Caldwel C106 - NGC104 - 47 Tucanae Globular Cluster in Tucana - 25/9/2016 (Processed stack)
Testing out my sadly dormant gear at home in the suburbs, I picked the visually spectacular globular cluster, 47 Tucanae to image. See also cropped version. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 7C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.5 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.
Messier M45 - Pleiades - Seven Sisters - Subaru - Matariki - 30/10/2016 (Processed cropped stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory. Having been largely inactive for a year, I chose a well known object to revisit. Also see uncropped version. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 10C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (12) of 15 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 37 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 20 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2015
Messier 41 - NGC2287 - Open Cluster in Canis Major - 3/2/2017 (Processed stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory. M41 is an Open Cluster in the constellation of Canis Major. It contains about 100 stars including several red giants and covers an area 1/3 larger than the Full Moon. See also cropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (13) of 17 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 170 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 17 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2016 Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 21-20C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Imaged at Perth Observatory Second light in darker skies for 0.6x Long Perng Reducer with recently acquired Skywatcher ED80 reducing it to f/4.5 FL=360mm. The corners also show notable flare in the star mages, so whilst the extra field is appreciated from the 0.6X Focal reducer, flatness is lost compared to .85X or .8X options available. Compare to 3/6/2017 'flat' version from suburban skies. Also see uncropped version of this image. Telescope - Skywatcher ED80 80/600 with Long Perng 0.6x Reducer, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 141' x 212' , Ambient 11C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Messier M7 - NGC6475 - Ptolemy's Cluster - 3/6/2017 (Processed stack w/o FLATS)
First light for 0.6x Long Perng Reducer with recently acquired Skywatcher ED80 reducing it to f/4.5 FL=360mm. No FLATs applied to show edge/corner drop-off. Compare to version with FLATs. The corners also show notable flare in the star mages, so whilst the extra field is appreciated from the 0.6X Focal reducer, flatness is lost compared to .85X or .8X options available. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (4) of 5 Images ISO 800 @ 30 Sec, 25 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 17 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 Telescope - Skywatcher ED80 80/600 with Long Perng 0.6x Reducer, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 141' x 212' , Ambient 15C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Caldwell 94 - NGC4755 - Jewel Box Cluster - 8/2/2014 (Processed stills into video)
Gusty winds, poor viewing conditions at Perth Observatory. The aim of this object's sequence is to determine field rotation image duration limits with a 16" Meade LX200 Altazimuth at Perth Observatory. There are 10 x 10 Sec and 10 x 20 Sec with 10 second gaps between images in this sequence and with no alignment. Filed rotation from frame to frame is easily visible and 10 and 20 seconds shows little trailing. I did separate images at 30, 40, 50 and 60 seconds by which time trailing is clear. 30 Seconds might be a limit for this part of the sky with this configuration. Also see 10,20,30,40,50,60 second mosaic and 20 sec stack. Created in Microsoft Movie Maker Telescope - Meade 16" f/10 LX200 Schmidt Cassegrain at prime focus, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 19' x 13' , Ambient ~20C. LX200 Fork mount in Altazimuth mode with sidereal rate tracking and no guiding. Backyard EOS Pro 3.0.3 for Image acquisition.
Messier M45 - Pleiades - Seven Sisters - Subaru - Matariki - 30/10/2016 (Processed stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory. Having been largely inactive for a year, I chose a well known object to revisit. Also see cropped version. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 10C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (12) of 15 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 37 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 20 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2015
Caldwell C76 - NGC6231 - False Comet Cluster in Scorpius - 7/4/2017 (Processed Stack)
First test of new ED80 at home in the suburbs. Noticeable loss of flatness in the corners at native f/7.5 without a field flattener or reducer. Telescope - Skywatcher ED80 80/600 with no Field Flattener, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 85' x 127' , Ambient 12C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Imaged at Perth Observatory Second light in darker skies for 0.6x Long Perng Reducer with recently acquired Skywatcher ED80 reducing it to f/4.5 FL=360mm. The corners also show notable flare in the star mages, so whilst the extra field is appreciated from the 0.6X Focal reducer, flatness is lost compared to .85X or .8X options available. Compare to 3/6/2017 'flat' version from suburban skies. Also see cropped version of this image. Telescope - Skywatcher ED80 80/600 with Long Perng 0.6x Reducer, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 141' x 212' , Ambient 11C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Messier M7 - NGC6475 - Ptolemy's Cluster - 7/4/2017 (Processed Stack)
First test of new ED80 at home in the suburbs. Noticeable loss of flatness in the corners at native f/7.5 without a field flattener or reducer. Telescope - Skywatcher ED80 80/600 with no Field Flattener, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 85' x 127' , Ambient 12C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Caldwell 102 - IC2602 - Southern Pleiades or Theta Carina Cluster
Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 17C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.2 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.
