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The Celestial Bubble in Cygnus1140 viewsThe Soap Bubble Nebula, or PN G755.5+1.7 is likely a faint planetary nebula found in the constellation Cygnus. The faint nebula was discovered relatively recently in 2008 on photographs of the Cygnus region. A cropped hydrogen-alpha image attached. Image was a total of 5 hr 40 min taken with a Takahashi CCA-250 f/5 astrograph with a QSI683wsg camera (Astrodon Gen2 Ha filter 5 nm) on a Paramount on the nights of 2, 4 October 2016 in Mayhill, NM (17 x 1200 sec H-alpha lights @ -20 degrees; 23 darks; 128 flats; 126 bias; processed in PixInsight 1.8.4.1195).
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A Young Open Cluster in a Nebulous Complex 1086 viewsThe open cluster NGC 6910 is found in the nebulous emission complex IC 1318, which is located in the constellation Cygnus. As NGC 6910 is near the galactic plane, there is a significant amount of interstellar dust in the area. Indeed, the blue spectroscopic star HIP 100548 (aka SAO 49563) is rendered yellowish white due to the light scattering by the interstellar dust. Estimated distance of the star cluster and nebula is 2,000 to 5,000 light years. Image was taken with a 12.5 inch at f/9 RCOS astrograph with a SBIG STF8300c CCD camera on a Paramount ME in Mayhill, NM on the nights of 4, 5, 21, 25, 29, ant 30 Oct 2016. Total of 14 hr 20 min exposure (43 x 1200 sec lights at -15 degrees C; 18 darks; 128 bias; 128 flats); image acquisition MaxIm DL 6; calibration, registration, integration, and processing in PixInsight 1.8.4.1195 Ripley (x64)
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The Crab Nebula in Oxygen[III] and Hydrogen-alpha Emission 1064 viewsMessier 1, the Crab Nebula, is a supernova remnant found in the constellation Taurus. M1 was discovered by John Bevis in 1731 (independently discovered by Charles Messier in 1758). Admiral Smyth describes M1 as a “large nebula, pearly white†and of “oval form†in his Cycle of Celestial Objects (2nd edition, page 145). This bi-color image is a total of 17 hrs 20 min exposure using a Takahashi CCA-250 f/5 astrograph and a QSI683wsg CCD camera (Astrodon Gen 2 filters; H-alpha 5 nm; O[III] 3 nm) on a Paramount ME (26 x 1200 sec O[III] lights, 26 x 1200 sec H-alpha lights; 21 darks, 126 bias, and corresponding flats and flat darks). Color assignment H-alpha = red; 15:83 H-alpha:O[III] = green; O[III] = blue; processed in PixInsight 1.8.4.1195.
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Open Clusters in Vulpecula1047 viewsNGC 6882 /NGC 6885 are open clusters in the constellation Vulpecula, although there is considerable discussion in the literature as to whether one is superimposed on the other, are separate clusters, or if they where accidentally duplicated in the original 1784 observation. The bright foreground star, 20 Vulpeculae, does not belong to the cluster. The image taken with a 12.5†RCOS f/9 astrograph and a SBIG STF8300c camera on a Paramount ME on Oct 2, 2016 in Mayhill, NM (5 x 1200 sec lights @ -15 degrees C; 18 darks; 128 bias; 128 flats). Calibrated, registered, integrated, and processed in PixInsight 1.8.4.1195 Ripley (x64).
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The North American and Pelican Nebulae1041 viewsThe North America Nebula (NGC 7000) and Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) in the constellation Cygnus comprise a vast region of ionized hydrogen. Light obscured by interstellar dust leads to the observed shape of each nebula. The North America Nebula was discovered by William Herschel in 1786. This wide-field image was taken with a Takahashi FSQ106ED with reducer at f/3.6 and a Canon 60Da DSLR at ISO 800 on an Astro-Physics 1200 mount; 5 hrs 45 min total exposure taken on 13 Aug and 15, 17 Sept 2015 (23 x 15 min lights; 12 darks; 128 flats; 128 bias); Sky X and Maxim DL software; processed with PixInsight 1.8.4.1170 using a synthetic light for deconvolution.
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Barred Spiral Galaxy in Leo1036 viewsNGC 2903 is a intermediate weak-barred spiral galaxy (SABbc) found in the constellation Leo. Discovered by W. Herschel in 1784, NGC 2903 is approximately 20 to 30 million light years away. Image was taken with a 12.5†f/9 RCOS telescope and a SBIG STF8300c camera with an OAG (ST-i) on a Paramount ME. Image a total of 15 hr 20 min of combined exposures taken on 12, 13 Jan and 8,9,12 Feb 2016 in Mayhill, NM (46 x 1200 sec lights @ -15 degrees C, dithered; 30 darks; 128 bias; 128 flats). Processed in PixInsight 1.8.4.1195.
