Nebulae
Impressive, massive and diverse stellar nurseries or playgrounds of light, dust, gas and gravity. Nebula can range from dark, emission, and reflection types depending upon their physical characteristics. Below are are a few of the examples I've been able to capture thus far from my small refractor telescope and DSLR camera.
Antares, Rho Ophiuchi, and the Dark River in Scorpius.
Captured May, 2020
Image specs: 54x100", 35 Darks, 35 Flats, 100 Bias frames for calibration.
Equipment:
Samyang 135mm F2.0
Canon 6D unmodified
iOptron Skyguider Pro (unguided)
Software:
BackyardEOS for Capture, DSS for stacking, Startools for processing, Lightroom CC for final revisions.
Captured May, 2020
Image specs: 54x100", 35 Darks, 35 Flats, 100 Bias frames for calibration.
Equipment:
Samyang 135mm F2.0
Canon 6D unmodified
iOptron Skyguider Pro (unguided)
Software:
BackyardEOS for Capture, DSS for stacking, Startools for processing, Lightroom CC for final revisions.
Flaming Star (IC 405) and Tadpole (IC 410) Nebulae in HSO
Captured March, 2020
Image specs: 25x600" Ha, 19x600" Sii, 24×600" Oiii. Unity gain cooled to 5 degrees.
Equipment:
70mm quad APO
Zwo ASI294MCPRO camera and narrowband filters
Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount
Orion 50mm guidescope and starshoot autoguider
Software:
APT for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, Photoshop and Lightroom CC for final revisions.
Captured March, 2020
Image specs: 25x600" Ha, 19x600" Sii, 24×600" Oiii. Unity gain cooled to 5 degrees.
Equipment:
70mm quad APO
Zwo ASI294MCPRO camera and narrowband filters
Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount
Orion 50mm guidescope and starshoot autoguider
Software:
APT for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, Photoshop and Lightroom CC for final revisions.
Jellyfish Nebula in Gemini (IC 433 / Sharpless 248)
Captured February, 2019.
Image specs: 36x600" Ha, 38x600" Sii, 13x1000" Oiii. Unity gain cooled to 5 degrees.
Equipment:
Meade 70mm Quad APO
Zwo ASI294MCPRO
Skywatcher EQ6-R mount
Zwo EFW and filters made possible by @gazingoutwards.
Software:
APT for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, Photoshop and Lightroom CC for final revisions.
Captured February, 2019.
Image specs: 36x600" Ha, 38x600" Sii, 13x1000" Oiii. Unity gain cooled to 5 degrees.
Equipment:
Meade 70mm Quad APO
Zwo ASI294MCPRO
Skywatcher EQ6-R mount
Zwo EFW and filters made possible by @gazingoutwards.
Software:
APT for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, Photoshop and Lightroom CC for final revisions.
Heart Nebula and Fish Head Nebula
Captured January, 2019.
Image specs: 39x600" Ha, 45x600"" Oiii. Unity gain cooled to 5 degrees.
Equipment:
Meade 70mm Quad APO
Zwo ASI294MCPRO
Skywatcher EQ6-R mount
Zwo EFW and filters made possible by @gazingoutwards.
Software:
APT for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, Photoshop and Lightroom CC for final revisions.
Captured January, 2019.
Image specs: 39x600" Ha, 45x600"" Oiii. Unity gain cooled to 5 degrees.
Equipment:
Meade 70mm Quad APO
Zwo ASI294MCPRO
Skywatcher EQ6-R mount
Zwo EFW and filters made possible by @gazingoutwards.
Software:
APT for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, Photoshop and Lightroom CC for final revisions.
Orion Super-widefield in Narrowband (Ha / Oiii/ Sii)
Captured November, 2019 in San Tan Valley, AZ (South of Phoenix)
Image specs: 30x900" Ha (7.5hrs), 15x900" Oiii (3.5hrs), 17x900" Sii (4hrs)
Equipment:
Rokinon 24mm F1.4 @ F4.0
iOptron Skyguider Pro
Zwo ASI294MCPro Camera
Zwo EFW and filters made possible by @gazingoutwards.
Software:
APT for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, Photoshop and Lightroom CC for final revisions.
Captured November, 2019 in San Tan Valley, AZ (South of Phoenix)
Image specs: 30x900" Ha (7.5hrs), 15x900" Oiii (3.5hrs), 17x900" Sii (4hrs)
Equipment:
Rokinon 24mm F1.4 @ F4.0
iOptron Skyguider Pro
Zwo ASI294MCPro Camera
Zwo EFW and filters made possible by @gazingoutwards.
Software:
APT for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, Photoshop and Lightroom CC for final revisions.
Horsehead and Flame Nebula (NGC 2024)
Captured January, 2019
Image specs: 24 x 300" subexposure light frames at ISO800 , 10 dark frames, 30 flat frames, 100 bias frames. Total time ~2 hours.
Equipment:
Meade 6000 80mm AP0 (480mm)
Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount
Canon T5i modded
Stellarvue Field Flattener
Orion Skyglow LP Filter 2"
Orion 50mm guidescope and camera
Software:
Backyard EOS for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, and Lightroom CC for final revisons.
Captured January, 2019
Image specs: 24 x 300" subexposure light frames at ISO800 , 10 dark frames, 30 flat frames, 100 bias frames. Total time ~2 hours.
Equipment:
Meade 6000 80mm AP0 (480mm)
Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount
Canon T5i modded
Stellarvue Field Flattener
Orion Skyglow LP Filter 2"
Orion 50mm guidescope and camera
Software:
Backyard EOS for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, and Lightroom CC for final revisons.
Orion (M42) and Running Man Nebula
Captured December, 2018
Specs: 47 x 200" Light frame subexposures at ISO800, 15 dark frames, 30 flat frames, and 100 bias frames for about 2.5 hrs of total exposure time.
Equipment:
Meade 6000 80mm AP0 (480mm)
Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount
Canon T5i modded
Stellarvue Field Flattener
Orion 50mm guidescope and camera
Software:
Backyard EOS for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, and Lightroom CC for final revisons.
Captured December, 2018
Specs: 47 x 200" Light frame subexposures at ISO800, 15 dark frames, 30 flat frames, and 100 bias frames for about 2.5 hrs of total exposure time.
Equipment:
Meade 6000 80mm AP0 (480mm)
Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount
Canon T5i modded
Stellarvue Field Flattener
Orion 50mm guidescope and camera
Software:
Backyard EOS for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, and Lightroom CC for final revisons.
Pleiades (M45) Cluster
Captured Feb 2nd, 2019
Specs: 25 x 200" Light frame subexposures at ISO800, 0 dark frames (dithered), 30 flat frames, and 100 bias frames for about 1.25 hrs of total exposure time.
Equipment:
Meade 6000 80mm AP0 (480mm)
Orion .80 reducer (effectively ~ 380mm)
Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount
Canon T5i modded
Orion 50mm guidescope and camera
Software:
Backyard EOS for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, and Lightroom CC for final revisons.
Captured Feb 2nd, 2019
Specs: 25 x 200" Light frame subexposures at ISO800, 0 dark frames (dithered), 30 flat frames, and 100 bias frames for about 1.25 hrs of total exposure time.
Equipment:
Meade 6000 80mm AP0 (480mm)
Orion .80 reducer (effectively ~ 380mm)
Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount
Canon T5i modded
Orion 50mm guidescope and camera
Software:
Backyard EOS for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, and Lightroom CC for final revisons.
Rosette Nebula / Caldwell 49
Captured Feb 2nd, 2019
Specs: 21 x 250" Light frame subexposures at ISO800, 0 dark frames (dithered), 30 flat frames, and 100 bias frames for about 1.25 hrs of total exposure time.
