Deep Sky - NGC Objects
16 Cygni Extra-Solar Planet Star
The double star 16 Cygni (right of centre) which is also host to extra-solar planets, in Cygnus. Shot Nov 10, 2014 from New Mexico, with the 92mm TMB apo refractor at its native f-ratio of f/5.5 with the Hotech field flattener, and Canon 6D for a stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures at ISO 800. Also in the field, left of 16 Cygni is the tiny blue Blinking Planetary Nebula, NGC 6826. The odd curving arcs at upper right must be internal reflections from a nearby star, though there is no bright star just outside the frame here.
Abell 21, the Medusa Nebula in Gemini
This is the faint but large planetary nebula known as the Medusa Nebula, but officially Abell 21 or PK 205+14.1 in Gemini. It was discovered in 1955 and was once classified as a supernova remnant. The very sparse open cluster NGC 2395 is at upper right from the nebula. The nebula is thought to be 4 light-years across and 1500 light-years away. This is a blend of filtered and unfiltered exposures: a stack of 4 unfiltered at ISO 1600 for 8 minutes each, and a stack of 8 filtered shots at 10 minutes each and ISO 3200, through the Optolong L-Enhance filter. All with the red-sensitive Canon EOS Ra camera through the SharpStar 100QII astrographic refractor at f/5.8, a quadruplet lens apo refractor. All stacked, aligned and blended in Photoshop.
Abell 21, the Medusa Nebula, a large but faint planetary nebula in Gemini. Above and to the right of it is a very loose open cluster NGC 2395. This is a stack of 15 x 8-minute exposures at f/4.4 with the TMB apo refractor and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600. Taken from the backyard of the Silver City, New Mexico, house, March 15, 2015.
Abell 426, the Perseus Galaxy Cluster
Abell 426, the populous cluster of galaxies in Perseus, that includes the active radio source galaxy, NGC 1275, aka Perseus A, at the heart of the cluster. To the right of 1275 is slightly dimmer NGC 1272. The galaxies are about 235 million light years away, and appear as fuzzy stars scattered across this field. This is a stack of 10 x 8-minute exposures with the Quattro 8-inch astrographic Newtonian reflector at f/4 with the coma corrector. The camera was the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800. While shot with 800mm of focal length even that is not really enough to do the cluster justice — the galaxies are small smudges.
Abell 426, the Perseus Galaxy Cluster
Abell 426, the populous cluster of galaxies in Perseus, that includes the active radio source galaxy, NGC 1275, aka Perseus A, at the heart of the cluster. To the right of 1275 is slightly dimmer NGC 1272. The galaxies are about 235 million light years away, and appear as fuzzy stars scattered across this field. This is a stack of 10 x 8-minute exposures with the Quattro 8-inch astrographic Newtonian reflector at f/4 with the coma corrector. The camera was the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800. While shot with 800mm of focal length even that is not really enough to do the cluster justice — the galaxies are small smudges.
Alpha Cruxis, or Acrux, the brightest star in the Southern Cross, Crux. It is a blue-white star 320 light years away. This is a superb double star but is not resolved here. Small star clusters NGC 4349 (above) and NGC 4609 (at left) appear near Acrux. The area is also rich in dark nebulas near the Coal Sack. I shot this April 3, 2016 from the Tibuc Cottage, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia using the 77mm f/4 astrographic refractor and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII, for a stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures at ISO 1600.
Alpha and Beta Centauri and the Dark Lanes of Centaurus
The bright stars Alpha Centauri (left) and Beta Centauri (right) at the end of the dark lanes of Centaurus in the southern Milky Way. The star cluster NGC 5617 is between Alpha and Beta; the cluster NGC 5822 in Lupus is at upper left; the trio of clusters NGC 6087, NGC 6067 and NGC 6025 are at far left in Triangulum Australe and Norma. This is a stack of 4 x 2.5-minute exposures with the 85mm Rokinon lens at f/2.8 and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 2000. Tracked on the AP400 mount. Some high cloud added the natural star glows. Taken just at moonrise from Australia.
Alpha Centauri, the closest star system to the Sun (at left and aka Rigel Kentaurus) and Beta Centauri (at right, aka Hadar) in Centaurus, and together known as the Pointer Stars. The open cluster NGC 5617 is to the right of Alpha. The field simulates a binocular field of view. This is a stack of 4 x 2-minute exposures with the 200mm lens at f/2.8 and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 2500. Tracked on the AP 400 mount.
