Full Narrowband NGC281 Image (12-21-09)

In this image, SII has been added in place of the green of the earlier image. The need for SII is proved by this excellent Cloudy Nights thread: http://tinyurl.com/yeqauur

The final 18x8' set of exposures (2.4 hours) in SII was obtained on the night of 12-18-09 using the TMB80CF and an Astronomik 12nm SII filter. Ha was obtained in October (38x5')and OIII in November (41x5'). Total exposure time is one minute short of 9 hours. Software used to capture and process includes PHD and Nebulosity 2, Registar, Photoshop Elements 7, Maxim DL5, and Photoshop CS3. Thanks to Don Taylor for suggesting effective ways to rid it of pink halos. In the end, I selected the color in CS3, changed it a bit, and de-saturated some.

And Another

My favorite version of this object is Adam Block's, here.

Smaller NGC 1491 Narrowband

Here are the same iterations only smaller. The problems from shooting over the chimney clean up nicely when the versions are shrunk slightly.

NGC 1491 Narrowband

Here are two iterations of NGC 1491 in narrowband. The first is in Hubble Palette. The second is the other palette I prefer---Ha+L, Ha=C, OIII=M, and SII=Y. I like seeing the Ha as blue, and the yellow stars stand out well against it.

I learned something last night as I collected SII: Never shoot over a chimney. Silly, right? I was befuddled that the guide star was jumping this way and that. I checked my mount over with a flashlight three times. I was getting fuzzy images in the main camera. I realized this morning that I had the fire running inside so that I could warm my feet after checking the camera. The camera took a long time to check because so many things were going wrong because the fire was running! I couldn't figure out what was wrong (ok, it was almost 2 am). Now I realize I was ruining my images by keeping a warm fire waiting. Oh, well. The damaged SII information shows up in the image as a slight smearing of some of the stars in the direction the air currents were coming out of the chimney.

The Narrowband Bubble, New Iterations

These images have become my favorites from this set. It is the same data as the others, but the colors are more pleasing, I think. I used Maxim DL 5, which I am trying out, for each. The first is an Ha;SII;Ha;OIII as LRGB. Further processing was then done in PSCS3. In the second, I combined Ha as Cyan, SII as Magenta, and OIII as Yellow. The image was then stretched and minimally processed in CS3.

IC 410 & NGC 1893 in Ha (11-25-09)

This is the most dramatic part of a nebulous area (IC 410) in central Auriga. Here as in the Pacman Nebula, the brilliant stars in the central cluster (NGC 1893) excite the surrounding hydrogen gas. The stellar winds from these bright stars are also pushing away the gas from around other stars, including those stars in the two tadpoles just down and to the left of the cluster.

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 45x5' in Ha
Filter(s): Astronomik Ha (+NII)
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: 60mm f/4 hybrid
Date: November 25, 2009
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2 & Photoshop Elements 7 (with a Carboni action for the red)

M33 in Ha (11-25-09)

This is how the young galaxy looks in Ha. I wondered whether in Ha I could resolve individual stars with my ED80. I'm still not sure whether the stars I see are here or there (and the seeing was not so great last night before midnight), but it's kind of fun to see the ionized hydrogen lit up so far away. I'm guessing the general glow of red that is brightest at the core is M33's stars, for the most part.

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 38x5' in Ha
Filter(s): Astronomik Ha (+NII)
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: 60mm f/4 hybrid
Date: November 25, 2009
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2 & Photoshop Elements 7 (with a Carboni action for the red)

Bubble Nebula in Narrowband (Posted 11-22-09)

I like this version the best, I think. This image was processed last. I am experimenting with Maxim DL and did an LRGB combines using the same data as the others below. Better?This is the finished narrowband Bubble Nebula, NGC 7635. The brightest star in the bubble has cleared the space around it with its strong stellar wind. The colors are mapped variously. The first image above has Ha as Green, OIII as Blue, and SII as Red.

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 45x5' in Ha; 37x5' in OIII; 47x5' in SII (10 hours, 45 minutes total)
Filter(s): Astronomik Ha (+NII), OIII, and SII
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: 60mm f/4 hybrid
Date: October & November 2009
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2, Registar, & Photoshop Elements 7

NGC281 in Ha, OIII, and Green (Posted 11-21-09)

This is a false color version of the Pacman Nebula, NGC 281. In this version, Ha is green, OIII is blue, and Green is red. I know that is odd, because OIII lies within the Green band, and that is why there is very little yellow in the image, unlike some narrowband versions posted around the web (which also record sulphur emission as red). I don't mind the effect at all, though.

The Pacman Nebula is about 10,000 light years away and over 80 lights years wide. It lies in the constellation Cassiopeia. The cluster of stars at its center excites the cloud of gas so that the gas glows. The energy and particles streaming from the stars in the cluster are slowly pushing the gas away. Where denser gas exists, the wind stream sculpts out the gas surrounding it to leave pillars and peaks (along the bottom edge of the nebula) that will itself eventually wear away. Unexcited gas that remains densely clumped looks black.

