Being in dark skies near Wagin and not having captured a decent stack for this object I had a go despite it being too late in the year with this only 20-15 degrees above the western horizon. Whilst there is not much depth and detail to the nebula, it is far better than I can achieve in the city light. The nebula is ~5200 LY away and ~130LY in diameter and a star cluster within it consists of stars formed from the nebula. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 100% of 6 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 32 DARK, 0 BIAS, 31 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, no filters, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient 13C. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Messier M42 NGC1976 Orion Nebula - 3/1/2011 (Processed and cropped stack) The 'Great Orion Nebula' is located in the sword of Orion and is one of the brightest nebula in the sky, and perhaps the best known. It is a young star formation region with very hot high-UV stars ionising and 'lighting' the nebula.The brightness of these young stars make this an astrophotography challenge as the central regions are very bright in comparison to the tenous outer nebula and over exposure becomes a problem. High Dynamic Range (HDR) techniques must be used to produce an image with a 'flattened' brightness range, more akin to the way the human eye perceives a wide range of brightness. To the northeast (right as shown) of the Orion Nebula is the 'Running Man Nebula' a blue reflection nebula, caused by reflected light on a dark non-ionised region of nebulosity. HDR initial attempt, done in mid-2011, using DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacking 80% of: 12 Images ISO 800, 15 Sec, 6 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS (see also separate stack) 6 Images ISO 800, 30 Sec, 32 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS (see also separate stack) 20 Images ISO 800, 120 Sec, 11 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS (see also separate stack) Post processed with Adobe Photoshop CS4. I failed to get the colour balance right here and pushed to far into the blue, which highlights the Running Man, but at the expense of reds in the Orion nebula. See my re-processed attempt in this gallery. Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA T-Adapter, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC (not recorded). Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Messier M8 - NGC6523 - Lagoon Nebula and Cluster - 8/3/2011 (Processed single powermate test image)
The Lagoon Nebula is a giant interstellar cloud ~4100 LY away in the constellation Sagittarius. The pink/red glow is caused by ionised Hydrogen gas. The ionisation comes from extremely bright young stars with high Ultraviolet light output. M8 is just visible to the naked eye in dark skies and easily seen in binoculars. It spans 90' x 40' which is ~3 x 1 full moon diameters and at its distance equates to 110 x 50 LY. Imagine the energy required to light that up! DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 100% of 1 Images ISO 1600, 420 Sec, 32 DARK, 12 BIAS, 0 FLATS, post processed by Adobe Photshop CS5 Powermate testing on this and other objects is showing that doubing the focal ratio whilst doubling the image scale brings with it greater care over focus and centreing and that field flatness is more of an issue than I had imaginged it would be with an f/6 APO refractor. Note added 1/10/2012 - These initial disappoinging results caused me to leave the PowerMate for 18 months before I realised a couple of things. The Televue Powermate T-Ring adapter is optimised for 55mm backfocus which is room for a T-Adapter to DSLR and nothing else. I had been using several T-Extension tubes on the camera side instead of extension tubes on the telescope side to get focus! I also found the allen key head that adjusts the crayford focuser tightness. See 30/9/2012 results for a stark comparison. Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Televue 2x 2" Powermate, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
This version is a reprocessed one from late 2012. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 21 Images ISO 800 180 Sec, 15 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS4 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider
Messier M16 - NGC6611 - Eagle Nebula and Cluster, Messier M17 - NGC6618 - Eagle or Swan Nebula - 1/4/2011 (Processed stack) DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 100% of 1 Images ISO 800 180 Sec, 15 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS4 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Prawn Nebula and surrounds - 21/9/2019 (Processed cropped stack)
Imaged ~10km east of Mt Magnet See also uncropped version. DeepSkyStacker 4.2.2 Stacked 75% (23) of 31 Images ISO 1600 @ 120 Sec, 25 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 17 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Pentax SMC Takumar 200mm f/4, 37mm stop ring to f/5.4, M42/EOS adapter, Hoya UV filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 381' x 254' , Ambient ~15C. SkyWatcher Star Adventurer EQ mount unguided sidereal drive.