Equipment:
Meade 6000 80mm AP0 (480mm)
Orion .80 reducer (effectively ~ 380mm)
Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount
Canon T5i modded
Orion 50mm guidescope and camera
Software:
Backyard EOS for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, and Lightroom CC for final revisons.
Captured Feb 2nd, 2019
Specs: 21 x 250" Light frame subexposures at ISO800, 0 dark frames (dithered), 30 flat frames, and 100 bias frames for about 1.25 hrs of total exposure time.
Equipment:
Meade 6000 80mm AP0 (480mm)
Orion .80 reducer (effectively ~ 380mm)
Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount
Canon T5i modded
Orion 50mm guidescope and camera
Software:
Backyard EOS for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, and Lightroom CC for final revisons.
North American Nebula and most of the Pelican Nebula in narrowband(NGC7000 and IC5070)
Captured June / July 2019 from home in Northern VA.
Specs:
30 x 400" Ha Frames (3hrs,20min) Zwo 7nm ha filter.
30 Darks, 35 flats, 35 dark flats.
17 x 900" Oiii Frames (4hrs) Zwo 7nm oiii filter.
30 Darks, 40 flats, 40 dark flats.
Equipment:
Meade 7000 70mm Quad AP0 (350mm)
Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount
Zwo ASI294MCPro
Orion 50mm guidescope and camera
Software and processing:
APT for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, and Lightroom CC for final revisions. Hubble(ish) palette where green = ha, blue = oiii, and synthesized red layer.
Captured June / July 2019 from home in Northern VA.
Specs:
30 x 400" Ha Frames (3hrs,20min) Zwo 7nm ha filter.
30 Darks, 35 flats, 35 dark flats.
17 x 900" Oiii Frames (4hrs) Zwo 7nm oiii filter.
30 Darks, 40 flats, 40 dark flats.
Equipment:
Meade 7000 70mm Quad AP0 (350mm)
Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount
Zwo ASI294MCPro
Orion 50mm guidescope and camera
Software and processing:
APT for capturing, PHD2 for autoguiding, DSS for Stacking, Startools for processing, and Lightroom CC for final revisions. Hubble(ish) palette where green = ha, blue = oiii, and synthesized red layer.
Western Veil Nebula (really a supernova remnant) aka the aptly named Witch's Broom (NGC 6960)
This image is a new PR for me with over 10 hours of exposure time captured over four nights. This object features beautiful layers of filaments of hot glowing hydrogen (red) and doubly ionized oxygen (blue/green) gas seen almost edge-on as it expands through space from the supernova which occured (or was seen on earth) approximately 5,000 years ago. This object can be found in the northern hemisphere in the constellation Cygnus (The Swan).
Specs:
Ha 45x400", 30 dark frames, 40 flats, 40 dark flats.(5hrs)
Oiii 23x900", 30 dark frames, 40 flats, 40 dark flats.(5.5hrs)
Equipment:
Camera cooled to -6c, 1x1 bin, unity gain settings (120). Astrotech AT111 Triplet Refractor, Zwo ASI294MCPro camera, Zwo Nb filters, Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount, Orion .80x reducer.
Software and processing:
Captured in APT, DSS, Startools, and finished in Lightroom CC. Starnet++ for star removal in second photo.
This image is a new PR for me with over 10 hours of exposure time captured over four nights. This object features beautiful layers of filaments of hot glowing hydrogen (red) and doubly ionized oxygen (blue/green) gas seen almost edge-on as it expands through space from the supernova which occured (or was seen on earth) approximately 5,000 years ago. This object can be found in the northern hemisphere in the constellation Cygnus (The Swan).
Specs:
Ha 45x400", 30 dark frames, 40 flats, 40 dark flats.(5hrs)
Oiii 23x900", 30 dark frames, 40 flats, 40 dark flats.(5.5hrs)
Equipment:
Camera cooled to -6c, 1x1 bin, unity gain settings (120). Astrotech AT111 Triplet Refractor, Zwo ASI294MCPro camera, Zwo Nb filters, Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount, Orion .80x reducer.
