NGC7293. the Helix nebula

NGC7293. the Helix nebula . This image of the Helix nebula contains extra data, a total of 122 minutes using a H Alpha filter, 30 minutes using an O111 filter and ten minutes using a blue filter. The camera was set on X2 bin mode using sixty second sub frames with matching dark frames and flat field frames reducing the effect of noise and vignetting in the final image. 

The telescope was my 4 inch F/6.3 refractor mounted on a Vixen Atlux mount with an Atik 383L mono CCD camera ..

Notice the reduction of noise  in the image due to the extra exposure time. 

The Helix nebula

The Helix nebula and M33

The Helix nebula. Here we have additional data added from three separate evenings, 44 minutes using a H Alpha filter and 17 minutes using an O111 filter. The camera was set on X 2 bin mode capturing 60 second sub frames with matching dark frame and flat field frames. I was using my 4 inch f/6.3 refractor mounted on a Vixen Atlux mount and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera.

Click on an image to get a closer view.

M33. This face on Galaxy lies in the constellation of Triangulum. I set the camera on X2 bin mode capturing 60 second sub frames with matching dark and flat field frames. I used my 4 inch f/6.3 refractor, a Vixen Atlux mount and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera. I also used a set of Astronomik narrowband filters HA, O111 and blue. I then combined these data with some old luminance data, the camera was set on X 1 bin mode revealing the final result. The total exposure time was 33 minutes using an O111 filter, 40 minutes using a HA filter and 20 minutes using a blue filter. The old luminance data however I captured had five minute sub frames using an IDAS filter with a total exposure time of 120 minutes. 

Helix nebula

 NGC7293, The Helix Nebula.  On this particular evening I had bright moonlight, light pollution, cloudy weather and a 25-minute time slot to contend with as it drifted between the rooftops.  I could only capture 60 second sub frames so I set the camera on X2 bin mode. The total exposure time was 8 minutes using a H Alpha filter, 6 minutes using O111 filter, 2 minutes using a S11 filter and 60 seconds using a blue filter. I captured 60 second sub frames with matching dark frames and combined them with flat field frames to reduce the effect of noise and vignetting in the final image. The telescope was a 4-inch f/6.3 refractor on a Vixen Atlux mount and an Atik 383L mono CCD camera.

The time-slot

The Helix nebula appearing over the rooftop

The Helix nebula