Caldwell 103 - NGC2070 - 30 Doradus Tarantula Nebula - 4/2/2011 (Processed single in-camera dark)
Single 120 Sec CR2 raw at ISO 1600 with In-Camera DARK. Post processed by Adobe Photoshop CS5. Experimenting to see what a single shot could achieve. Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 75% of 29 Images ISO 800 120 Sec, 6 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS5 An attempt to see if a long light gathering sequence would show this object up in my suburban skies. The nebular is certainly revealed but processing has been pushed to the limits with low contrast and high graininess. The lack of FLATS shows optical shadows and marks also. However, this is considerably better than my 'no show' image of 1/3/2011. Also compare to single shot in semi-dark skies at Perth Observatory 12/1/2011 and dark skies image at Wagin 4/3/2011. Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Messier M20 - NGC6514 - Trifid Nebula- 1/4/2011 (Processed Cropped stack)
Also see late 2012 reprocessed version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 21 Images ISO 800 180 Sec, 15 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS4 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Messier M16 - NGC6611 - Eagle Nebula and Cluster - 1/4/2011 (Processed cropped stack) Also see late 2012 reprocessed version. The Eagle Nebula is an emission nebula contained with a young (1-2 million years) open cluster of ~460 stars that is ~6,500 light-years away in the constellation Serpens. Its name derives from its shape that is thought to resemble an eagle. It is the subject of the famous "Pillars of Creation" photograph by the Hubble Space Telescope that shows pillars of star-forming gas and dust within the nebula. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 34 Images ISO 800, 180 Sec, 32 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient not noted... 19-17C assumed. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Prawn Nebula and surrounds - 21/9/2019 (Processed stack)
Imaged ~10km east of Mt Magnet See also cropped version. DeepSkyStacker 4.2.2 Stacked 75% (23) of 31 Images ISO 1600 @ 120 Sec, 25 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 17 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Pentax SMC Takumar 200mm f/4, 37mm stop ring to f/5.4, M42/EOS adapter, Hoya UV filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 381' x 254' , Ambient ~15C. SkyWatcher Star Adventurer EQ mount unguided sidereal drive.
This was an attempt to see if I could get any sign of the Rosette nebula from my suburban home location with a longer capture and sing 2X Powermate ... not very successful. The Perth Observatory site was a little better ... see earlier image on 12/01/2011. I really need dark skies for this one! DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 100% of 1 Images ISO 800, 480 Sec, 3 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, post processed by Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Televue 2x 2" Powermate, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient ??C not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
NGC3293 The Little Jewel Box and nebula IC2599 - 13/3/2011 (Processed cropped stack)
DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 100% of 2 Images ISO 800 120 Sec, 6 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS5 NGC3293 The Little Jewel Box in the centre but nebula IC2599 is near it. See also uncropped version and also 4/3/2012 for a shot that frames more of Eta Carina Nebula. Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Messier M8 - NGC6523 - Lagoon Nebula and Cluster- 1/4/2011 (Processed Cropped stack)
Also see late 2012 reprocessed version. The Lagoon Nebula is a giant interstellar cloud ~4100 LY away in the constellation Sagittarius. The pink/red glow is caused by ionised Hydrogen gas. The ionisation comes from extremely bright young stars with high Ultraviolet light output. M8 is just visible to the naked eye in dark skies and easily seen in binoculars. It spans 90' x 40' which is ~3 x 1 full moon diameters and at its distance equates to 110 x 50 LY. Imagine the energy required to light that up! DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 21 Images ISO 800 180 Sec, 15 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS4 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Messier M16 - NGC6611 - Eagle Nebula and Cluster - 1/4/2011 (Processed stack) Also see late 2012 reprocessed version. The Eagle Nebula is an emission nebula contained with a young (1-2 million years) open cluster of ~460 stars that is ~6,500 light-years away in the constellation Serpens. Its name derives from its shape that is thought to resemble an eagle. It is the subject of the famous "Pillars of Creation" photograph by the Hubble Space Telescope that shows pillars of star-forming gas and dust within the nebula. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 34 Images ISO 800, 180 Sec, 32 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient not noted... 19-17C assumed. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Caldwell 92 - NGC3372 Eta Carinae Nebula - 28/11/2010 (Processed Stack)
A massive star formation region and the location of one of the best candidates for a Supernova in our Galaxy, Eta Carinae, a very large and unstable star. It is located ~6,500 LY from us and the nebula covers ~ 2 degrees (4 Full Moon diameters). DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 7 Images ISO 800 120 Sec, 5 DARK, 5 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by GIMP 2.6 My first digital SLR attempt at this well known and bright object. Image processing has been pushed too far to the red with not enough blue. Lack of light frames means there is a noticeable level of noise and a lack of detail in the fine dark lane structures. Also, the lack of a field flattener is evident around the edges of the image. However, it is a wonderful object and this was a pleasing first result. Also see re-processed attempt in early 2012. Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA T-Adapter, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC (not recorded). Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
