M17 The Swan Nebula

This image was taken under clear, moonless sky conditions with stars visible down to magnitude 5.3. I was using my 10 inch, f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383 L mono CCD camera.

I captured 5 minute sub-frames with matching dark-frames and used flat-fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The camera was set to x1 bin mode for all of the data.

The total exposure times were 20 minutes using an OIII filter, 10 minutes using an H-alpha filter and 20 minutes using a SII filter.

M17 narrowband luminance with RGB colour data

M17 Hubble Palette

Old and new data combined

M87

This image of M87 was taken  using my 10 inch, f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383 L mono CCD camera.

I captured 5 minute sub-frames with matching dark-frames and used flat-fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The camera was set to x1 bin mode for the luminance data using an IDAS filter. For the colour data, the camera was set to x2 bin mode.

The total exposure times were 60 minutes using an IDAS filter, 10 minutes using an OIII filter, 10 minutes using an H-alpha filter and 5 minutes using a blue filter.

M87 new data

Old an new data combined

M16 the Eagle Nebula

This image was taken under clear, moonless sky conditions with stars visible down to magnitude 5.3. I was using my 10 inch, f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383 L mono CCD camera.

I captured 5 minute sub-frames with matching dark-frames and used flat-fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The total exposure times were 15 minutes using an OIII filter, 30 minutes using an H-alpha filter and 25 minutes using a SII filter, and 10 minutes using a blue filter.

RGB Colour data

Narrowband colour data (Hubble palette)

Old and new narrowband data combined

The Pillars of Creation

M104 the Sombrero Galaxy

This image was taken under clear sky conditions with stars visible down to magnitude 5. I was using my 10 inch, f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383 L mono CCD camera.

I captured 5 minute sub-frames with matching dark-frames and used flat-fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The camera was set to x1 bin mode for the luminance data using an IDAS filter. For the colour data, the camera was set to x2 bin mode.

The total exposure times were 60 minutes using an IDAS filter, 10 minutes using an OIII filter, 10 minutes using an H-alpha filter and 5 minutes using a blue filter.

The Sombrero galaxy

Using old and new data

NGC 4565 The Needle Galaxy

This almost edge on galaxy is a spiral galaxy. I took this image under very clear conditions with no moonlight and stars visible down to magnitude 5. 

I was using my 10 inch, f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383 L mono CCD camera.

I captured 5 minute sub-frames with matching dark-frames and used flat-fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The camera was set to x1 bin mode for the luminance data using an IDAS filter. For the colour data, the camera was set to x2 bin mode.

The total exposure times were 60 minutes using an IDAS filter, 5 minutes using an OIII filter, 5 minutes using an H-alpha filter and 5 minutes using a blue filter.

NGC 4565

NGC 4565 cropped using old and new data.

M64 The Black Eye Galaxy

This image was taken under clear, moonless sky conditions with stars visible down to magnitude 4.7. I was using my 10 inch, f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383 L mono CCD camera.

I captured 5 minute sub-frames with matching dark-frames and used flat-fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The camera was set to x1 bin mode for the luminance data using an IDAS filter. For the colour data, the camera was set to x2 bin mode.

The total exposure times were 60 minutes using an IDAS filter, 10 minutes using an OIII filter, 10 minutes using an H-alpha filter and 5 minutes using a blue filter.

M64

M64 cropped

The Coma Cluster

 This image was taken under clear, moonless sky conditions with stars visible down to magnitude 5. I was using my 10 inch, f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383 L mono CCD camera.

I captured 5 minute sub-frames with matching dark-frames and used flat-fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The camera was set to x1 bin mode for the luminance data using an IDAS filter. For the colour data, the camera was set to x2 bin mode.

The total exposure times were 80 minutes using an IDAS filter, 10 minutes using an OIII filter, 15 minutes using an H-alpha filter and 5 minutes using a blue filter.

The Coma Cluster

New and old data combined

M105, NGC 3388 and NGC 3389

This image was taken under clear, moonless sky conditions with only light pollution to contend with. Stars were visible down to magnitude 5.

I was using my 10" f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383 L mono CCD camera.

Five minute sub-frames were captured with matching dark-frames. Flat-fields were used to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

For luminance data the camera was set to x1 bin mode and for the colour data the camera was set to x2 bin mode.

The luminance data had a total exposure time of 45 minutes using an IDAS filter. The exposure times for H-alpha, OIII and blue were 10 minutes for each filter.

M105, NGC 3388 and NGC 3389

NGC3115 The Spindle Galaxy

This image was taken under bright moonlight to contend with. I was using my 10 inch reflector at f/4.8, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera.

I captured 5 minute sub-frames with matching dark-frames and used flat-fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The total exposure times were 45 minutes using an IDAS filter for luminance, with the camera set on x1 bin mode. The colour data however, were captured with the camera set to x2 bin mode, using exposure times of 10 minutes with a H-alpha filter, 10 minutes using an OIII filter, and 5 minutes using a blue filter.

NGC3115 The Spindle galaxy

M106

This image was taken under bright moonlight with stars visible down to magnitude 4. I was using my 10 inch reflector at f/4.8, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera.

I captured 5 minute sub-frames with matching dark-frames and used flat-fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The total exposure times were 60 minutes using an IDAS filter for luminance, with the camera set on x1 bin mode. The colour data however, were captured with the camera set to x2 bin mode, using exposure times of 10 minutes with a H-alpha filter, 10 minutes using an OIII filter, and 5 minutes using a blue filter.

M106

M65 and M66

This image of these two galaxies was taken using my 10 inch f/4.8 reflector, A Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera.

I captured five minute sub-frames with matching dark frames and used flat fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The luminance data were captured with the camera set on x1 bin mode using an IDAS filter with a total exposure of 50 minutes. The colour data were captured with the camera set to x2 bin mode, with total exposure times of 15 minutes using a H-alpha filter, 15 minutes using an OIII filter and 10 minutes using a blue filter.

M65 and M66

M108

This image of M108 was taken using my 10 inch f/4.8 reflector, A Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera.

I captured five minute sub-frames with matching dark frames and used flat fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The luminance data were captured with the camera set on x1 bin mode using an IDAS filter with a total exposure of 40 minutes. The colour data were captured with the camera set to x2 bin mode, with total exposure times of 20 minutes using a H-alpha filter, 15 minutes using an OIII filter and 10 minutes using a blue filter.

M108

M51 the Whirlpool Galaxy

This image of M51 was taken under a clear, moonless sky with stars visible down to magnitude 5. I was using my 10 inch f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD autoguiding and an atik 383L Mono CCD camera.

I captured five minute sub-frames with matching dark frames and applied flat fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The camera was set on x1 bin mode for the luminance using an IDAS filter with a total exposure time of 90 minutes. For the colour data the camera was set on x2 bin mode with exposure times of 35 minutes using a H-alpha filter, 25 minutes using an OIII filter and 15 minutes using a blue filter.

M51 (New data)

M51 (New and old data combined)

M51 (New and old data, plus data from two cameras, and Atik 383L MONO CAMERA AND AN aTIK 314L mono camera)

 

The heart of the Virgo cluster

These two images were taken on two separate evenings under moonless sky conditions. I was suing my 10 inch f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlus mount, PHD autoguiding and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera.

I captured five minute sub frames with matching dark frames and combined them with flat field frames to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

For the image luminance I used an IDAS filter with the camera set on x1 bin mode with a total exposure time of 90 minutes. For the colour data however, I set the camera on x2 bin mode. The total exposure times were 20 minutes using an OIII filter, 25 minutes using a H-alpha filter and 15 minutes using a blue filter.

The Heart of the Virgo cluster 1

The Heart of the Virgo Cluster 2

M101, The Pinwheel galaxy

This image was taken with my 10 inch f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera.

I captured five minute sub frames with matching dark frames and combined them with flat field frames to reduce the effect  of vignetting in the final image.

The total exposure times were 90 minutes using an IDAS filter, 25 minutes using a H-alpha filter, 20 minutes using an OIII filter and 15 minutes using a blue filter. The exposures with the IDAS filter were made with the camera in x1 bin mode. However, the exposures with the narrowband filters were made with the camera in x2 bin mode.

M101

M94

 I took this image under very clear sky conditions with only light pollution to contend with.

This image was taken with my 10 inch f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera.

I captured five minute sub frames with matching dark frames and combined them with flat field frames to reduce the effect  of vignetting in the final image. I used an IDAS filter with a very short exposure time of 35 minutes for luminance. Colour data were obtained by setting the camera to x2 binning mode.

The total exposure times were 15 minutes using a H-alpha filter, 10 minutes using an OIII filter and 10 minutes using a blue filter.

M94

NGC 2261 Hubble's Variable nebula

I took this image under bright moonlight with stars only visible down to magnitude 4.

 This image was taken with my 10 inch f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera. and a set of Astronomik narrowband filters.

I captured five minute sub frames with matching dark frames and combined them with flat field frames to reduce the effect  of vignetting in the final image.