A panorama mosaic from Alpha Centauri (at left) to Alpha Cruxis (at right) and the stars of the Southern Cross, Crux. Alpha and Beta Centauri are together called The Pointers because they point to the true Cross, to distinguish from the False Cross farther to the west. The dark nebula of the Coal Sack is to the left of the Southern Cross. The field contains several star clusters, including the Jewel Box, NGC 4755, to the left of Beta Cruxis This is a two-panel mosaic, each panel being a stack of 4 x 3-minute exposures with the 135mm telephoto lens at f/2.8 and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600. Two other exposures taken through the Kenko Softon A filter were layred in to add the star glows. Tracked on the AP 400 mount. Taken April 13, 2016 from Tibuc Cottage, Australia. The original is 9,200 by 3,400 pixels.
Andromeda in a stack of 5 x 4 minute exposures with the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and 50mm Sigma lens at f/3.2. Plus two exposures taken thru the Kenko Softon filter for the star glows. Takes in the Andromeda Galaxy, M31, at upper centre, plus Triangulum Galaxy, M33, below centre, and NGC 752 star cluster (left of centre), and M34 cluster at left edge. The small constellation of Triangulum is bottom left. Taken from home Oct 5, 2013.
The Milky Way, from Andromeda to the Pleiades
The northern autumn Milky Way from Cassiopeia (at top) to Perseus (at bottom), running along the left, with Andromeda and the Andromeda Galaxy at upper right, and the Pleiades in Taurus ar lower right. The red streak is the California Nebula, NGC 1499, in Perseus. The Milky Way here is rife with dark lanes and dust clouds. The star cluster below the Andromeda Galaxy is NGC 752. This is a stack of 5 x 2.5-minute exposures at f/2.8 and ISO 1600 with the 35mm lens and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII, plus two other exposures taken through a Kenko Softon filter to add the star glows. Taken from the Quailway Cottage near Portal, Arizona.
Antares & Rho Ophiuchi Area (77mm 5DII)
The colourful region around yellow Antares (bottom) in Scorpius and blue Rho Ophiuchi (top) in Ophiuchus. The nebulas are largely reflection nebulas, taking on the colour of the stars embedded in the nebulas. However, the field also contains a lot of emission nebulosity, hydrogen gas glowing red and magenta. Plus there are fingers of brown dark dusty nebulosity. It is one of the most colourful regions of the sky. At right of Antares are two globular clusters, NGC 6144 (small, at 2 o'clock from Antares) and the larger Messier 4 right of Antares. This is a stack of 5 x 8 minute exposures with the Borg 77mm astrographic apo (330mm focal length) at f/4.3 and the filter-modified Canon 5D Mark II at ISO 800. I took this March 31/April 1 from Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia.
Aquila (50mm 5DII) Sept 29, 2013
Aquila in a stack of 5 x 4 minute exposures with the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and 50mm Sigma lens at f/3.2. Plus two exposures taken thru the Kenko Softon filter for the star glows. Includes the Serpens-Ophiuchus double cluster (SO Double Cluster) of IC 4756 and NGC 663 at right. Altair and Terazed are at top. Taken from home Sept, 29, 2013.
The constellation of Aquila the Eagle with the small constellation of Scutum the Shield below, with its bright starcloud, in the northern summer sky, with parts of Serpens and Ophiuchus at right. The Serpens-Ophiuchus Double Cluster is at right, made of NGC 6633 (right) and IC 4756 (left). Altair is the bright star at left. This is a stack of 4 x 1-minute exposures with the 50mm Sigma lens at f/2.8 and Canon 6D at ISO 1600, plus an additional 1 min exposure through the Kenko Softon filter to add the star glows. All tracked on the MSM SiFo Tracker from China. Taken from home July 24, 2019.
Aries & Triangulum (50mm 5DII)
Aries (below) and Triangulum (above) in a stack of 5 x 4 minute exposures with the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and 50mm Sigma lens at f/3.2. Plus two exposures taken thru the Kenko Softon filter for the star glows. Takes in the Triangulum Galaxy, M33, above centre, and NGC 752 star cluster (upper left). The small galaxy NGC 772 is just visible right of centre as a tiny non-stellar spot. Taken from home Oct 5, 2013.
One of the “Big Four” asteroids, 3 Juno , in Virgo, about 3 weeks after it was at opposition. It appears here as the small streak above centre due to its orbital motion over the 80 minutes of accumulated exposure time of the image. This was April 24, 2020. The faint galaxy at left is NGC 4688. This is a stack of 8 x 10 minute exposures with the Canon EOS Ra at ISO 800 through the Astro-Physics 130mm apo refractor at f/6.
