exposure time for each RGB colour filter using ten minute sub frames and matching dark frames was made through an f/7, 80mm refractor:

This is the 80mm refractor used, with a piggibacked 70mm guidescope.

NGC1805 . The Heart nebula. This large complex of nebulosity lies in the constellation of Cassiopiea not far from the double cluster. This image was captured using a four inch refractor with PHD auto guiding. Ten minute sub-frames with matching dark frames making  total exposure times of sixty minutes for each narrow band filter, H-alpha and Olll:

The Crescent Nebula, NGC6888

This image of the Crescent Nebula NGC6888 was taken through a ten inch reflector using PHD
auto-guiding.  Five minute sub frames and matching dark frames were used.
The exposure times were five minutes for each RGB colour filter , thirty minutes for Olll and
sixty minutes for H-alpha. The Crescent nebula lies in the constellation of Cygnus at a
distance of about 5,000 light years:

The Wizard Nebula, NGC7380

The Wizard nebula . NGC7380 . This star-forming region lies at a distance of about 8,000
light years in the constellation of Cepheus. These images were captured using a ten inch,
f/4.8 reflector with PHD auto guiding. The exposure times were one hour using a H-alpha
filter, one hour using an Olll filter and thirty minutes using each RGB colour filter.
Five minute sub frames with matching dark frames . The images follow:

NGC7380. Taken using RGB filters:

NGC7380 . RGB colour information combined with bi-colour luminance:

NGC7380 . RGB combined with BI colour :

NGC7380. BI colour:

M57, IC2196 and NGC7000

M57.and IC2196. The Ring nebula is a planetary nebula lying at a distance of about 2,300
light years in the constellation of Lyra. However the nearby barred spiral galaxy IC1296
lies at a distance of about 221 million light years. The image was taken unguided, using a
ten inch, f/4.8 reflector. 60s sub-frames and matching dark frames were captured, making
total exposure times of 30 minutes for each RGB colour filter:

NGC 7000 . The Wall of the North America Nebula . This bi-colour image is using oxygen for
blue and orange for hydrogen. The technique reveals the chemistry of the nebula and is
called mapped colour imaging. A four inch refractor with PHD auto guiding was used. 10
minute sub-frames with matching dark frames were used, making total exposure times of
ninety minutes for each narrowband filter (Olll and H-alpha):

Seven Sisters and a Black Eye

M45, The Pleiades, The Seven Sisters. This open star cluster lies in the constellation of Taurus. It has a radius of about 8 light years and a distance of about 43 light years. The biggest challenge was capturing the surrounding nebulosity (Merope's nebula) . A ten inch, f/4.8 reflector was used unguided. The sub frames were 60s exposures . The total exposure times were ten minutes using a red filter, ten minutes using a green filter and sixty minutes using a blue filter:

 



M64. NGC4826, The Black Eye galaxy. This spiral galaxy lies in the constellation of Coma
Berenices at a distance of 40 million light years. A ten inch, f/4.8 reflector with PHD
auto guiding was used. The exposure times were thirty five minutes for each RGB colour
filter using five minute sub frames and matching dark frames:

The Cone Nebula, NGC7332 and NGC7339.

NGC2264 . The Cone nebula. This faint complex of nebulousity is entwined in the Chrismas
tree cluster in Monoceros, lying at a distance of about 2,700 light years. This image was
captured with a 10 inch, f/4.8 reflector with PHD auto-guiding. The exposure times were
three single five minute exposures using RGB filters with the camera set on times 2 bin
mode. Times 2 bin mode was also used for the luminance channel, H-alpha using five minute
sub frames and matching dark frames. The exposure time was 35 minutes in H-alpha, making a
total exposure time of 50 minutes:

NGC7332 and NGC7339. These two remote galaxies lie deep with in the constellation of
Pegasus. A ten inch, f/4.8 reflector was used unguided. 20 sixty second exposures were
stacked with matching dark frames for each RGB colour channel, making a total exposure
time of one hour:

M65, M66 and NGC6946

M65. M66 . This group of galaxies lies in the constellation of Leo at a distance of about 35 million light years . The sky conditions were exceptional ,very clear and no moonlight with only light pollution to contend with.A ten inch, F4.8 reflector was used with  PHD auto guiding. The total exposure times were fourty minutes for each RGB colour filter using five minute sub frames:

NGC6946 . This face on spiral galaxy lies in the constellation of Cepheus. It lies at a distance of 22 million light. This unguided image was captured using a ten inch, f/4.8 Newtonian. The exposure times were twenty minutes for each RGB colour filter using sixty second sub frames:

The Whale, a Hockeystick and NGC891

NGC891. This edge on spiral galaxy lies in the constellation of Andromeda at a distance of
30 million light years. This unguided image was taken using a ten inch, F4.8 reflector. 60
second sub frames and matching dark frames were used. A total exposure time of 30 minutes
for each RGB colour channel was used.This was taken under a very clear moonless sky, with
only light pollution to contend with:

NGC4631.NGC4656/51 The Whale and Hocketstick galaxies. This pair of edge on galaxies lie
in the constellation of Canes Venatici at a distance of about thirty million light years.
This image was taken with a ten inch, f/4.8 Newtonian with PHD auto-guiding. The exposure
times were forty minutes using RGB filters with five minute sub frames and matching dark
frames. The camera was set on times 2 bin mode with the temperature set to -15 degrees
Celcius:

The Orion Nebula and NGC1805

M42. NGC1976 The Great Nebula in Orion . This image is a cropped version using a combination of exposures using RGB and narrowband filters . Unsharp masking was used to enhance the fine detail mostly with in the core region . This was done by subtracting a blurred copy of the existing image from the original image. This removes the blurred unwanted information . This technique is used by many astro-imagers . Exposure times of twenty minutes for each RGB colour filter with sub frames ranging from 60 seconds to 5 minutes  because M42 has a great dynamic range. Variation in surface brightness and over exposing the CCD would saturate its core region. The exposures for the narrow band data H-alpha and Olll were 60 minutes using 60 second and 5 minute sub frames:

IC 1805 The Heart nebula . This image was taken under bright moon light with very clear sky conditions . Two narrow band filters, H-alpha and Olll were used making this image a bi-colour image . The ten inch, f/4.8 reflector was used with  PHD auto guiding. The exposure times were sixty minutes for each filter using  five minute sub frames:

The Cave and Pacman Nebulae

Three versions of the Pac Man nebula NGC281. There are three compositions here of RGB, bi-colour and RGB combined with bi-colour. The exposure times were 40 minutes for each RGB colour filter and 60 minutes for each narrow band filter ( H-alpha and Olll ). A ten inch, f/4.8 Newtonian with PHD auto guiding was used:

RGB

 

Bi-colour

RGB+Bi-colour

 

 

SH 2 - 155 The Cave nebula. This emission nebula lies in the constellation of Cepheus at a distance of 2,400 light years .This is an unguided image captured through a ten inch, f/4.8 reflector using 60s sub frames to reduce tracking errors. The exposure times were 60 minutes using a H-alpha filter and 10 minutes for each RGB colour filter: