Messier 103

Messier 103 was the last entry in the original Messier list and is the farthest object in the list.  I was lucky last evening to photograph this one.  Clouds were coming in fast and I was mostly wanting to try out some new gadgets I had gotten for Christmas.  This was my first attempt using the Coma Corrector, Skyglow filter and camera controller.

Photo Details
Messier 103
December 29, 2013
Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount
Nikon D3100 Camera - ISO 1600
Coma Corrector & Orion Skyglow Filter
8 sub frames at 1.5 minutes/frame
Total Exposure Time = 12 minutes
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in Fitswork

M1-Crab Nebula

The Crab Nebula is the first object in the Messier list, recorded by Messier in 1758.  However, there are records of it on July 4th, 1054 when it was visible to the naked eye in Italy, Armenia, Iraq, China, Japan and North America.  Of course, they could not see the nebulosity in this photo, but it was rather seen as a bright star observable even during the daytime. It is now known as Supernova Remnant which is why it was observable so long ago.  This star literally blew up and we are looking at the remnants.

Photo Details
Messier 1
December 24, 2013
Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount
Nikon D3100 Camera - ISO 1600
90 sub frames at 30"/frame
Total Exposure Time = 45 minutes
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in Fitswork

Moon

Mare Imbrium

Pythagoras Crater

Mare Tranquillitatis and Mare Crisium

Photo Details
98.3% Full Moon
December 15, 2013
Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount
2x Barlow Lens nested with another 2x Barlow Lens
Nikon D3100 Camera - ISO 800
Image Stacking in Registax6
Final processing in PhotoShop

Moon

Cold nights.  Clear skies.  Full moon.  The most wonderful time of the year is upon us!

Photo Details
98.3% Full Moon
December 15, 2013
Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount
2x Barlow Lens
Nikon D3100 Camera - ISO 800
481 sub frames at 1/1000"/frame
Image Stacking in Registax6
Final processing in PhotoShop

Jupiter and Moons

Another attempt at Jupiter last night.  First set of images was using my 2x Barlow lens nested with another for 4x magnification.  It's interesting to me that Jupiter doesn't seem to handle magnification real well.  I've noticed this at the eyepiece as well.  Some of the most stunning images are with lower magnification with Jupiter accompanied by its moons.  Absolutely stunning!

Photo Details
Jupiter
December 15, 2013
Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount
Nikon D3100 Camera - ISO 1600
345 sub frames at 1/80"/frame
Image Stacking in Registax6

Moon

Waxing Gibbous

Copernicus Crater with Montes Apenninus

Tycho and Clavius Craters

I was able to get out for a short time on the evening of December 12 to do some moon shots.  The top photo was un-magnified, except that provided by the telescope itself.  The bottom two photos were taken through a 2x Barlow lens nested into another Barlow 2x lens for 4x magnification.  Tracking at this level becomes much more important and I had a lot of images I just couldn't use because I hadn't switch the mount over to Lunar tracking from sidereal.  I look forward to making another attempt soon!

Messier 74

As you can see, M74 is a classic whirlpool galaxy and is known to be the second-most difficult Messier object to see through a telescope.  The faintness in the photo above, despite nearly an hour of exposure time, is a testament to the difficulty.

Photo Details
Messier 74
November 29, 2013
Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount
Nikon D3100 Camera - ISO 1600
117 sub frames at 30"/frame
Total Exposure Time = 58 minutes 30 seconds
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in Fitswork

M42 and 43

I had so much fun working on the Orion Nebula the other night, I decided to go back with things better positioned so I could get a much longer exposure time.  In doing so, I was able to also capture M43, the nebulous region at the top of the photo.  Though now considered to be part of the same nebulous cloud, they were originally discovered and cataloged as separate objects.  The added exposure time also brought forward so many details in the Orion Nebula.  This is surely a sight to visit and revisit many times over!

Photo Details
Messier 42 - Orion Nebula
November 29, 2013
Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount
Nikon D3100 Camera - ISO 1600
119 sub frames at 30"/frame
Total Exposure Time = 54 minutes 30 seconds
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in Fitswork