IC1318 Bi-Color (Summer 2015)

The Ha [+NII] signal is overwelming in this area of the sky, but there is also prominent SII and some (less) OIII, so I mapped SII (and some OIII) to blue, Ha to red, and created a synthetic green channel to achieve this bi-color image.  The effect is to show Ha in red contrasted with the weaker SII signal.

Telescope: Astro-Tech AT111EDT and William Optics AFR-IV (eff. f/5.6)
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9 (Ha [+NII]: 20x1200"; OIII: 16x1200"; SII: 21x1200"); Alnitak Flat-man flats
Filter(s): Astronomik 6nm NB
Guiding: SX Lodestar and SX OAG
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, PHD, SkySafari, Maxim DL, Registar, Photoshop CS3
Location: The Woodlands, TX

IC 5070, or the Eye of the Pelican (8-2015)

This is the northernmost part (north is to the right) of the Pelican Nebula.  I can spot six Herbig-Haro objects.  Compare my image with this one from NOAO.  How many can you find?

This is also first light with PHD2.  I like the new guiding program.  It measures guide star seeing in arcseconds, and it is easier to control.  It also remembers my setup.  Kudos.

Telescope: Astro-Tech AT111EDT and William Optics AFR-IV (eff. f/5.6)
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9 (Ha 17x1500"; 21x1200"); Alnitak Flat-man flats
Filter(s): Astronomik 6nm Ha
Guiding: SX Lodestar and SX OAG
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, PHD2, SkySafari, Photoshop CS3
Location: The Woodlands, TX

B343 Fine, Summer 2015

B343 is an interesting patch of dust set against a background of glowing hydrogen in the constellation Cygnus.  Below the dark nebula and to the right lie ionization fronts formed in the hydrogen gas.  I think it's a pretty interesting area.

To the H-alpha set, which is used here as Luminance, I have added a night's worth of color with the SXVF-H9C.  The image looked better to me at 85% of original size, so no full resolution is posted.

Telescope: Astro-Tech AT111EDT and William Optics AFR-IV (eff. f/5.6)

Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9 (Ha 11x1500", 11x1200") and SXVF-H9C (55x420"); Alnitak Flat-man flats

Filter(s): Astronomik 6nm Ha & CLS

Guiding: SX Lodestar and SX OAG

Mount: Takahashi NJP

Software: Nebulosity, PHD, Maxim DL, Registar, Photoshop CS3

Location: The Woodlands, TX

B343 (Final Ha) August 2015

Full resolution image here.

I found a night in July for more time on B343.  Here is a complete H-alpha, full resolution image.

Telescope: Astro-Tech AT111EDT and William Optics AFR-IV (eff. f/5.6)
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9 (Ha 11x1500"; 11x1200"); Alnitak Flat-man flats
Filter(s): Astronomik 6nm Ha
Guiding: SX Lodestar and SX OAG
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, PHD, Maxim DL, Photoshop CS3
Location: The Woodlands, TX