My favorite image of this nebula is at http://www.astrofotografia.com.pl/photogallery/ngc281_rc/ngc281.htm That one really is an awesome image, taken with a much bigger scope and a camera that can fit the whole nebula in even at a much longer focal length. I also like this one from Ken Crawford.

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 38x5' in Ha; 21x5' in Green; 41x5' in OIII (8 hours, 20 minutes total)
Filter(s): Astronomik Ha (+NII); Meade Green; Astronomik OIII
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: 60mm f/4 hybrid
Date: October & November 2009
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2, Registar, & Photoshop Elements 7

NGC 281 in OIII (11-18-09)

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 41x5'
Filter: Astronomik OIII
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: 60mm f/4 hybrid
Date: Night of 11-4-09
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2 & Photoshop Elements 7 (and a Carboni action for the false green)

NGC 1491 in Ha (11-17-09) & OIII (11-18-09)

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 33x5'
Filter: Astronomik Ha & NII
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: 60mm f/4 hybrid
Date: Night of 11-17-09
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2 & Photoshop Elements 7 (& Carboni action for the Ha as red version)


Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 27x5'
Filter: Astronomik OIII
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: 60mm f/4 hybrid
Date: Night of 11-18-09
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2 & Photoshop Elements 7 (& Carboni action for the OIII as green version)

The Bubble in Ha (11-4-09)

This is a second shoot of the Ha data for the Bubble. The first attempt, three days ago, was slightly out of focus. It's pretty disappointing to realize that you've set up and collected four hours of out-of-focus data! Anyway, this is much better. The problem was that I purchased a filter wheel and placed it between the camera and the focal reducer along with some spacers. I took the manufacturer's word about how much spaced the wheel would add, and did not measure. With added threads and lock rings, I was actually about 10mm over! I'm surprised the earlier image came close enough to focus to fool me. Now this image is better. I am back to about 40mm between reducer and camera, just about right. The moon was over 90% full, and waning. (Thanks to Don Taylor for helpful comments on this image.)

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 45x5'
Filter: Astronomik Ha & NII
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: 60mm f/4 hybrid
Date: Night of 11-4-09
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2 & Photoshop Elements 7 (and a Carboni action for the false red)

The Final Pacman, NGC 281

Here is the final for the moment, but I need to look at it for a few days.

The difference between the two is different processing in Registar. Before I combined the three sets in RGB then split them into channels only to re-combine them in Neb2 as LRGB=(Ha)HaGB. For this image, I turned auto-scaling in Registar off, then registered G and B to Ha, calibrated G and B to Ha, then saved the calibrated images. Then I went back to Neb2, aligned the Ha and calibrated G and B, saving each as separate files. Then I combined in LRGB synthesis using Ha as Lum and R, as before, then stretched and adjusted color and background until the stars began to look right. Finally, I opened in Photoshop Elements 7 for cropping, a little unsharp masking, and the application of Noel Carboni's action "Increase Star Color." I am happy with this image. It matches my data quite well.

Other details about the image can be found here.

Here is a false color version. In this rendition, Ha is blue, blue is red, and green is blue. I like it because the blue-white stars show gold against the background of the nebula. It's a nicer aesthetic effect.

M76 (10-24-09)

First image of this object.

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 50x5'
Filter: Celestron LPR
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: Hybrid 60mm f/5
Date: Night of 10-24-09
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2 & Photoshop Elements 7

NGC 891 (10-24-09)

First image of this item, taken while I slept.

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 45x5'
Filter: Celestron LPR
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: Hybrid 60mm f/5
Date: Night of 10-24-09
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2 & Photoshop Elements 7

M33 (10-23-09)

First image of M33 for me. M33 is one of the nearest galaxies to us. Much smaller than the Milky Way, M33 appears to be gravitationally bound to the Andromeda Galaxy and perhaps to us.

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 51x5'
Filter: Celestron LPR
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: Hybrid 60mm f/5
Date: Night of 10-23-09
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2 & Photoshop Elements 7

NGC7635, the Bubble Nebula, Luminance

Well, this is much better than my last image of this nebula. The addition of guiding and a refractor with less light scatter help, and also the use of a filter to exclude some light pollution. I plan to save this image as luminance for color later.

Part of what I like of this image is the detail that can be seen inside the bubble. I didn't expect it.

