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Archives for January 2022

M77 – Spiral Galaxy in Cetus

January 29, 2022 by
M77 – Spiral Galaxy in Cetus

Telescope: Astro-Tech 8” f/8 Ritchey-Chretien, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Canon EOS Ra, Baader Mk III MPCC

Filter: Orion Imaging Skyglow Filter

Guide scope: Astro-Tech 60mm, Starlight Xpress Super Star, PHD2

Exposure: 17x120sec, ISO 800, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction On)

Flats: 32×1/2sec, Tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, Bortle 8, fair transparency, moonlight

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.4

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard EOS, Deep Sky Stacker, Nebulosity, Photoshop

M77 is the closest and brightest example of a Seyfert Galaxy. These galaxies are characterized by a bright stellar core and very strong radio emissions. It is now known that these arise from a super massive black hole at the galaxy’s core. At the core of M77 lies a black hole with an estimated mass of 11 million suns. As a radio source M77 is known as Cetus A. M77 lies about 1 degree east of the 4th magnitude star delta Cetus making it fairly easy to locate. Through a telescope the bright core of M77 is easy to spot, but the spiral arms are quite faint.

M77 is currently located in the southern sky during the early evening.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

(1) Ceres – Asteroid in Taurus – 11/22/2021, 10:00pm EST

January 27, 2022 by
(1) Ceres – Asteroid in Taurus – 11/22/2021, 10:00pm EST

Telescope: Astro-Tech 8” f/8 Ritchey-Chretien, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Canon EOS Ra, Baader Mk III MPCC

Filter: Orion Imaging Skyglow Filter

Guide scope: Astro-Tech 60mm, Starlight Xpress Super Star, PHD2

Exposure: 30x60sec, ISO 800, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction On)

Flats: 32×1/2sec, Tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, Bortle 8, fair transparency, bright moonlight

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.0

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard EOS, Deep Sky Stacker, Nebulosity, Photoshop

The short streak in the center of this field shows the apparent motion of (1) Ceres over the period of about 30 minutes on the evening of November 22, 2021, at 10:00pm local time. Ceres was the first asteroid discovered as part of a methodical search for a ‘missing’ planet between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter that began in 1800. Giuseppe Piazzi, from Palermo, Sicily, discovered Ceres on January 1, 1801, and it just happens to be the largest and most massive asteroid in the solar system. Ceres is 590 mile in diameter and was 164 million miles away shining at magnitude 7.1 in Taurus crossing the Hyades star cluster when this image was taken.

Ceres is still in Taurus, but has since moved off to the west and now lies south of the Pleiades star cluster. Although it is currently 203 million miles away it is still relatively bright at magnitude 8.2 and is an easy target for binoculars or small telescope.

Filed Under: Solar System Imaging

NGC 404 – Mirach’s Ghost – Elliptical Galaxy in Andromeda

January 23, 2022 by
NGC 404 – Mirach’s Ghost – Elliptical Galaxy in Andromeda

Telescope: Astro-Tech 8” f/8 Ritchey-Chretien, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Canon EOS Ra, Baader Mk III MPCC

Filter: Orion Imaging Skyglow Filter

Guide scope: Astro-Tech 60mm, Starlight Xpress Super Star, PHD2

Exposure: 12x120sec, ISO 800, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction On)

Flats: 32×1/2sec, Tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, Bortle 8, fair transparency

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.4

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard EOS, Deep Sky Stacker, Nebulosity, Photoshop

NGC 404 is a faint (Mv 10.3) elliptical galaxy located just 7 arc-seconds northwest of Mirach (beta Andromeda, Mv 2.1). Mirach is a red giant lying about 200 light years away, while NGC 404 is 10 million light years distant, just outside the Local Group of which our galaxy is a member. It is a relatively small galaxy with an estimated diameter of only 9,600 light years.

This is one of my favorite easy to find targets. I first came across Mirach’s Ghost when using Mirach as an alignment and focusing target. Visually it can be a bit of a challenge to spot at first, but once you glimpse it then it becomes fairly obvious.

NGC 404 is currently well-placed high overhead in the early evening.