NGC3293 The Little Jewel Box and nebula IC2599 - 4/3/2012
This is a cropping of a wider field that contains the edge of the Eta Carina Nebula (see separate image) DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 85% of 22 Images ISO 800 120 Sec, 32 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient 18C. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Imaged at Perth Observatory. Attempted 4 pane mosaic sequence centred on NGC3372 using EQmosaic with 33% overlap. 4 Individual pane stacks created with DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (13) of 17 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 47 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 18 FLATS Mosaic created in Microsoft Image Composite editor (ICE) and post processed with Adobe Photoshop 201. See also umerged and Adobe Photoshop Photomerge variants. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 27-24C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Messier M44 - NGC2632 - Praesepe or Beehive Cluster - 26/1/2017 (Processed cropped stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory with high thin cloud about. M44, always pretty and I've done before, but with patchy cloud approaching, this was in the clear so I gave it another go. See also cropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (5) of 7 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 55 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 11 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2016 Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 28C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Caldwell C96 - NGC2516 - The Diamond Cluster/Southern Beehive - 3/2/2017 (Processed cropped stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory. A circumpolar open cluster in the constellation of Carina. The Diamond Cluster or NGC 2516 got its name because it is so clear and is easily visible even without a telescope. It is also referred to as the Southern Beehive cluster. See also uncropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (13) of 17 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 146 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 17 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2016 Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 20-19C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Collinder CR69 - Lambda Orionis Association - 30/10/2016 (Processed cropped stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory. I'd not imaged this object before and whilst it is a small group of stars, it is quite pretty. Also see uncropped version. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 9C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (13) of 17 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 26 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 20 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2015
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.
Imaged at Perth Observatory. Attempted 4 pane mosaic sequence centred on NGC3372 using EQmosaic with 33% overlap. 4 Individual pane stacks created with DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (13) of 17 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 47 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 18 FLATS Adobe Photoshop 2016 processed to show as unmerged. See two merged variants, one each with Microsoft ICE and Adobe Photoshop Photomerge. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 27-24C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Messier M44 - NGC2632 - Praesepe or Beehive Cluster - 26/1/2017 (Processed stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory with high thin cloud about. M44, always pretty and I've done before, but with patchy cloud approaching, this was in the clear so I gave it another go. See also cropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (5) of 7 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 55 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 11 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2016 Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 28C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Caldwell C96 - NGC2516 - The Diamond Cluster/Southern Beehive - 3/2/2017 (Processed stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory. A circumpolar open cluster in the constellation of Carina. The Diamond Cluster or NGC 2516 got its name because it is so clear and is easily visible even without a telescope. It is also referred to as the Southern Beehive cluster. See also cropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (13) of 17 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 146 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 17 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2016 Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 20-19C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Collinder CR69 - Lambda Orionis Association - 30/10/2016 (Processed stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory. I'd not imaged this object before and whilst it is a small group of stars, it is quite pretty. Also see cropped version. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 9C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (13) of 17 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 26 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 20 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2015
Messier 41 - NGC2287 - Open Cluster in Canis Major - 3/2/2017 (Processed cropped stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory. M41 is an Open Cluster in the constellation of Canis Major. It contains about 100 stars including several red giants and covers an area 1/3 larger than the Full Moon. See also uncropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (13) of 17 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 170 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 17 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2016 Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 21-20C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Imaged at Perth Observatory. Monochrome vresion of this image published p2 - "Telescopes, Timekeeping & Teabag Jigglers - The Oral History of Perth Observatory" by Dr Janet Baldwin. Attempted 4 pane mosaic sequence centred on NGC3372 using EQmosaic with 33% overlap. 4 Individual pane stacks created with DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (13) of 17 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 47 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 18 FLATS Mosaic created in Adobe Photoshop 2016 Photomerge and post processed. See also umerged and Microsoft ICE variants. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 27-24C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
Messier M7 - NGC6475 - Ptolemy's Cluster - 3/6/2017 (Processed stack w/FLATS)
First light for 0.6x Long Perng Reducer with recently acquired Skywatcher ED80 reducing it to f/4.5 FL=360mm. With FLATs applied to resole edge/corner drop-off. Compare to version without FLATs. The corners also show notable flare in the star mages, so whilst the extra field is appreciated from the 0.6X Focal reducer, flatness is lost compared to .85X or .8X options available. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (4) of 5 Images ISO 800 @ 30 Sec, 25 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 17 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 Telescope - Skywatcher ED80 80/600 with Long Perng 0.6x Reducer, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 141' x 212' , Ambient 15C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 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.
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