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

Camera: QHY 367c Pro, -20C, Baader Mk III MPCC, GSO IR Blocking Filter

Guide scope: Astro-Tech 60mm, ZWO ASI120MM mini, PHD2

Exposure: 36x300sec, gain 2800, offset 50, saved as FITS, dithered every 2 images

Darks: 32, -20C, gain 2800, offset 50, saved as FITS

Flats: 64×0.3sec, Tee shirt flats taken at dusk

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

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.6

Stacking: Average, 1 sigma clip

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: SharpCap Pro, Deep Sky Stacker, Nebulosity, Photoshop

NGC 2775 is a small, tightly wound spiral galaxy with a bright central core surrounded by a gossamer outer veil. A complex spiral pattern emerges in the outer veil in high resolution images, but here it appears only as a soft golden glow with just a hint of spiral structure. Visually, the core appears as a soft, out of focus star similar to a small planetary nebula.

NGC 2775 is currently well placed in the eastern sky during the early evening. (Photo credit: John Graham, 2-12-2023)

Telescope: Meade SN10 at f/4, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: QHY 268c, Mode 0, Gain 30, Offset 30, -10C

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

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

Exposure: 41x300sec, saved as RAW16/FITS

Darks: 32×300 sec

Flats: 64×2 sec, 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: SharpCap Pro, Nebulosity, Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop

This is M1, the Crab Nebula in Taurus (the Bull). M1 is a supernova remnant; the remains of a star that ended its life in one of the most violent events in nature. This particular supernova erupted in 1054 and the star became so bright that it was visible in broad daylight for 23 days. The resulting nebula is expanding so fast that the motion can be detected in images taken a few years apart. At the heart of the nebula is a pulsar; a neutron star spinning at over 30 revolutions per second!

M1 currently rises in the northeast around 7:30 and is high overhead during the early morning.

Telescope: Meade SN10 at f/4, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: QHY 268c, Mode 0, Gain 30, Offset 30, -10C

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

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

Exposure: 32x300sec, saved as RAW16/FITS

Darks: 40×300 sec

Flats: 64×2 sec, tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, fair transparency, moonlight

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

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: SharpCap Pro, Nebulosity, Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop

This is the iconic Horsehead Nebula in Orion. The Horsehead itself is the dark nebula, Barnard 33, silhouetted against the red emission nebula, IC 434. To the left is the blue reflection nebula NGC 2023. To the lower right is the beautiful Sigma Orionis multiple star system. It is interesting to note how the right side of this image shows an abundance of faint background stars while the left does not. This is due to an expanse of interstellar dust forming a veil blocking the light from the distant stars on the left side of this field. This is another excellent example of how well the Radian Triad Ultra cuts through challenging sky conditions. I have never seen the horsehead nebula visually from my backyard even with my 16.5” and I have only glimpsed it from our dark sky site.

IC 434 is located just south of the bright star Alnitak, the easternmost star in Orion’s belt, and rises due east around 11pm and is high in the south during the early morning.