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The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules1032 viewsMessier 13, or the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, was discovered by Edmond Halley in 1714. The cluster is estimated to contain from 300,000 to a half-million stars and is about 26,000 lights years distant from our solar system. The image was taken with a 12.5†RCOS f/9 telescope operating at f/5.94 (Astro-Physics CCDT67 telecompressor) and a SBIG STF8300c camera on a Paramount ME in Mayhill, NM on 28 May 2016 (6 x 20 min lights @ -20 degrees C; 40 darks; 128 bias; 128 flats). Processed with PixInsight 1.8.4.1195.
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The Soap Bubble in the Nebulosity of Cygnus1024 viewsThe Soap Bubble Nebula, or PN G755.5+1.7, is found in the constellation Cygnus. The Soap Bubble is likely a symmetric planetary nebula, which is the expanding shell of ionized gas ejected from a star late in its lifetime. The faint nebula was discovered relatively recently in 2008 on photographs of the Cygnus region. Image was a total of 17 hr 20 min exposure taken with a Takahashi CCA-250 f/5 astrograph with a QSI683wsg camera (Astrodon Gen2 H-alpha filter 5 nm; O[III] 3 nm) on a Paramount ME on the nights of 2, 4, 5, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30 October 2016 in Mayhill, NM (26 x 1200 sec H-alpha lights @ -20 degrees; 26 x 1200 sec O[III] lights @ -20 degrees; 23 darks; 128 flats of each filter; 126 bias; processed in PixInsight 1.8.4.1195; color assigned in SHO-AIP Red = 90 % H-alpha; G = 10% H-alpha and 100% O[III]; Blue = 100% O[III]).
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The Messier 78 region1015 viewsMessier 78 is a blue reflection nebula (larger nebula near the center of the image) that is found in the constellation Orion. Several other reflection nebulae can be seen in the image along with extensive clouds of dust (dark molecular cloud Orion B). The red emission nebula in the lower right-hand corner is part of Barnard's loop. Image is a total of 11 hr 30min exposure (46 x 15 min lights, dithered; 12 darks; 128 flats; 128 bias) taken on the nights of Nov 6, 2015; Jan 12, 13, 2016; Feb 8, 9, 12, 2016 with a Takahashi FSQ106ED with reducer @ f/3.6; Canon 60Da @ ISO 800; Astro-Physics 1200 mount; and Astro-Physics/Baader 60 mm guider (SBIG ST-i); Processed with PixInsight 1.8.4.1195 (with Bayer drizzle algorithm).
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A GLOBULAR CLUSTER IN LYRA1005 viewsThe globular cluster Messier 56 is found in the part of Milky Way that runs through the constellation Lyra. Admiral Smyth describes M 56 as “a globular cluster in a splendid field†in his “A Cycle of Celestial Objects†(2nd Ed, 1881). The image was taken on 15 June 2016 in Mayhill, NM with a 12.5†RCOS f/9 telescope operating at f/5.95 (Astro-Physics CCDT67 reducer) and a SBIG STF8300c camera mounted on a Paramount ME. Exposure was a total of 1 hr 40 min (5 x 20 min lights @ -15 degrees C; 40 darks; 128 flats; 128 bias). Calibrated, registered, integrated, and processed in PixInsight 1.8.4.1195 Ripley (x64).
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Hubble's variable nebula in Monoceros1003 viewsHubble's Variable Nebula (NGC 2261) is a small 2 x 4 arcminute nebula found in the constellation Monoceros. One suggestion proposed for the observed variability is due to dust clouds near R Monocerotis periodically changing the nebula's illumination. The image was a total of 6 hr 20 min exposure with a 12.5†f/9 RCOS telescope and SBIG STF8300c camera (OAG with ST-i) on a Paramount ME (19 x 1200 sec lights @-15o C; 30 darks; 128 bias; 128 flats); Software: Sky X, MaxIm DL6, PixInsight 1.8.4.1195.
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The Perseus Cluster of Galaxies709 viewsThis image of the Perseus cluster of galaxies, also known as Abell 426, is centered on NGC 1275. NGC 1275 is a giant elliptical galaxy, which is a radio source and x-ray emitter. Abell 426 is part of the Pisces-Perseus supercluster, which contains over a thousand galaxies. The image is a total of 9 hrs exposure with a Takahashi CCA-250 f/5 astrograph and a QSI683wsg camera (Astrodon Gen2 filters) on a Paramount ME taken on the nights of 7 Nov, 3, 13 Dec 2018 in Mayhill, NM (18 x 1200 sec lights; 3 x 1200 sec R, G, and B at -20 degrees; 24 darks; 128 flats; 128 bias). Processed with PixInsight 1.8.5.1353 Ripley (x64).
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