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Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Bright nebulae of the central Cygnus




I had about six hours of clear sky at night between 23.- 24.12. That was just enough to shoot this relatively bright emission area in constellation Cygnus.

Bright nebulae of Cygnus
Please, click for a large image

The photo is in mapped colors from the light emitted by an ionized elements, 
red=sulfur, green=hydrogen and blue=oxygen.


An experimental starless view
Please, click for a large image

The actual nebula stands out well in this starless version


Mosaic
Please, click for a large image

This new image was partly overlapping with my older image from Spring season 2016.
Older image. with technical details, can be found HERE 


Nebulae in visual colors
Please, click for a large image

Natural color composition from the emission of ionized elements, R=80%Hydrogen+20%Sulfur, G=100%Oxygen and B=85%Oxygen+15%Hydrogen to compensate otherwise missing H-beta emission. This composition is very close to a visual spectrum.


Orientation
Please, click for a large image

An older wide field photo with  the Canon EF 200mm f1.8 camera lens and Baader narrowband filters. 


Technical details

Processing work flow

Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 21 iterations, added at 25% weight
Color combine in PS CS3
Levels and curves in PS CS3.

Imaging optics
Celestron Edge HD 1100 @ f7 with 0,7 focal reducer for Edge HD 1100 telescope
Canon EF 200mm f1.8 camera optics (For S-II and O-III channels)
Mount
10-micron 1000
Meade LX200 GPS 12" (For S-II and O-III channels)

Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x2 and SXV-AOL
QHY9 (For S-II and O-III channels)

Astrodon filter, 5 nm H-alpha
Baader filter, 8,5 nm O-III
Baader filter, 8 nm S-II

Exposure times
H-alpha, 9 x 1200 s binned 2x2 
O-III, 4 x 1200 s binned 4x4 = 
S-II,  4 x 1200 s binned 4x4 






Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Dark filaments in Cygnus, project finalized




This winter season I have been shooting some well known and relatively bright objects in Cygnus, My purpose was show them little differently by selecting some less imaged details to show.

This time my target was an area in North America Nebula, NGC 7000. There are some interesting looking formations of dark nebulae.


Dark filaments of Cygnus
Please, click for a large image

Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen. Image spans about two degrees of sky.


B&W image
Please, click for a large image

This photo shows the emission of hydrogen alpha (H-a) alone.


Orientation
Please, click for a large image

Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle.
This wide field photo of the North America and Pelican Nebulae was shot with Canon EF 200 mm f1.8 camera lens, QHY9 astrocam and Baader narrowband filters.

Technical details

Processing work flow

Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 33 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS CS3
Levels and curves in PS CS3.

Imaging optics
Celestron Edge HD 1100 @ f10 with 0,7 focal reducer for Edge HD 1100 telescope

Mount
10-micron 1000

Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x2 and SXV-AOL
Astrodon filter, 5nm H-alpha
Astrodon filter, 3nm O-III
Astrodon filter, 3nm S-II

Exposure times for both image panels
H-alpha, 30 x 1200 s = 10 h
S-II,  6 x 1200 s binned 2x2 = 2 h
O-III,  6 x 1200 s binned 2x2 = 2 h
Total 14 h

A single uncropped, calibrated and stretched 20 min. H-alpha frames used for the mosaic image

Left side of the mosaic image


Right side of the mosaic image


Monday, December 19, 2016

Filaments of the Veil Nebula in visual spectrum

I have published a mapped color version out of this photo few days ago. This new version shows a detail of Veil Nebula in natural colors. This composition is very close to a real colors. Ionized hydrogen (H-alpha) is emitting red light. Ionized Oxygen (O-III) can be seen as blue hues.

At this Autumn season I have shot several well known targets in constellation Cygnus. 
My purpose was show them little differently by selecting some less imaged details to show.
This new image is a four panel mosaic showing the complex, filament like, structures in Veil Nebula supernova remnant. Original full resolution photo is about 11.000 x 4000 pixels! Total exposure time is around 35 hours. The final photo looks like a giant alien space plant...


