IC2177 - Gum 1 & 2 - Seagull Nebula - 26/12/2011 (Processed stack)

First completely new object for me with the borrowed PowerNewt. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 25 Images ISO 800 120 Sec, 32 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Jean Marie Locci's PowerNewt 200mm f/2.8 with Coma Corrector, Astronomik CLS-CCD EOS Clip filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient 22C. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.

IC2177 - Gum 1&2 - Seagull Nebula - 3/1/2014 (Processed cropped stack)

Gum 1 - The head of the Seagull nebula is both an HII region and reflection nebula. Gum 2 - The wings of the Seagull Nebula is a large HII shell surrounding some bright hot UV radiant stars. A first imaging of this object with my new Astrophotography modified Canon 70D from home in the suburbs. It compares well to a prior attempt from the darker skies of Perth Observatory 10/1/2013 with f/4, 8" Newtonian showing the greater Hydrogen-Alpha red sensitivity from the AP modification. There appears to be a gradient present that might bear reprocessing when time permits (Note: see 2020 reprocessed version here). This cropped version makes the gradient less obvious, but still present. Note: 1/3/2014 this came back to haunt me ... it looks like it was light entering via the Canon 70D viewfinder! See also following night from darker skies of Perth Observatory. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.3b51 Stacked 85% of 17 Images ISO 800 180 Sec, 24 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 12 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS6 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 106' x 159' , Ambient 17-16C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.

NGC2359 - Gum 4 - Thor's Helmet in Canis Major - 9/11/2012 (Processed cropped stack)

My first attempt at this from the darker sky at Perth Observatory (30Km East of Perth CBD), however with a 25-day old moon rising during that last half of image capture. It needs more light and with the unmodified DSLR am struggling to pick up the tenuous red Hydrogen-Alpha regions. See also cropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 85% of 12 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 32 DARK, 32 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Bintel BT200 f/4.0 Newtonian (borrowed from Stephen Boyd) with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, Hutech LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 12C. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.

NGC2359 - Gum 4 - Thor's Helmet in Canis Major - 20/10/2012 (Processed stack)

Possible camera problem ... I had dropped it from about 1m onto brick paving on 16/10/2012 - no superficial damage, but shutter and mirror lock-up issues during this sequence. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 85% of 15 Images ISO 800 120 Sec, 96 DARK, 53 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Bintel BT200 f/4.0 Newtonian (borrowed from Stephen Boyd) with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, Hutech LPS-P2 filter, Canon 40D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 16-15C. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.

Gum 6 - Sh2-302 Nebula - 1/2/2014 (Processed stack)

Imaged at Perth Observatory site. A faint glimpse only at centre of field. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.3b51 Stacked 100% of 3 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 31 DARK 19-20C @120Sec, 32 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 106' x 159' , Ambient 17C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro.

IC2177 - Gum 1 & 2 - Seagull Nebula - 9/1/2013 (Processed stack)

A test of gear, as I intended to image this from darker skies the following night. At 60 seconds in home skies, there is just not enough light available to bring anything apart from Gum 1 (Seagulls head) into this image. See 10/1/2013 instead. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 85% of 11 Images ISO 800 60 Sec, 40 DARK, 75 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Bintel BT200 f/4.0 Newtonian (borrowed from Stephen Boyd) with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, Hutech LPS-P2 filter, Canon 40D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 19C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount countrol. Backyard EOS 2.09 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress Superstar (mono) CCD guide camera and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.

IC2177 - Gum 1&2 - Seagull Nebula with Gum 3 - 4/1/2014 (Processed Stack)

Gum 1 - The head of the Seagull nebula is both an HII region and reflection nebula. Gum 2 - The wings of the Seagull Nebula is a large HII shell surrounding some bright hot UV radiant stars. Gum 3 at tip of LH wing (RHS image) A first semi-dark sky imaging of this object with my new Astrophotography modified Canon 70D from Perth Observatory, 30Km east of the Perth CBD. It compares very well to a prior attempt at the same location 10/1/2013 with f/4, 8" Newtonian, showing the greater Hydrogen-Alpha red sensitivity from the AP modification. This is probably my best image of this to date. See also cropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.3b51 Stacked 85% of 14 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 24 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 19 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS6 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with TeleVue 08.X Flattener/Reducer (f/4.8 FL=384), No filters, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 132' x 199' , Ambient 16-15C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.