Filed Under: Deepsky Imaging

M110 – Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy in Andromeda

January 22, 2022 by
M110 – Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy in Andromeda

Telescope: Astro-Tech 8” f/8 Ritchey-Chretien, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Canon EOS Ra, Baader Mk III MPCC

Filter: Orion Imaging Skyglow Filter

Guide scope: Astro-Tech 60mm, Starlight Xpress Super Star, PHD2

Exposure: 22x120sec, ISO 800, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction On)

Flats: 32×1/2sec, Tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, Bortle 8, fair transparency

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.6

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard EOS, Deep Sky Stacker, Nebulosity, Photoshop

M110 is the larger and fainter of two prominent satellite galaxies of M31, which is in the lower left corner of this field. Most elliptical galaxies tend to be relatively featureless, but M110 shows some hints of structure and dust lanes near its core. Visually M110 is relatively faint and diffuse, lying on the opposite side of M31 from the smaller and brighter M32.

M110 along with M31 and M32 are currently well-placed high overhead in the early evening.

Filed Under: Deepsky Imaging

M81 & 82 – Spiral Galaxies in Ursa Major

January 17, 2022 by
M81 & 82 – Spiral Galaxies in Ursa Major

Telescope: Astro-Tech 8” f/8 Ritchey-Chretien, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Canon EOS Ra, Baader Mk III MPCC

Filter: Orion Imaging Skyglow Filter

Guide scope: Astro-Tech 60mm, Starlight Xpress Super Star, PHD2

Exposure: 33x180sec, ISO 800, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction On)

Flats: 32×1/20sec, Tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, Bortle 8, fair transparency, bright moonlight

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 17.5

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard EOS, Deep Sky Stacker, Nebulosity, Photoshop

This is M81 (bottom) and M82 (top), two bright spiral galaxies lying about 12 million light years away in Ursa Major. At present, these two galaxies are about 150,000 light years apart, though a few hundred million years ago the two passed very close to each other. The dark dust lane slashing across M82 is one result of this close encounter with M81 as are the blue star formation regions in M81. Visually, M81 and 82 are fairly easy to see with a modest telescope even from my light polluted backyard. M81 shows its beautiful soft core similar to M31 while M82 shows its elongated shape interrupted by the dust lanes giving it a very irregular shape.

M81 and M82 is currently rising in the northeast as the sky darkens.

Filed Under: Deepsky Imaging

NGC 654, 659, and 663 – Open Clusters in Cassiopeia

January 13, 2022 by
NGC 654, 659, and 663 – Open Clusters in Cassiopeia

Telescope: ES DHL Comet Hunter MN6 at f/4.8, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Baader modified Nikon D610

Filter: Orion Imaging Skyglow Filter

Guide scope: Williams Optics 50mm, ASI290MM mini, PHD

Exposure: 16x60sec, ISO 400, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction On)

Flats: 32×1/250sec, tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, poor transparency

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.4 mag/arc-sec^2

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard Nikon, Nebulosity, Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop

This is a quick patrol images taken as part of a series exploring open clusters in Cassiopeia. In the center of this field is the rich open cluster NGC 663. Above and to the right is the smaller NGC 654, and to the lower right is the tiny NGC 659. The 6th and 7th magnitude stars to the lower right of NGC 659 make a good marker for the southern edge of this field.

NGC 654, 659, and 663 are currently high in the northeast as the sky darkens.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Alnitak Nebula Complex in Orion

January 12, 2022 by
Alnitak Nebula Complex in Orion

Telescope: ES DHL Comet Hunter MN6 at f/4.8, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Baader modified Nikon D610

Filter: 2” Radian Triad Ultra Hb, OIII, Ha, SII filter

Guide scope: Williams Optics 50mm, ASI290MM mini, PHD

Exposure: 12x300sec, ISO 400, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction On)

Flats: 32×1/5sec, tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, fair transparency

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.6 mag/arc-sec^2

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard Nikon, Nebulosity, Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop

This is a very busy region of the sky near Alnitak, the eastern star in the belt of Orion. Alnitak is the brilliant star at the top of this field. NGC 2024 (the Flame Nebula) is to the left and the beautiful red emission nebula IC 434 drapes down the center of the field with the iconic Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) pushing up through it. To the left are the reflection nebula NGC 2023 and the tiny IC 435. To the lower right is Sigma Orionis, a wonderful complex of stars that is a fine target for binoculars and small telescopes. In larger scopes it resolves into a wonderful group of double and triple stars.