Software and processing:
Captured in APT, DSS, Startools, and finished in Lightroom CC. Starnet++ for star removal in second photo.
Cygnus Wall in the North American Nebula
Cygnus Wall (NGC 7000) in bicolor narrowband as captured from our back yard over four nights (9/15-9/20) 2019. This was a fun target and project which allowed me to play around a bit with Photoshop for final color processing. Red = Hydrogen, Blue = Oxygen, Green = synthesized using the Cannistra Photoshop workflow.
The Cygnus Wall is an emission nebula in the northern constellation Cygnus (the Swan) nearby the star Deneb. Its part of the greater North American Nebula and makes up what we would envision being the western coast of Mexico geographically. It spans a distance of approximately 10-20 light years and is about 1800 light years from Earth. The waves of glowing Hydrogen gas are actually getting blown away from high energy / heat stars by their interstellar winds. The area is rich in star formation. Color and mono versions shown below.
Specs:
56x600s Ha (9hrs,20min) 40xflats, 40xdarks, 30xdark flats
20x900s Oiii (5hrs) 40xflats, 40xdarks, 30xdark flats
14hrs total integration time.
Equipment:
AT111 refractor with Orion .80 reducer for 623mm/ F5.6. Zwo ASI294MCPro Camera, Zwo EFW Ha and Oiii filters. Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount.
Software and processing:
Captured with APT, PHD2 guiding, DSS stacking, Startools Processing, Starnet++ star removal, Coloring and final processing in Photoshop.
Cygnus Wall (NGC 7000) in bicolor narrowband as captured from our back yard over four nights (9/15-9/20) 2019. This was a fun target and project which allowed me to play around a bit with Photoshop for final color processing. Red = Hydrogen, Blue = Oxygen, Green = synthesized using the Cannistra Photoshop workflow.
The Cygnus Wall is an emission nebula in the northern constellation Cygnus (the Swan) nearby the star Deneb. Its part of the greater North American Nebula and makes up what we would envision being the western coast of Mexico geographically. It spans a distance of approximately 10-20 light years and is about 1800 light years from Earth. The waves of glowing Hydrogen gas are actually getting blown away from high energy / heat stars by their interstellar winds. The area is rich in star formation. Color and mono versions shown below.
Specs:
56x600s Ha (9hrs,20min) 40xflats, 40xdarks, 30xdark flats
20x900s Oiii (5hrs) 40xflats, 40xdarks, 30xdark flats
14hrs total integration time.
Equipment:
AT111 refractor with Orion .80 reducer for 623mm/ F5.6. Zwo ASI294MCPro Camera, Zwo EFW Ha and Oiii filters. Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount.
Software and processing:
Captured with APT, PHD2 guiding, DSS stacking, Startools Processing, Starnet++ star removal, Coloring and final processing in Photoshop.
Elephant Trunk Nebula in Ha / Greyscale
First shot from our new backyard in Richmond, VA. I only ended up with 14x300 Ha shots before the battery pack running the camera cooler died. Still a fun short night out!
Specs:
14x300Ha (1hr 10min) 40xflats, 40xdarks, 30xdark flats
Equipment:
AT111 refractor, Zwo ASI294MCPro Camera, Zwo EFW Ha filter. Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount.
Software and processing:
Captured with APT, PHD2 guiding, DSS stacking, Startools Processing.
First shot from our new backyard in Richmond, VA. I only ended up with 14x300 Ha shots before the battery pack running the camera cooler died. Still a fun short night out!
Specs:
14x300Ha (1hr 10min) 40xflats, 40xdarks, 30xdark flats
Equipment:
AT111 refractor, Zwo ASI294MCPro Camera, Zwo EFW Ha filter. Skywatcher EQ6-R Mount.
Software and processing:
Captured with APT, PHD2 guiding, DSS stacking, Startools Processing.