NGC2359 - Gum 4 - Thor's Helmet in Canis Major - 9/11/2012 (Processed stack)

My first attempt at this from the darker sky at Perth Observatory (30Km East of Perth CBD), however with a 25-day old moon rising during that last half of image capture. It needs more light and with the unmodified DSLR am struggling to pick up the tenuous red Hydrogen-Alpha regions. See also uncropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 85% of 12 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 32 DARK, 32 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Bintel BT200 f/4.0 Newtonian (borrowed from Stephen Boyd) with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, Hutech LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 12C. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.

Gum 5 - Sh2-301 Nebula - 1/2/2014 (Processed stack)

Imaged at Perth Observatory site. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.3b51 Stacked 90% of 6 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 31 DARK 19-20C @120Sec, 32 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS6 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 106' x 159' , Ambient 17C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.

Gum 7 - Sh2-307 Nebula - 1/2/2014 (Processed stack)

Imaged at Perth Observatory site. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.3b51 Stacked 100% of 2 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 31 DARK 19-20C @120Sec, 32 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 106' x 159' , Ambient 17C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro.

IC2177 - Gum 1 and 2 - Seagull Nebula - 10/1/2013 (Processed stack)

Imaged at Perth Observatory site. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 90% of 10 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 65 DARK @120sec, 75 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Bintel BT200 f/4.0 Newtonian (borrowed from Stephen Boyd) with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, Hutech LPS-P2 filter, Canon 40D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 16C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount countrol. Backyard EOS 2.09 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress Superstar (mono) CCD guide camera and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.

IC2177 - Gum 1&2 - Seagull Nebula and Gum 3 - 4/1/2014 (Processed Cropped Stack)

Gum 1 - The head of the Seagull nebula is both an HII region and reflection nebula. Gum 2 - The wings of the Seagull Nebula is a large HII shell surrounding some bright hot UV radiant stars. Gum 3 at tip of LH wing (RHS image) A first semi-dark sky imaging of this object with my new Astrophotography modified Canon 70D from Perth Observatory, 30Km east of the Perth CBD. It compares very well to a prior attempt at the same location 10/1/2013 with f/4, 8" Newtonian, showing the greater Hydrogen-Alpha red sensitivity from the AP modification. This is probably my best image of this to date. See also uncropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.3b51 Stacked 85% of 14 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 24 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 19 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS6 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with TeleVue 08.X Flattener/Reducer (f/4.8 FL=384), No filters, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 132' x 199' , Ambient 16-15C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.

NGC2359 - Gum 4 - Thor's Helmet in Canis Major - 10/1/2013 (Processed cropped stack)

Imaged at Perth Observatory site. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 85% of 7 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 68 DARK @120sec, 75 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Bintel BT200 f/4.0 Newtonian (borrowed from Stephen Boyd) with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, Hutech LPS-P2 filter, Canon 40D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 15C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount countrol. Backyard EOS 2.09 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress Superstar (mono) CCD guide camera and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.

Gum 5 - Sh2-301 Nebula - 28/2/2014 (Processed stack)

Imaged at semi-dark Perth Observatory site. Dead calm wind conditions. Having caught a glimpse of this 1/2/2014 with my old f/6 APO, I wanted to gather more light and retired a longer sequence on my new f/4 Newtonian. I did not captured flat frames which would have helped balance this image that I'm otherwise happy with. See also cropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.3b51 Stacked 80% of 16 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 54 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, No LPS filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 64' x 95' , Ambient 26-25C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.

Gum 7 - Sh2-307 Nebula - 1/2/2014 (Processed cropped stack)

Imaged at Perth Observatory Site. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.3b51 Stacked 100% of 2 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 31 DARK 19-20C @120Sec, 32 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 106' x 159' , Ambient 17C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro.

IC2177 Seagull Nebula - 1/12/2013 (Processed stack)

Patchy high thin cloud - abandoned a longer sequence and just posted this as record of the attempt. It shows little nebula detail and high noise. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.3b51 Stacked 100% of 2 Images ISO 800 600 Sec, 32 DARK @ 120 Sec, 75 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, no filter, Canon 40D DSLR field 106' x 159' , Ambient 14C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS 2.09 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.

