Simulated Eyepiece Views
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. Processed to simulate a telescope eyepiece view.
Antares area of Scorpius, with dark lanes of nebulosity (Rho Ophiuchi dark nebulas) leading down to Antares and globular cluster M4 at lower right, with colourful reflection and emission nebulas. Takenf from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, May 2011, with Canon 7D (unmodified) and Canon 135mm telephoto lens at f/2.8 for stack of 8 x 2 minute exposures at U=ISO 1250.
Arcturus in Twilight - Eyepiece View
Arcturus in summer twilight, in early July 2018, shot with the 130mm Astro-Physics refractor at f/6 and Canon 6D MkII. A stack of 3 x 4-minute exposures at ISO 800. The processing is done to create an image that simulates an eyepiece view. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools actions.
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.
Pipe Nebula area, field oriented equatorially, with Hutech-modified Canon 5D camera with 135mm f/2 Canon L lens at f/4 for 6 minutes each at ISO400. Stack of 4 exposures, averaged stacked. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia, July 2006.
B142 & B143 Barnard's E Dark Nebula & Altair
Barnard's E, the Double Dark nebula B 142-143, off Altair and Tarazed in Aquila, in a wide-field image simulating the field of binoculars. Taken July 24, 2012, from home with the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and Canon L-series 200mm lens at f/3.5 for a stack of 5 x 4.5 minute exposures.
Barnard's E Dark Nebula (B142 and 143) in Aquila
5-inch Astro-Physics apo refractor at f/4.5 for 14 minutes at ISO400 with Canon 20Da camera. Stack of two exposures but second exposure hit by haze. But it did help smooth out noise.
Belt and Sword of Orion (Simulated Binocular Field)
A simulated binocular field of the Belt and Sword of Orion processed to resemble the view through binoculars with minimal colour. Taken with the 200mm lens and Canon 6D MkII for a stack of 8 x 1-minute exposures at ISO 400.
Belt of Orion & B33 Horsehead Nebula (92mm 6D)
The Belt of Orion, enmeshed in nebulosity, emission and reflection, including the famous Horsehead Nebula at left below Zeta Orionis, aka Alnitak, and with NGC 2024 the Flame Nebula above Zeta. Numerous bits of dark and reflection nebulosity fill the area as well as a large cluster of blue stars, Collinder 70.
Crux, the Southern Cross, and the Coal Sack
The Southern Cross, Crux, and the Coal Sack, plus associated star clusters in and around Crux, such as the Jewel Box, NGC 4755. This is a stack of 5 x 3 minute exposures at f/2.8 and ISO 800 with Canon 5D MkII and 135mm Canon lens. This field simulated the field of view of binoculars. Taken from Atacama Lodge, Chile, May 2011. A couple of the frames had light cloud which added the star glows naturally (no filter employed here).
Coma Berenices star cluster Mel 111
Coma Berenices star cluster aka Melotte 111. This is a stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures at ISO 1600 with the Canon 7D on the TMB 92mm apo refractor with Borg 0.85x reducer/flattener for f/4.5. Taken on a slightly hazy night, April 22, 2011 using AP 600E mount and SG4 autoguider.
Cr399 Coathanger aka Brocchi's Cluster
Taken with 4-inch apo refractor at f/4.5 with Canon 20Da camera at IS0800 for 5 minutes. Stack of two exposures. One layer median filtered and gaussian blurred to enhance glows around stars.
Cr399 Coathanger Cluster or Brocchi's Cluster, with 135mm Canon L-lens at f/2.8 and Canon 20Da camera at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 3 minute exposures. Taken Sept. 8, 2007; contains NGC 6802 cluster; Glow layer added to emphasize stars.
Delta Cephei, double star, with 5-inch AP refractor at f/6 and Canon 20Da camera at ISO 800 for stack of 3 x 75 second exposures, unguided. Taken July 27, 2007 from home in moonlight. Wires placed in front of objective to add diffraction spikes to stars. Processed to simulate an eyepiece view.
Epsilon Lyrae (Double-Double Star) - Eyepiece View
Epsilon Lyrae, the Double-Double Star in Lyra, here resolved into just the main wide pair, but each of those stars is also a tight double. Taken from home Nov. 25, 2016 with the 130mm AP f/6 apo refactor with the 6x7 field flattener and Canon 6D at ISO 800 for a stack of 4 x 3 minute exposures.
Grus Quartet of Galaxies (NGC 7599, 7590, 7582, 7552)
Grus Quartet of galaxies in Grus the crane. They are from left to right, east to west, NGC 7599, NGC 7590, NGC 7582 (largest and brightest) and NGC 7552 (farthest away from main trio). This is a stack of 5 x 12 minute exposures at ISO 800 with Canon 5D MkII and Astro-Physics 105mm Traveler apo refracrtor at f/5.8. Taken from Timor Cottage, Coonabarabran, NSW. Australia, December 11, 2012.
Hyades star cluster in Taurus - with Canon 20Da and 135mm Canon L-series telephoto at f/2.8 for stack of 4 x 4 minute exposures at ISO 400. NGC 1647 at upper left. Glow layer added to emphasize stars.
IC 443 Jellyfish Nebula & M35 (92mm 6D)
IC 443, a supernova remnant in Gemini (aka the Jellyfish Nebula) and associated nebulosity such as IC 444 and LDN 1565, plus the Messier open cluster M35 at right, with its companion cluster NGC 2158 below it. This is a stack of 12 images, with the TMB 92mm and Borg 0.85x flattener for f/4.7, and filter modified Canon 6D at ISO 800. 8 shots were 6 minutes and 4 shots were 8 minutes.
IC 2391 Omicron Velorum Cluster
The loose open star cluster IC 2391, aka the Omicron Velorum Cluster in Vela. The orientation is along the Milky Way here, so north is at right, not at top. This is a stack of five 2-minute exposures with the Canon L-series 135mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon 7D at ISO 1250. The field simulates a binocular field of roughly 7°.
IC 2391 Cluster in Vela. NGC 2669 to the left. Taken with 4-inch AP Traveler apo refractor at f/4.5 with Canon 20Da camera at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 2 minute exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran
The loose open star cluster IC 2395 in Vela near the Vela supernova remnant. The cluster is just left of centre. A small cluster just resolved here at centre is NGC 2660, while a sparser cluster left of IC 2395 is NGC 2670. The orientation is along the Milky Way here, so north is at right, not at top. This is a stack of five 2-minute exposures with the Canon L-series 135mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon 7D at ISO 1250. The field simulates a binocular field of roughly 7°. Bits of the Vela SNR are visible at right. The Pencil Nebula, NGC 2736, is just at the edge of the frame at top. The field is laced with emission nebulosity, some of it cyan in colour.
IC 2395 Cluster in Vela. NGC 2670 to lower left. Taken with 4-inch AP Traveler apo refractor at f/4.5 with Canon 20Da camera at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 2 minute exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, March 26, 2007.
IC 2602 Southern Pleiades (Bino Field)
Southern Pleiades (IC 2602) area south of Carina Nebula. Open cluster Mel 101 below IC 2602 and IC 2714 cluster at upper left. Taken from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, May 2011 with Canon 7D (unmodified) and 135mm Canon telephoto lens at f/2.8 for stack of 5 x 2 minute exposures at ISO 1250.
IC 2602 open cluster (Southern Pleiades), with 4-inch Astro-Physics Traveler apo refractor at f/6 and Canon 20Da at ISO800 for stack of two 2-minute exposures. Taken from Queensland, Australia, July 30, 2006.