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.

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)

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

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

M27 Again---First Light with the ED80

OK, I know I've got to move on to another subject, but I bought a new (used) Orion ED80 and wanted to put the AT66ED on top as a guider and try out this combination. The AT66 worked beautifully, of course. I wish it were not so heavy. The ED80 has very fine optics. When combined with the WO 0.8 II focal reducer, stars were flat over the middle 70% of the Canon XTi frame. The distortions around the 15% edges were quite minor. It would be possible to use the entire frame for some objects, I think. Anyway, this is not a great shot. I was tired about 11:30 when I began the 2 hour set (60x2') and accidentally changed a camera setting so that the entire imaging session was saved in jpeg instead of RAW. That removed some of what I would have been able to develop later. Also, the sky was covered with haze. I was almost shooting through a cloud, something I wish I could actually do. I would have taken the setup apart and gone to sleep had I not wanted to see first light with the new scope. So I have this nice color in a shallow image, and a deep image from last month in monochrome. Perhaps it's time to add color to the Atik 16 images.