The total exposure times were 60 minutes using a H-alpha filter, 40 minutes using an OIII filter, 30 minutes using a SII filter and 15 minutes using a blue filter.

Narrowband luminance with RGB colour data

Hubble Palette

M109

This image was taken with my 10 inch f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera.

I captured five minute sub frames with matching dark frames and combined them with flat field frames to reduce the effect  of vignetting in the final image.

The total exposure times were 60 minutes using an IDAS filter for luminance. For colour data, the camera was set to x2 bin mode with exposure times of 25 minutes using a H-alpha filter, 20 minutes using an OIII filter and 15 minutes using a blue filter.

M109

M63, The Sunflower Galaxy

This image was taken with my 10 inch f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera.

I captured five minute sub frames with matching dark frames and combined them with flat field frames to reduce the effect  of vignetting in the final image.

The total exposure times were 40 minutes using a H-alpha filter, 30 minutes using an OIII filter, 15 minutes using a blue filter and 80 minutes using an IDAS filter for luminance.

M63

M97 The Owl Nebula

This image was taken with my 10 inch f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera.

I captured five minute sub frames with matching dark frames and combined them with flat field frames to reduce the effect  of vignetting in the final image.

The total exposure times were 60 minutes using an OIII filter, 60 minutes using a H-alpha filter, 35 minutes using an SII filter and 15 minutes using a blue filter.

Narrowband luminance with RGB data

Hubble Palette

Hubble Palette plus RGB colour

Data from two cameras, Atik 383L mono camera and Atik 314L mono camera

M82

I was using my ten inch f/4.8 reflector with a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera. 

I captured five-minute sub frames with matching dark frames and combined them with flat fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The total exposure times were 60 minutes using an IDAS filter, 20 minutes using an OIII filter, 15 minutes using a blue filter and 80 minutes using a H-alpha filter.

M82

M81

This image of M81 was taken with my 10 inch f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera.

I captured five minute sub frames with matching dark frames and combined them with flat field frames to reduce the effect  of vignetting in the final image.

The total exposure times were 60 minutes using a H-alpha filter, 30 minutes using an OIII filter, 25 minutes using a blue filter and 90 minutes using an IDAS filter.

M81

M42, The fishes mouth

I took this image uder very clear sky conditions with no moonlight. It is the core region of the Orion nebula. I capture this image using Barlow projection with a 2" x2 Altair Barlow lens, with an Atik 383L mono CCD camera, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto guiding, a 10" f/4.8 reflector and a set of Astronomik narrowband filters.

I captured sub-frames of 10s and 30s with matching dark frames and combined them with flat fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The total exposure times were 10 minutes for each colour channel, SII, H-alpha, OIII and blue.

Click on an image to get a closer view

Hubble palette, 10s sub frames

Narrowband luminance, RGB colour, 30 and 10s sub frames

Hubble palette, colour and luminance, 30 and 10s sub frames

Hubble Palette, colour, 30 and 10s sub frames, cropped.

NGC 891

 This edge on galaxy lies in the constellation of Andromeda

I captured this image with my 10" f/4.8 reflector, A vixen, Atlux mount, PHD autu guiding, An Atik 383L mono CCD camera and a set of Astronomik RGB filters.

The exposure times were 60 minutes for each filter, for each filter capturing five minute sub frames with matching dark frames. I then combined them with flat fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

Click on an image to get a closer view

NGC 891 RGB

NGC891 cropped

The Medusa nebula with a 10" reflector

 This image was captured using my 10" f/4.8 reflector, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding, an Atik 383L mono CCD camera and a set of Astronomic narrowband filters, H-alpha, SII and OIII.

I captured five minute sub frames with matching dark frames and combined them with flat fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The total exposure times were 60 minutes for each narrowband filter H-alpha, OIII and SII and 15 minutes using a blue filter.

Click on an image to get a closer view.

Narrowband luminance with RGB colour

Hubble palette

Hubble palette with RGB colour

Bi colour

Simels 147 (SH2-240)

 This supernova remnant lies in the constellation of Taurus the Bull and is often overlooked.

I took this image using my 80mm, f/6.3 refractor, a Vixen Atlux mount, PHD auto-guiding, an Atik 383L mono CCD camera and a set of Astronomic narrowband filters, H-alpha, SII and OIII.

I captured five minue sub frames with matching dark frames and combined them with flat fields to reduce the effect of vignetting in the final image.

The total exposure time were 90 minutes using a H-alpha filter, 60 minutes using an OIII filter, 50 minutes using a SII filter and 15 minutes using a blue filter.

Click on an image to get a closer view

Narrowband luminance with RGB colour

Hubble palette