IC2177 - Gum 1&2 - Seagull Nebula with Gum 3 - 4/1/2014 (Re-processed Cropped Stack)

Reprocessed for Worth 1000's Sky 2014 competition.... 4th out of 51 entries. Gum 1 - The head of the Seagull nebula is both an HII region and reflection nebula. Gum 2 - The wings of the Seagull Nebula is a large HII shell surrounding some bright hot UV radiant stars. Gum 3 at tip of LH wing (RHS image) A first semi-dark sky imaging of this object with my new Astrophotography modified Canon 70D from Perth Observatory, 30Km east of the Perth CBD. It compares very well to a prior attempt at the same location 10/1/2013 with f/4, 8" Newtonian, showing the greater Hydrogen-Alpha red sensitivity from the AP modification. This is probably my best image of this to date. See also uncropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.3b51 Stacked 85% of 14 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 24 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 19 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS6 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with TeleVue 08.X Flattener/Reducer (f/4.8 FL=384), No filters, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 132' x 199' , Ambient 16-15C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.

NGC2359 - Gum 4 - Thor's Helmet in Canis Major - 10/1/2013 (Processed stack)

Imaged at Perth Observatory site. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 85% of 7 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 68 DARK @120sec, 75 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Bintel BT200 f/4.0 Newtonian (borrowed from Stephen Boyd) with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, Hutech LPS-P2 filter, Canon 40D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 15C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount countrol. Backyard EOS 2.09 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress Superstar (mono) CCD guide camera and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.

Gum 5 - Sh2-301 Nebula - 1/2/2014 (Processed cropped stack)

Imaged at Perth Observatory site. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.3b51 Stacked 90% of 6 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 31 DARK 19-20C @120Sec, 32 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS6 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 106' x 159' , Ambient 17C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.

Gum 8 - Sh2-310 Nebula - 1/2/2014 (Processed stack)

Imaged at Perth Observatory site. No sign of nebulosity. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.3b51 Stacked 100% of 2 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 31 DARK 19-20C @120Sec, 32 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 106' x 159' , Ambient 17C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro.

IC2177 - Gum 1&2 - Seagull Nebula - 3/1/2014 (Processed stack)

Gum 1 - The head of the Seagull nebula is both an HII region and reflection nebula. Gum 2 - The wings of the Seagull Nebula is a large HII shell surrounding some bright hot UV radiant stars. A first imaging of this object with my new Astrophotography modified Canon 70D from home in the suburbs. It compares well to a prior attempt from the darker skies of Perth Observatory 10/1/2013 with f/4, 8" Newtonian showing the greater Hydrogen-Alpha red sensitivity from the AP modification. There appears to be a gradient present that might bear reprocessing when time permits. Note: 1/3/2014 this came back to haunt me ... it looks like it was light entering via the Canon 70D viewfinder! See also cropped version this night and also same object the following night from darker skies of Perth Observatory for a much better outcome. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.3b51 Stacked 85% of 17 Images ISO 800 180 Sec, 24 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 12 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS6 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 106' x 159' , Ambient 17-16C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.

NGC2359 - Gum 4 - Thor's Helmet in Canis Major - 22/9/2012 (Processed short test stack)

A test to see if I could pick this up. Faint but present... worth another go. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 100% of 2 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 95 DARK @ 120 Sec, 53 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Bintel BT200 f/4.0 Newtonian (borrowed from Stephen Boyd) with Televue 2X 2" PowerMate, Hutech LPS-P2 filter, Canon 40D DSLR field 32' x 48', Ambient 6C. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.

NGC2359 - Gum 4 - Thor's Helmet in Canis Major - 20/10/2012 (Processed cropped stack)

Possible camera problem ... I had dropped it from about 1m onto brick paving on 16/10/2012 - no superficial damage, but shutter and mirror lock-up issues during this sequence. Possible camera problem ... I had dropped it from about 1m onto brick paving on 16/10/2012 - no superficial damage. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 85% of 15 Images ISO 800 120 Sec, 96 DARK, 53 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Bintel BT200 f/4.0 Newtonian (borrowed from Stephen Boyd) with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, Hutech LPS-P2 filter, Canon 40D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 16-15C. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.

Gum 5 - Sh2-301 Nebula - 28/2/2014 (Processed cropped stack)

Imaged at semi-dark Perth Observatory site. Dead calm wind conditions. Having caught a glimpse of this 1/2/2014 with my old f/6 APO, I wanted to gather more light and retired a longer sequence on my new f/4 Newtonian. I did not captured flat frames which would have helped balance this image that I'm otherwise happy with. See also uncropped version. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, No LPS filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 64' x 95' , Ambient 26-25C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.