IC1396 - The Elephant Trunk in Ha

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IC1396 aka The Elephant Trunk Nebula.

Takahashi 102NSV f/8

ST2000xm

Astronomik 6nm Ha

5x900"

20120921

M51 - Remote controlled first light

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First light with full system ready.
I have finally managed to complete my project of setting up a remote controlled system, consisting of pier, mount, scope and camera. Control is possible via an internet based system, in which I can operate the system (laptop-mount-scope) with another laptop linked to the system.
No more freezing outside ;-)

FS-102NSV + ST2kXM + AO8
March 31st, April 1st @ 22h00m/1h14m
Cropped image.

M33 - Oct. 17th

The Triangulum Galaxy (M33) is located on the Triangulum Constellation and lies between 2.4 to 3.0 million light years from Earth. M33 shines at mag. 5.7 and was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764. It is believed to have been first spotted in 1654 by Hodierna.
Under dark skies it can be seen with the naked eye.

Oct. 17th
10x 600" at -20ºC
FS102NSV + ST2000XM + C Astronomik IIc
Flats only.
Maxim + CS4
reduced to 800x600

higher resolution

M16 in Bicolor NB

Pillars of Creation in Bicolor Narrowband Imaging.

7x 900" Astronomik 6nm Ha
5x 900" Astronomik OIII
FS102NSV @f/6 + ST2000xm

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IC5070

IC5070, the Pelican Nebula, Jun 22nd, 2010
10x 900"
Astronomik 6nm Ha
Imaging: FS102NSV f/6 + ST2000XM
Guiding: SW 70mm + PHD + DMK21AF

Full resolution

M27 in Ha - Jun, 15th, 2010

M27 in Astronomik's Ha 6 nm.
FS102NSV + ST2000XM + Orion OAG + DMK21AF
8x 600"

M109 - Apr 11, 2010

Still working out the AO8 unit.

13x 600" @-20ºC
darks, bias, flats (borrowed)

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M97 and M51

Another try with AO8 unit under a still somewhat hazy skies, though not as wet as the night before.
Main goal was to check how the AO8 would handle and not so much about the picture itself.
It seems I still have to work on the setup since the stars are not perfectly round. Reasons for this could be decollimated optics, misalignment of imaging train on the visual back...

This time I aimed at M97 and M51.
Setup:
C11 + 0.63x FR + AO8 + ST2kXM/CFW10
Losmandy G-11

M51
1x 1200" @-20ºC
Darks, Flats and Bias

MaxIm & CS4

full resolution

M97
6x 600" @-20ºC
Darks, Flats and Bias
MaxIm & CS4

full resolution

M81

Reprocessed M81!
FS102NSV @f76.8
ST2000XM
CLS Astronomik IIc
12x 600"
Darks (and flats from another photo)
MaxIm & CS4

full resolution

Not yet the way I'd like it to be!

M101

Another shot at Pego do Altar's Messier Marathon, on March 13, 2010.
FS102NSV f/6.8
ST2000XM selfguided
CLS Astronomik IIc filter
6x 600" @-20ºC
darks (flats from another picture... :-p)
MaxIm DL & CS4

full resolution

Pego do Altar Messier Marathon, March 13, 2010

Long awaited Messier Marathon, scheduled some 4 months ago and threatened by one of the most rainiest winters I can recall in a very ling time.
Nice time along with some fellows AAs and big time to get away from downtown city lights sky.
This proved to be a much appreciated place and I'm sure we'll get back there in the future.
I had, however, some energy shortage... my vehicle battery ran dead just after some 1h30'. Unbelievable; I didn't even hear the inverter's beep, letting me know it was time to start the motor on, for some minutes... Well, I had to jump start it with the help of someone's car...
I took advantage of Pedro Ré's expertise and knowledge to setup my Maxim's routines. Guiding was very good and I was able to integrate M101 for some 60' and also M81 for another 120'.
Didn't take flats nor darks.
This is just a first processing routine:
image: FS102NSV, f/6.8, selfguided
mount: Losmandy G-11 Gemini
ccd: ST2000xm, CLS Astromomik IIc filter
MaxIm DL and CS4

full resolution

OAG & Robofocus 1st Light

We finally got a break from the long lasting cloudy nights over here, which made it possible to give it a go and try the new equipment.
Boy, does it look promising!

FS102NSV + G-11 + OAG + DMK21AF + ST2kXM (H-alpha filter)
Dec, 14th/15th, 2009 (23h28/00h57 UTC)
Guiding with PHD on a different laptop (still waiting for the Firewire Express Card for my new laptop...)
1x 1800" @-30ºC
2x 90"" @-30ºC

No other processing other than:
- Align, Stack & kernel filter in MaxIm DL
- Levels, Curves & High Pass Filter in CS4
No Darks, no Flats.

Full resolution

M31 - Andromeda Galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest spiral galaxy to our own Milky Way and is some 2.5 million ly away. Andromeda is believed to be moving towards us to finally merge with the Milky Way in around 3 billion years from now, leading to a new galaxy: The Milkydromeda :D
Image setup:
FS102NSV @f/6.2 + IDAS 2"
SBIG ST2000XM self-guided
MaxIm DL & CS4
4x 900"
9x 300"
Leiria, Oct. 14th 2009

full resolution

NGC253 - Sculptor Galaxy

The Sculptor Galaxy (NGC253) lies about 10 million ly away from Earth, in the Constellation Sculptor, discovered in 1783 by Caroline Herschel.

Imaging setup:
FS102NSV @ f/6.2
SBIG ST2000XM - self-guided
IDAS 2"
18x 300"
darks
flats
bias
MaxIm DL & CS4

Leiria, Oct. 13, 2009 @22h29m/00h07m Oct. 14 UT

full resolution

full resolution

Now in H-alpha

A few days (should I say nights) later, I targeted the Bride's Veil again, only this time in H-apha (6nm).
Image: FS102NSV @f/6.3 + ST2000XM + Astronomik Ha 6nm
Guide: SW 70mm + DMK21AF + PHD
Aug 31, 2009

full resolution

NGC6960 - The Veil Nebula

The beautiful NGC6960 sight I had last weekend through my C11 amazed me to the the point of nailing the Veil.
So I did, just after the Eagle Nebula went out of sight on the night of the Aug. 26th.
FS102NSV @f/6 and ST2000XM autoguided on a Losmandy G-11.
24x 300" @-20ºC/-4ºF
Dark and Flat frames registered and calibrated in MaxIm DL, processed in CS4 (Astronomy Action Tools (r)).
Aug. 26th, 0h16/2h39 UT
Leiria, Portugal

full resolution

M16, 25 Ago 09

The Eagle Nebula and the Pillars of Creation.
This is my first M16 image.
The picture was taken with my Takahashi FS102NSV and SBIG ST2000XM, autoguided on a Losmandy G-11. Stack of 7 x 300" frames shot at -20ºC/-4F. Calibrated in MaxIm DL and CS4.
Used Flat and Dark frames from other shots.
Couldn't shoot more frames due to a haze that rolled in and there were no more guiding stars...
Luckily I'll be able to add more frames some time soon.

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