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 36x5'
Filter: Celestron LPR
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: Hybrid 60mm f/5
Date: Night of 10-23-09
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2 & Photoshop Elements 7

NGC 281, the "Pacman Nebula" in Color, Prelim (10-17-09)

OK, this is my first color image with a monochrome camera, the first ever taken with my camera through my scope. It was taken in my own backyard. It is NGC281, a colorful nebula in Cassiopeia. The cluster of blue stars at the center of it lights up the gas surrounding it. Mostly, the glow you see comes from ionized hydrogen (and perhaps nitrogen). That's the red color. But to some extent the nebula reflects blue starlight, so the nebula shows not as red but purplish. Here is the red frame, taken through the H-alpha filter:



Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 38&21&31x5' (Ha as L, Ha as R, G, B) (7.5 hours total exposure)
Filter: Astronomik 13nm Ha & NII, Meade G & B
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: Hybrid 60mm f/5
Date: Night of 10-14-09
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2, Registar, & Photoshop Elements 7

Alcyone Nebula, in the Pleiades (M45) (10-17-09)

If folks can't fit the whole of the Pleiades in their view, generally they shoot Merope, which lights up filaments of gas around it. A part of the Merope Nebula may be seen at bottom left. This, on the other hand, is the Alcyone Nebula, which lights up just northeast of Merope.

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 23x5'
Filter: Meade Blue CCD Filter
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: Hybrid 60mm f/5
Date: Night of 10-14-09
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2 & Photoshop Elements 7 with Carboni actions

NGC 281, the "Pacman Nebula"

Clouds rolled in after two hours of data. This is one I hope to come back to with color filters later.

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 25x5', or 125'
Filter: Astronomik 13nm Ha & NII
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: Hybrid 60mm f/5
Date: Night of 10-14-09
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2 & Photoshop Elements 7

NGC 40, the Bow Tie Nebula

A comparatively shallow view of this nebula looks like a bow tie. See?
But the deeper image shows the central star is actually surrounded by a boxy circle of gas (and dust?). The structure of the nebula is also bipolar, with something happening on the north and south. Just what is unclear. A stretch of gas swings out from the north, and from the south a leg is jutting out. Diffuse gas glows all around what appear to be edges of the circle. Compare my view with Don Goldman's here, taken which much larger equipment.

Here's the riddle: Why does this planetary nebula glow so strongly in an image taken with an Ha filter? A planetary is usually formed when a dying star is dying because it has used up the hydrogen reserves necessary to burn like normal a star. It then swells up like a balloon and starts blowing the outermost layers into space. If the hydrogen left is not prominent in these stars, why does this nebula glow so brightly through an Ha filter, which focuses on the spectral line of ionized hydrogen gas?

There are two answers to this question. The first answer to this question is that my Ha filter lets through not just the important wavelength of ionized hydrogen at 656.3 nm. The filter I have lets through a range of wavelengths 13 nm wide. The 13 nm are roughly centered on the H-alpha line, but the range also includes that of ionized nitrogen at 658.4 nm. So actually everything taken through my Ha filter is Ha + NII.

The second answer is that some planetary nebulae actually contain a great deal of hydrogen. One study that split Ha and NII emissions of planetary nebulae in the Magellanic Clouds (two nearby galaxies) shows that some have more Ha and some have more NII. Some images from the study are here. The upshot is that I do not know which NGC 40 shows more of, Ha or NII. Unless and until I get some even narrower narrowband filters (such as advertised here), I will not be able to discover.

Imaging Scope: Orion 80ED & WO 0.8x II (f/6)
Imager: Atik 16
Exposure: 120" x 31
Filter: Astronomik 13nm Ha + NII
Capture Software: Nebulosity 2
Mount: Takahashi EM-10
Guiding Camera: DSI Pro
Guiding Software: PHD
Guiding Scope: No-name 60mm f/5
Date: Night of 9-26-09
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Processed with Nebulosity 2, Photoshop Elements 7 with Carboni Actions.

First Color Process - M57

The data for this image were obtained from Astrophotography by Rainer Zmaritsch & Alex Gross. It comes from one of their interesting IRIS tutorials. Thanks, guys. Processing was done by yours truly entirely in Nebulosity 1 and Photoshop Elements 7. [Reposted after adding more blue and subtracting a bit of green at the suggestion of Don Taylor of the famed http://www.theatomiccafe.com/. Many thanks. We are all guessing on the color a bit, as we have not calibrated color processing with the sensitivity of the Atik 16HR camera with which the data were gathered. I hope I haven't overdone the blue now.] Other comments? Yes, I have a lot to learn, but I think it's wonderful to see color from a ccd, finally, thirty months after buying my first monochrome camera. Now I look forward to obtaining some filters and a filter wheel.

IC 1318 Re-Process

I've been experimenting with color. This is a re-process with Ha as red and the gradient removed. There may be slight north-south (left-right) elongation in the dimmest stars in the image.

IC 405 Re-Process

On this stretch, the white point was moved left after the mid-tones were brightened, and the dark red default of the Carboni macro was lightened. Is this better?

Venus & Regulus (9-20-09)

Early this morning, through the clouds, Venus appeared half a degree from Regulus. Then the clouds took over.

Venus & Luna (9-16-09)

This was the view from the backyard: a cheery conjunction on a cloudless morning!