Filaments of Veil
Please, click for a large image


Natural color composition from the emission of ionized elements, R=80%Hydrogen+20%Sulfur, G=100%Oxygen and B=85%Oxygen+15%Hydrogen to compensate otherwise missing H-beta emission. This composition is very close to a visual spectrum.


A closeup
Please, click for a large image




A horizontal version
Please, click for a large image




Orientation in Veil Nebula
Please, click for a large image

Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle 
This wide field photo of the Veil Nebula was shot with Canon EF 200 mm f1.8 camera lens, QHY9 astrocam and Baader narrowband filters.

Technical details

Processing work flow

Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 33 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS CS3
Levels and curves in PS CS3.

Imaging optics
Celestron Edge HD 1100 @ f10 with 0,7 focal reducer for Edge HD 1100 telescope

Mount
10-micron 1000

Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x2 and SXV-AOL
Astrodon filter, 5nm H-alpha
Astrodon filter, 3nm O-III
Astrodon filter, 3nm S-II

Exposure times for all three panels
H-alpha, 30 x 1200 s = 10 h
S-II,  24 x 1200 s binned 2x2 = 8 h
O-III,  51 x 1200 s binned 2x2 = 17 h
Total 35 h

Images used for this mosaic





Thursday, December 15, 2016

Extremely dim supernova remnant in Auriga, Sharpless 224


I started this imaging project at Spring season 2016. At that time I was able to capture only eight hours of lights due to shortening nights. Now I have shot about 20 hours of new exposures for this supernova remnant in Auriga. This object has a very low surface brightness and it's heavily diffused. 

Supernova remnant Sharpless 224, Sh2-224, locates in constellation Auriga at distance of about 14700 light years. It has an apparent size about 60 arc minutes, the real size is around 235 light years. This is a very dim target and lots of exposure time is needed to reveal any details out of it. Beside Hydrogen alpha, there are also weak emission from ionized oxygen, O-III, and ionized sulfur, S-II.


Sh2-224 in mapped colors
Click for a large image

The photo is in mapped colors from the light emitted by an ionized elements, 
red=sulfur, green=hydrogen and blue=oxygen.


Sharpless 224 in visual colors
Click for a large image

Natural color composition from the emission of ionized elements, R=80%Hydrogen+20%Sulfur, G=100%Oxygen and B=85%Oxygen+15%Hydrogen to compensate otherwise missing H-beta emission. This composition is very close to a visual spectrum.


Wide field images of the area
Click for a large photo, 1500 x 1100 pixels, 3MB

This photo is from March 2009. QHY9 astrocamera, Canon EF 200mm f1.8 camera lens and Baader narrowband filters. Total exposure time is around 15h. Original photo with technical details can be seen HERE


12 panel mosaic of constellation Auriga
Click for a large photo, 2600 x 1200 pixels, 5MB

Mosaic image is from March 2012. This panoramic mosaic spans about 21 degrees of sky. 
That's 42 full Moons side by side. QHY9 astrocamera, Canon EF 200mm f1.8 camera lens and Baader narrowband filters. Total exposure time is around 70h. Original photo with technical details can be seen HERE

Technical details

Processing work flow

Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 21 iterations, added at 25% weight
Color combine in PS CS3
Levels and curves in PS CS3.

Imaging optics
Celestron Edge HD 1100 @ f7 with 0,7 focal reducer for Edge HD 1100 telescope
Canon EF 200mm f1.8 camera optics (For S-II and O-III channels)
Mount
10-micron 1000
Meade LX200 GPS 12" (For S-II and O-III channels)

Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x2 and SXV-AOL
QHY9 (For S-II and O-III channels)

Astrodon filter, 5 nm H-alpha
Baader filter, 8,5 nm O-III
Baader filter, 8 nm S-II

Exposure times
H-alpha, 84 x 1200s binned 2x2 = 28h
O-III, 12 x 600s binned 4x4 = 2h (Year 2009, Canon EF 200mm f1.8)
S-II,  12 x 600s binned 4x4 = 2h (Year 2009, Canon EF 200mm f1.8)
Total 32h

A single uncropped, calibrated and stretched 20 min. H-alpha frame as it comes from the camera

Not much to see here...



Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Filaments of the Veil Nebula


At this Autumn season I have shot several well known targets in constellation Cygnus. 
My purpose was show them little differently by selecting some less imaged details to show.
This new image is a four panel mosaic showing the complex, filament like, structures in Veil Nebula supernova remnant. Original full resolution photo is about 11.000 x 4000 pixels! Total exposure time is around 35 hours. The final photo looks like a giant alien space plant...

Filaments of Veil
Please, click for a large image

Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen. Image spans about three degrees vertically.


A closeup
Please, click for a large image




A horizontal version
Please, click for a large image




Orientation in Veil Nebula
Please, click for a large image

Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle 
This wide field photo of the Veil Nebula was shot with Canon EF 200 mm f1.8 camera lens, QHY9 astrocam and Baader narrowband filters.

Technical details

Processing work flow

Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 33 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS CS3
Levels and curves in PS CS3.

Imaging optics
Celestron Edge HD 1100 @ f10 with 0,7 focal reducer for Edge HD 1100 telescope

Mount
10-micron 1000

Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x2 and SXV-AOL
Astrodon filter, 5nm H-alpha
Astrodon filter, 3nm O-III
Astrodon filter, 3nm S-II

Exposure times for all three panels
H-alpha, 30 x 1200 s = 10 h
S-II,  24 x 1200 s binned 2x2 = 8 h
O-III,  51 x 1200 s binned 2x2 = 17 h
Total 35 h

Images used for this mosaic



Tuesday, December 13, 2016

A panoramic view to the North america Nebula

A New photo of the North America Nebula shows the area of "Mexican gulf". Also called as a Great Wall of Cygnus. This is a two frame mosaic and it spans about two degrees of sky horizontally.
Total exposure time is 9 hours for this relatively bright area.


Great Wall of Cygnus
Please, click for a large image

Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen.

A closeup
Please, click for a large image



Image in visual spectrum
Please, click for a large image

Image is in Natural colour palette from the emission of ionized elements, 
R=Hydrogen + Sulphur, G=Oxygen and B=Oxygen + ~10% Hydrogen.
Hydrogen, glowing a red light, dominates the color scheme.

Orientation
Please, click for a large image

Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle 
This wide field photo of the North America and Pelican Nebulae was shot with Canon EF 200 mm f1.8 camera lens, QHY9 astrocam and Baader narrowband filters.

Technical details

Processing work flow

Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 33 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS CS3
Levels and curves in PS CS3.

Imaging optics
Celestron Edge HD 1100 @ f10 with 0,7 focal reducer for Edge HD 1100 telescope

Mount
10-micron 1000

Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x2 and SXV-AOL
Astrodon filter, 5nm H-alpha
Astrodon filter, 3nm O-III
Astrodon filter, 3nm S-II

Exposure times for both panels
H-alpha, 15 x 1200 s = 5 h
O-III, 6 x 1200 s binned 2x2 = 2 h 
S-II,  6 x 1200 s binned 2x2 = 2 h 
Total 9 h





Monday, December 12, 2016

Dark filaments in Cygnus



This winter season I have been shooting some well known and relatively bright objects in Cygnus, My purpose was show them little differently by selecting some less imaged details to show.


Dark filaments of Cygnus
Please, click for a large image

Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen. Image shows about one square degrees of sky.


Visual colours
Please, click for a large image

Image is in Natural colour palette from the emission of ionized elements, 
R=Hydrogen + Sulphur, G=Oxygen and B=Oxygen + ~10% Hydrogen.


Orientation
Please, click for a large image

Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle 
This wide field photo of the North America and Pelican Nebulae was shot with Canon EF 200 mm f1.8 camera lens, QHY9 astrocam and Baader narrowband filters.


Technical details

Processing work flow

Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 33 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS CS3
Levels and curves in PS CS3.