The Clusters and Nebulas of Auriga
The field of clusters and nebulosity in Auriga, with — from left to right — Messier 37, Messier 36, and Messier 38, as the main open star clusters here. Below M38 is NGC 1907. The nebulosity at right is IC 410 and IC 405, the Flaming Star Nebula. In between them is the colourful asterism known as the Little Fish. Messier 38 is also known as the Starfish Cluster while Messier 36 is called the Pinwheel Cluster. The bright red nebula at top is Sharpless 2-235. The litttle nebulas at centre are NGC 1931 and IC 417. The field is similar to that of binoculars. This is a stack of 5 x 3-minute exposures with the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and 200mm Canon L-Series lens at f/2.8. Taken with the Fornax Lightrack tracker as part of testing. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools actions. Taken from home on a rare fine and mild winter night, January 4, 2019.
Auriga Clusters, M36, M37, M38 (Bino Field)
Trio of open clusters in Auriga (left to right): M37, M36 and M38 and nearby nebulosity IC 410 and IC 405, Flaming Star Nebula at right. Small nebula at left is Sharpless 2-231. This is a stack of 5 x 4 minute exposurs with Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and Canon 135mm lens at f/2.8. Taken January 6, 2011. Field of view simulated binocular field.
Wide-angle view of the array of classic autumn constellations: Andromeda, Pegasus, Perseus and Cassiopeia. Messier 31, the Andromeda Galaxy, is visible at centre, as is the large star cluster NGC 752 below and left of centre. The Perseus Association of bright blue stars around Mirfak is prominent at left, as well as the Double Cluster above between Perseus and Cassiopeia. Taken Sept. 11, 2010, with 24mm lens at f/4 and Canon 5D MkII camera at ISO 800 for stack of 2 x 6 minute exposures plus 2 x 6 min exposures taken thru Kenko Softon A diffusion filter for the star glows. Re-processed in February 2020.
The Autumn Milky Way (Perseus to Cygnus)
The Milky Way from Perseus, at left, to Cygnus, at right, with Cassiopeia (the “W”) and Cepheus at centre. Dotted along the Milky Way are various red H-alpha regions of glowing hydrogen. The Andromeda Galaxy, M31, is at botton. The Double Cluster star cluster is left of centre. Deneb is the bright star at far right, while Mirfak, the brightest star in Perseus, is at far left. The Funnel Nebula, aka LeGentil 3, is the darkest dark nebula left of Deneb. This is a stack of 4 x 1-minute exposures at f/2.8 with the Nikkor 14-24mm lens wide open, and at 24mm, and with the Nikon D810a red-sensitive DSLR, at ISO 1600. Image shot as a test of the gear. It works very well! Shot from home, with the camera on the iOptron Sky-Tracker. Some haze added patches of discolouration and gradients, equalized out here as best I could.
The Northern Autumn Milky Way (15-35mm RF lens at 35mm + EOS Ra)
A test image of the northern autumn Milky Way from Cassiopeia at left to northern Cygnus at right. The bright North America Nebula and dark Funnel Clkoud Nebula are at right near Deneb. IC 1396 in Cepehus is at centre. This was taken with the Canon RF 15-35mm lens wide open at f/2.8 and at 35mm focal length and with the Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 800 for a stack of two 2-minute tracked exposures. Taken as part of testing the camera and lens.
Horsehead and Flame Nebula area of Belt of Orion. Taken Jan 17, 09 with 77mm f/4 Borg astrograph lens (300mm focal length) and Canon 20Da camera at ISO 400 for 4 x 15 minute exposures. On AP Mach 1 mount. Autoguided with SBIG ST402 camera and PHD Guider. Excellent night but lots of snow and sky was good but somewhat lit by snow illumination.
B33 Horsehead and M78 Nebulas in Orion (92mm 6D)
The area around the Belt of Orion, with the Horsehead and Flame Nebulas at bottom flanking the bright star Zeta Orionis, aka Alnitak, with Messier 78 at upper left. Taken from home, on a slightly hazy and frosty night, Feb 7, 2013, using the Hutech modified Canon 6D at ISO 800 and the TMB 92mm apo refractor at f/4.8 for a stack of 6 x 7 minute exposures.
Horsehead Nebula region with NGC2024 and 2023, and B33 dark nebula. Stack of two 15-minute exposures with Canon 20Da, at f/6 with 5-inch AP apo refractor, ISO400, and Long Exposure Nosie Reduction ON in camera. Ambient temp was about -3° C. Taken Dec. 29, 2005. Noise reduction applied at RAW conversion stage, and Noise Ninja applied to both layers at start before processing and to single flattened layer at end after processing and stretching. Image showed dithered dark areas initially after Levels adjustment but this smoothed out after flattening of original image and adjustment layers.