Deep Sky - Stars
16 Cygni, a pair of Sun-like stars, in a stack of frames from a webcam (Philips TouCam) movie at 640x480, stacked with Registax. Shot August 2005 with the C8.
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.
The Red Carbon Star 19 (TX) PIscium
The very red variable carbon star 19 (TX) Piscium in Pisces. This is a stack of six 4-minute exposures with the A&M 105mm apo refractor at f/6.2 and Hotech field flattener, with the Canon 6D MkII.
24 Comae Berenices Double Star
The colourful double star 24 Coma Berenices, sometimes called the “Springtime Albireo” due to its similar colours. This is a stack of 8 x 8-second exposures at f/10 with the Celestron C9.25-inch SCT and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 1600. Taken March 27, 2019.
24 Comae Berenices (from Webcam)
The colourful double star 24 Comae Berenices, aka the Springtime Albireo, in a stack of frames from a webcam (Philips TouCam) from May 2003 with the C8.
47 Ursa Majoris Sun-Like Star with Planets
The single star 47 Ursa Majoris, a Type G yellow dwarf star similar to but older than the Sun and known to host planets. This is a stack of 8 x 30-second exposures at f/10 with the Celestron C9.25-inch SCT and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 6400. Taken March 27, 2019.
51 Pegasi, a Sun-like Star with Planets
The Sun-like star 51 Pegasi, the first Sun-like star found with planets. This is a stack of 4 x 4 minute exposures with the 92mm TMB refractor at f/4.4 with the Borg 0.85x field flattener/reducer and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800. Taken from New Mexico, Nov 15, 2014 with the star high overhead
The orange and equally matched double star 61 Cygni in Cygnus. This is a stack of 5 x 30-second unguided exposures with the Celestron C9.25 SCT at f/10 and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 1600. Taken May 29, 2019.
The headlight double star 61 Cygni, in Cygnus, in a stack of frames from a webcam (Philips TouCam) from May 2003 with the C8.
The double star 61 Cygni (right of centre), a double star, in Cygnus. It is also known as “The Flying Star” for its large proper motion across the sky, noted in 1792 by Piazzi. It was also the first star to have its distance measured via trigonometric parallax, be Friedrich Bessel in 1838. 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.
Acrux, Alpha Cruxis (105mm 60Da)
Acrux or Alpha Cruxis in the Southern Cross, from Australia, December 2012. A single 2-minute exposure at ISO 1600 with the Canon 60Da and Astro-Physics Traveler at f/6.
Albireo, Double Star in Cygnus
Albireo, or Beta Cygni, the famous colourful double star in Cygnus. This is a blend of two sets of three exposures: 4 minutes and 1 minute, to bring out the background star field while not overexposing Albireo and losing its colour. All with the 130mm Astro-Physics refractor at f/6 and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 800. Star spikes added with Astronomy Tools actions. Taken July 8, 2018.
Albireo in a Binocular Field of View
Albireo, or Beta Cygni, a famous double star, but not resolved here in this wide field of view simulating the field of binoculars. This is a stack of 3 x 2-minute exposures with the 200mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 800.
The famous and popular orange and blue double star Beta Cygni, or Albireo, in Cygnus. This is a stack of 11 x 30-second unguided exposures with the Celestron C9.25 SCT at f/10 and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 1600. Taken May 29, 2019.
Albireo in Cygnus in the Moonlight
The famous showpiece double star Albireo in Cygnus, here just resolved into its blue and gold component stars, in a field of view that resembles that of binoculars, which can just resolve this double. Taken in a clear sky lit by a waxing gibbous Moon, thus the blue sky background. The 7.5° x 5° field of view is similar to that of binoculars. This is a stack of 8 x 2-minute exposures at f/4.4 with the SharpStar 61mm EDPH refractor and Canon R6 at ISO 400.
A closeup of Aldebaran in Taurus, taken in moonlight, with the 130mm f/6 apo refractor. It is surrounded by a few stars of the Hyades cluster.. This is a stack of six 2-minute exposures and three 30-second exposures to reduce the core brilliance, with the short exposures blended in with a luminosity mask. All with the Canon 6D MkII at ISO 800. The diffraction spikes were added with Astronomy Tools Photoshop actions.
Algieba or Gamma Leonis Double Star
The close and yellow double star Algieba, aka Gamma Leonis, in Leo. The separation is only ~5 arc seconds so is not clearly shown here — the star looks elongated. This is a stack of 8 x 6-second exposures at ISO 800 with the Celestron C9.25-inch SCT at f/10 and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 800. Taken March 27, 2019.
Algiedi - Alpha Capricorni Double Star
Algiedi, a wide binocular double star, in Capricornus, aka Alpha Capricorni. This is a stack of 4 x 3-minute exposures, taken Nov 29, 2016 from home with Capricornus low in the southwest. Using the TMB 92mm and Borg 0.85x flattener and Canon 6D at ISO 800. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools Actions.
Algol and the Demon Stars in Perseus
Algol, the Demon Star, accompanied by other "demon" stars of the Gorgon as the triangle below Algol, from R to L: Gorgonea Secunda, Gorgonea Tertia, and Gorgonea Quarta. All in Perseus. Taken in a clear sky lit by a waxing gibbous Moon, thus the blue sky background. The 7.5° x 5° field of view is close to that of binoculars. This is a stack of 8 x 2-minute exposures at f/4.4 with the SharpStar 61mm EDPH refractor and Canon R6 at ISO 400. An exposure through an Alyn Wallace Starglow filter adds the glows.
A closeup of Algol in Persus, the Demon variable star, taken in moonlight, with the 130mm f/6 apo refractor with the Hotech field flattener. Moonlight added the blue sky background. This is a stack of six 2-minute exposures. All with the Canon 6D MkII at ISO 800.
Alpha and Beta Centauri, with Hutech-modified Canon 5D camera with 135mm f/2 Canon L lens at f/4 for 4 minutes each at ISO400. Stack of 4 exposures, averaged stacked. Taken from Queensland, Australia, June 2006. Glow added around stars in Photoshop.
Alpha and Beta Centauri. Taken with Canon 135mm L-series lens at f/4 and Hutech-modified Canon 5D camera at ISO 400 for stack of 6 x 4 minute exposures, two in haze to fuzz stars. Taken from South Pacific Star Party, Ilford, NSW, Australia, April 15, 2007.
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.
The naked-eye and binocular double star Alpha 1 and 2 Capricorni, aka Algedi. Both are luminous yellow giant stars. They are not a true binary but are just an optical double. Alpha 1 (the brighter of the pair) is 109 light years away, while Alpha 2 is 690 light years away. This is a stack of 4 x 4 minute exposures with the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 with the TMB 92mm refractor at f/4.4 with the Borg. 0.85x field flattener/reducer. Shot from New Mexico with the field low in the southwest, Nov 16, 2014.