A very large nebula with central star cluster. It is located ~5,200 LY away in the constallation Moncoeros. It spans ~80' and so is nearly three times the size of the full moon. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 100% of 2 Images ISO 800 480 and 900 Sec, 3 DARK at each ISO, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS5 A test shot at two different exposure durations to see what of the nebula would show up given my poor experiences in the Metro area (see 12/1/2011 and 1/3/2011). This was quite promising and I planned to attempt this on the second night, alas it clouded out :( Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, NO filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient ??C not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
NGC3293 The Little Jewel Box and nebula IC2599 - 13/3/2011 (Processed stack)
DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 100% of 2 Images ISO 800 120 Sec, 6 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS5 My target was NGC3293 The Little Jewel Box in the centre but nebula IC2599 is near it and the edge of the Eta Carina Nebula can be seen in the bottom right. See also cropped version and also 4/3/2012 for a shot that frames more of Eta Carina Nebula. Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Messier M20 - NGC6514 - Gum 76 - Trifid Nebula- 1/4/2011 (Processed Cropped stack)
This version is a reprocessed one from late 2012 DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 21 Images ISO 800 180 Sec, 15 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS4 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Messier M16 - NGC6611 - Gum 83 - Eagle Nebula and Cluster - 1/4/2011 (Re-processed cropped stack)
Reprocessed in late 2012. The Eagle Nebula is an emission nebula contained with a young (1-2 million years) open cluster of ~460 stars that is ~6,500 light-years away in the constellation Serpens. Its name derives from its shape that is thought to resemble an eagle. It is the subject of the famous "Pillars of Creation" photograph by the Hubble Space Telescope that shows pillars of star-forming gas and dust within the nebula. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 34 Images ISO 800, 180 Sec, 32 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient not noted... 19-17C assumed. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Caldwell 92 - NGC3372 Eta Carinae Nebula - 28/11/2010 (Re-processed Stack)
I revisited this stack of images in early 2012 and reprocessed it with the benefit of a bit more post-processing experience DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 7 Images ISO 800 120 Sec, 5 DARK, 5 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post processed by Adobe Photoshop CS5. Reprocessed my first digital SLR attempt at this well known and bright objectt oimprove the red-blue colour balacne. The lack of light frames means there is a noticeable level of noise and a lack of detail in the fine dark lane structures. Also, the lack of a field flattener is evident around the edges of the image. I'm happier with this version from my first capture of it. Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA T-Adapter, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC (not recorded). Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Caldwell 92 - NGC3372 - Eta Carinae Nebula - Dark Sky site near Wagin - 4/3/2011 (Processed stack)
A massive star formation region and the location of one of the best candidates for a Supernova in our Galaxy, Eta Carinae, a very large and unstable star. It is located ~6,500 LY from us and the nebula covers ~ 2 degrees (4 Full Moon diameters). DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 75% of 11 Images ISO 800 300 Sec, 10 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS5 The dark sky increased the contrast and depth of the nebula including the dust lanes and gloubules. I'm quite happy with this one good outcome from my first true dark sky field trip. Oh, to live under dark skies again! Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, NO filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient ??C not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Also see late 2012 reprocessed version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 21 Images ISO 800 180 Sec, 15 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS4 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Messier M8 - NGC6523 - Gum 72 - Lagoon Nebula and Cluster- 1/4/2011 (Processed Cropped stack)
This version is a reprocessed one from late 2012. The Lagoon Nebula is a giant interstellar cloud ~4100 LY away in the constellation Sagittarius. The pink/red glow is caused by ionised Hydrogen gas. The ionisation comes from extremely bright young stars with high Ultraviolet light output. M8 is just visible to the naked eye in dark skies and easily seen in binoculars. It spans 90' x 40' which is ~3 x 1 full moon diameters and at its distance equates to 110 x 50 LY. Imagine the energy required to light that up! DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 21 Images ISO 800 180 Sec, 15 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS4 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Gallery Comments