| Random files - Mr. X's Gallery |
The Pinwheel Galaxy1143 viewsMessier 33, aka the Pinwheel Galaxy or Triangulum galaxy, is found in the constellation Triangulum. At magnitude 5.7 it can be seen with the naked eye under dark skies. Its low surface brightness, however, often makes it a challenge even with large amateur telescopes in suburban locations. Image taken with a Takahashi E-180 astrograph and Canon 20Da camera; total exposure 1 hr 40 minutes (20 x 300 sec lights, 30 x 300 sec darks, 64 flats); processed with Images Plus 3.82b and Photoshop CS5.
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Helix Nebula1123 viewsThe Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), aka Helical Nebula or Sunflower Nebula, is a planetary nebula found in the constellation Aquarius. Despite it's designation as a "planetary" nebula, it has no relation to a planet. The term planetary nebula came from the "appearance as a planetary disk" in early telescopes. Planetary nebula are indeed the expelled gaseous remains of aging stars. The image is a total exposure of 1 hr 40 min (20 X 300 sec) taken with a Takahashi E-180 and Canon 20Da DSLR camera.
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Orion Nebula720 viewsWide-field photo of the Orion Nebula (M42 and M43) along with the Running Man (NGC-1977) taken with a Takahashi E-180 astrograph and a Canon 20Da DSLR camera. The total exposure was 25 minutes (5 X 300 seconds); calibrated, aligned, and stacked in Images Plus and processed in Photoshop CS4.
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The Crescent Nebula and surrounding nebulosity1086 viewsThe Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888) is in the constellation Cygnus. The brighter portion of the surrounding nebulosity in the upper left is IC 1318, which is part of the gamma Cygnus nebulae complex. The bright star in the center of the Crescent Nebula is a Wolf-Rayet star, which are extremely luminous and hot stars that loose mass at very high rates, designated as HD 192163. The image is a total exposure of 1 hr 45 min (21 X 300 sec) taken with a Takahashi E-180 f/2.8 astrograph and Canon 20Da DSLR camera.
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Rosette Nebula930 viewsThe Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237-8, 46) and the open cluster NGC 2244 in the center of the nebula is found in the constellation Monoceros. The nebula is one of the largest in the sky. The nebula was photographed with a Takahashi E-180 astrograph and Canon 20Da (ISO 800); Exposure was a total of 2.5 hours (30 x 300 seconds), calibrated, aligned, and stacked in Images Plus and processed in Photoshop CS4.
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The Veil Nebula1098 viewsNGC 6992, part of the Veil Nebula in Cygnus, is the remains of a large star that exploded in a Type II supernova. The total exposure is 2 hr 25 min (29 x 300 sec lights, 30 x 300 sec darks, 64 flats; Canon 20Da, Takahashi E-180 astrograph, Paramount; Images Plus 3.82B and Adobe Photoshop CS5)
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Markarian's Chain950 viewsMarkarian's Chain is found in the constellations Coma Berenices and Virgo. The two brightest members are Messier 84 and 86 in the upper right hand portion of the photo. The two galaxies close in proximity below them are known as the "Eyes." The one that is very irregular in shape is NGG 4438 (also cataloged as Arp 120 in Arp's Catalog of Peculiar Galaxies) that as been suggested to be the result of the in-progress merger of two galaxies. 2.6 h (32 x 300 sec) total exposure; Takahashi E-180; Canon 20Da
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Messier 4 and the Antares region1648 viewsThis image is of the Antares region in Scopius. The large globular cluster is Messier 4 and the smaller globular forming a triangle with Antares and M4 is NGC 6144. M4 is about 70 light years in diameter and around 10 billion years old. Image was taken with a Canon 20Da DSLR and a Takahashi E-180 astrograph on a Paramount.
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Messier 4 and the Antares region1648 viewsThis image is of the Antares region in Scopius. The large globular cluster is Messier 4 and the smaller globular forming a triangle with Antares and M4 is NGC 6144. M4 is about 70 light years in diameter and around 10 billion years old. Image was taken with a Canon 20Da DSLR and a Takahashi E-180 astrograph on a Paramount. Apr 17, 2011
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Eclipse of the Moon1432 viewsA series of photos of the lunar eclipse of Dec 21th showing the shadow of the earth traveling across the Moon's surface. Images taken with a 130 mm f/8 Astro-Physics refractor and a modified Canon 40D DSLR at ISO 200. Exposures varied from 1/2000 th of a second at the begining of the eclipse to 6 seconds at totality.Dec 26, 2010
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The Veil Nebula1098 viewsNGC 6992, part of the Veil Nebula in Cygnus, is the remains of a large star that exploded in a Type II supernova. The total exposure is 2 hr 25 min (29 x 300 sec lights, 30 x 300 sec darks, 64 flats; Canon 20Da, Takahashi E-180 astrograph, Paramount; Images Plus 3.82B and Adobe Photoshop CS5)Nov 13, 2010
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The Pinwheel Galaxy1143 viewsMessier 33, aka the Pinwheel Galaxy or Triangulum galaxy, is found in the constellation Triangulum. At magnitude 5.7 it can be seen with the naked eye under dark skies. Its low surface brightness, however, often makes it a challenge even with large amateur telescopes in suburban locations. Image taken with a Takahashi E-180 astrograph and Canon 20Da camera; total exposure 1 hr 40 minutes (20 x 300 sec lights, 30 x 300 sec darks, 64 flats); processed with Images Plus 3.82b and Photoshop CS5.Oct 24, 2010
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Sculptor Galaxy1131 viewsThe Great Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253), aka the Silver Coin, in the constellation Sculptor was discovered in 1783 by Caroline Herschel. The galaxy is at a distance of 9.8 million light years away from us. Research on NGC 253 indicates that it is a starburst galaxy, which means that it has recently hosted massive and rapid burts of star formation. The image is a total of 1 hr 50 min (22 X 300 seconds) exposure with a Takahashi E-180 astrograph and Canon 20Da DSLR camera.Oct 14, 2010
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Helix Nebula1123 viewsThe Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), aka Helical Nebula or Sunflower Nebula, is a planetary nebula found in the constellation Aquarius. Despite it's designation as a "planetary" nebula, it has no relation to a planet. The term planetary nebula came from the "appearance as a planetary disk" in early telescopes. Planetary nebula are indeed the expelled gaseous remains of aging stars. The image is a total exposure of 1 hr 40 min (20 X 300 sec) taken with a Takahashi E-180 and Canon 20Da DSLR camera.Oct 14, 2010
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Messier 81166 viewsMessier 8 is an emission nebula and open cluster in the constellation Sagittarius. Our current understanding is that the clouds of gas and dust of M8 constitute a star forming region in our galaxy. The image is a total of 15 minutes exposure (3 X 300 sec) with a Takahashi E-180 f/2.8 astrograph and a Canon 20Da DSLR camera. Images calibrated, aligned, and stacked in Images Plus 3.82B and processed in Images Plus and Adobe Photoshop CS5.Oct 14, 2010
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The Crescent Nebula and surrounding nebulosity1086 viewsThe Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888) is in the constellation Cygnus. The brighter portion of the surrounding nebulosity in the upper left is IC 1318, which is part of the gamma Cygnus nebulae complex. The bright star in the center of the Crescent Nebula is a Wolf-Rayet star, which are extremely luminous and hot stars that loose mass at very high rates, designated as HD 192163. The image is a total exposure of 1 hr 45 min (21 X 300 sec) taken with a Takahashi E-180 f/2.8 astrograph and Canon 20Da DSLR camera.Oct 13, 2010
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