Imaging optics
Celestron Edge HD 1100 @ f10 with 0,7 focal reducer for Edge HD 1100 telescope

Mount
10-micron 1000

Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x2 and SXV-AOL
Astrodon filter, 5nm H-alpha
Astrodon filter, 3nm O-III
Astrodon filter, 3nm S-II

Exposure times
H-alpha, 9 x 1200 s = 3 h
S-II,  3 x 1200 s binned 2x2 = 1 h
O-III,  3 x 1200 s binned 2x2 = 1 h
Total 4 h


Thursday, December 8, 2016

Pelican Nebula, a two frame mosaic


At November 30 I published a new photo about dark filaments between North America and Pelican Nebula. Later I found out, that my shot was overlapping with my older photo of the Pelican nebula. This image is combination out of those two images. 

Pelican Nebula
Please, click for a large image

Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen


Technical details

Can be found HERE, for the upper part of the image
And HERE, for the lower part of the mosaic image above





Wednesday, November 30, 2016

A detail photo of the dark filaments in Pelican nebula



I have shot lights for this image back in October 5 but found time to process them just now.
The complex cloud of dust and gas locates in front of the ionized gas clouds. Ionized gas, mainly oxygen in this photo, is emitting light and due to that we are able to see the dark formation,


Dark clouds in Cygnus
Click for a large image

Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen.



An experimental starless version
Please, click for a large image

The actual gas formations stand out well in this starless version.



Orientation
Please, click for a large image

Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle 
This wide field photo of the North America and Pelican Nebulae was shot with Canon EF 200 mm f1.8 camera lens, QHY9 astrocam and Baader narrowband filters.


Technical details

Processing work flow

Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 33 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS CS3
Levels and curves in PS CS3.

Imaging optics
Celestron Edge HD 1100 @ f10 with 0,7 focal reducer for Edge HD 1100 telescope

Mount
10-micron 1000

Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x2 and SXV-AOL
Astrodon filter, 5nm H-alpha
Astrodon filter, 3nm O-III
Astrodon filter, 3nm S-II

Exposure times for all three panels
H-alpha, 6 x 1200 s = 2 h
S-II,  6 x 1200 s binned 2x2 = 2 h
O-III information is taken from an older the wide field shot seen above, ~2 h 
Total 6 h



Tuesday, November 29, 2016

A little different view to the North America nebula, part III


This photo is result from my mosaic project for this Autumn season. My purpose was to image the North America Nebula, NGC 7000, and show it little differently, than usually. This object is a popular target among astro photographers, I found some rarely imaged areas and made my composition out of them. There are three panels used for this mosaic, total exposure time for all three emission line is around 16 hours.


A detail from the North America nebula as a three panel mosaic
Please, click for a large image

Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen.



An experimental starless version
Please, click for a large image

The actual gas formations stand out well in this starless version.



Image in natural colors
Please, click for a large image

Image is in Natural colour palette from the emission of ionized elements, 
R=Hydrogen + Sulphur, G=Oxygen and B=Oxygen + ~10% Hydrogen.




Couple of individual image panels
Please, click for a large image









Orientation
Please, click for a large image

Area of interest is marked as a white rectangle 
This wide field photo of the North America and Pelican Nebulae was shot with Canon EF 200 mm f1.8 camera lens, QHY9 astrocam and Baader narrowband filters.

Technical details

Processing work flow

Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 33 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS CS3
Levels and curves in PS CS3.

Imaging optics
Celestron Edge HD 1100 @ f10 with 0,7 focal reducer for Edge HD 1100 telescope

Mount
10-micron 1000

Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x2 and SXV-AOL
Astrodon filter, 5nm H-alpha
Astrodon filter, 3nm O-III
Astrodon filter, 3nm S-II

Exposure times for all three panels
H-alpha, 18 x 1200 s = 6 h
O-III, 18 x 1200 s binned 2x2 = 5 h 
S-II,  18 x 1200 s binned 2x2 = 5 h 
Total 16 h