Alnitak rises in the east as the sky darkens.

Filed Under: Deepsky Imaging

NGC 1499 – The California Nebula in Perseus

January 9, 2022 by
NGC 1499 – The California Nebula in Perseus

Telescope: ES DHL Comet Hunter MN6 at f/4.8, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Baader modified Nikon D610

Filter: 2” Radian Triad Ultra Hb, OIII, Ha, SII filter

Guide scope: Williams Optics 50mm, ASI290MM mini, PHD

Exposure: 22x300sec, ISO 400, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction On)

Flats: 32×1/5sec, tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, fair transparency

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.6 mag/arc-sec^2

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard Nikon, Nebulosity, Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop

NGC 1499 is a part of a vast expanse of interstellar hydrogen set aglow by the nearby Xi Perseus (Menkib) in the lower right of this field. This section of the nebula lies about 1,000 light years away and is about 100 light years in length.

NGC 1499 is currently high in the northeast as the sky darkens. (Photo credit; John Graham, 11/6/2021)

Filed Under: Deepsky Imaging

NGC 7293 – The Helix Nebula is Aquarius

January 8, 2022 by
NGC 7293 – The Helix Nebula is Aquarius

Telescope: ES DHL Comet Hunter MN6 at f/4.8, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Baader modified Nikon D610

Filter: 2” Radian Triad Ultra Hb, OIII, Ha, SII filter

Guide scope: Williams Optics 50mm, ASI290MM mini, PHD

Exposure: 23x180sec, ISO 400, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction On)

Flats: 32×1/5sec, tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, poor transparency

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.3 mag/arc-sec^2

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard Nikon, Nebulosity, Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop

The Helix is one of the closest planetary nebula with a distance of only 650 light years. It spans a diameter of about 2.5 light years and is relatively young with an age estimated to be about 10,600 years. NGC 7293 is one of those wonderful objects that hides in plain sight. It is so large (about half the size of the full moon) that its light is spread out over a large area, making it very difficult to see and all but invisible from my red-zone backyard.

NGC 7293 is currently in the southwest as the sky darkens.

Filed Under: Deepsky Imaging

The James Webb Space Telescope – 1/3/2022 22h30m EST

January 4, 2022 by
The James Web Space Telescope – 1/3/2022 22h30m EST

Telescope: GSO 8” f/12 Classical Cassegrain @ f/12, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Canon EOS Ra, Baader Mk III MPCC

Filter: 2” GSO IR Blocking Filter

Guide scope: Astro-Tech 60mm, Starlight Xpress Super Star, PHD2

Exposure: 17x180sec, ISO 800, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction On)

Flats: 32×1/20sec, Tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, Bortle 8, fair transparency

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.4 mag/arc-sec^2

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip (sky); maximum (JWST).

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard EOS, Deep Sky Stacker, Nebulosity, Photoshop

The dashed line crossing to the left of center in this field is the James Webb Space Telescope as it was approximately 538,000 miles out crossing Monoceros on its way to a halo orbit around the Earth’s L2 Lagrange point. I located the field using an ephemeris generated by the JPL Horizons Web App. Shining at about 15th magnitude I initially thought that I had missed the telescope as I was getting different positions from different sources. Just like my annual pilgrimage to Pluto, the telescope wasn’t the star that I thought it was in the source images. When I was about to give up, thinking that it wasn’t in the field, I blinked the first and last pictures in the sequence. After several minutes of searching I finally spotted the telescope moving on the left side of the source field. I then re-processed the source images using a normal mean with a sigma clip to stack the background sky, and a maximum combine to stack the images of the telescope. There were combined into a single image in Photoshop and cropped to center the telescope as best I could. The track shows as a series of short dashes, each dash showing the apparent motion of the telescope during the 3-minute exposure. The gaps in the track are from the 3-minute darks taken between each frame and the time needed to transfer the image to my computer. The motion itself is mostly parallax from the rotation of the Earth and not the telescope itself.

When the telescope arrives on-station it is expected to fade to about magnitude 17 where it should be within easy reach of cameras and small telescopes. The telescope will also be located near the Earth’s shadow, so it should remain well placed in the evening sky throughout most of the night. Neat stuff!

Filed Under: Solar System Imaging