First Quarter Moon

It's always striking to me how dramatically different the moon appears depending on the phase.  Last week's first quarter moon provides a beautiful example where the rugged lunar terrain is clearly visible as long shadows were cast from peaks into valleys and rims into craters.  

Photo Details

January 25, 2018

NexImage10 Camera

Image Acquisition iCap 2.3

Image Stacking in AutoStakkert! 2.6.8
Wavelet Adjustments in Registax 6.1
Final Processing in Photoshop CS6

Messier 45 - the Pleiades

Nothing in the night sky says winter to me quite like the Pleiades.  This naked-eye cluster has been interwoven with numerous cultures for centuries.  Commonly known as the Seven Sisters from Greek mythology, they are also know as the Nā hiku o Makali‘i  (Seven Little Eyes) from the Hawaiian tradition.  The gossamer-like nebulosity lit up by the stars are not part of the cluster itself, but rather a cloud of dust lying somewhere between us and the seven.  This was also one of the first images I attempted back in 2013 when I was first getting started.  I've reposted that image below for comparison.  Lots of reading, some equipment upgrades and more patience seems to have been beneficial :)  

Photo Details

January 6, 2018

AstroTech 65Q on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Skyglow filter

42 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 2 hours 6 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

M45 Photographed in 2013

Super Moon Part II

Another perfectly clear night to start 2018!  I set up again to capture the Super Moon, but this time with a shorter focal length telescope to capture the entire surface.  

Photo Details

January 1, 2018

AstroTech 65Q on VX Mount

NexImage10 Camera

Image Acquisition iCap2.3

Y800 Codec @ 3872x2764
900 Frames @ 3 frames/sec

Super Moon

I had so much fun last night trying out my new solar system imaging camera.  There is a lot to learn, but I couldn't help but set everything up for the Super Moon.  I hope you got a good look, too!

Photo Details

December 30, 2017

Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount

NexImage10 Camera

Moonglow Filter

Image Acquisition iCap2.3

Top Image
Y800 Codec @ 2048x1536
400 Frames @ 3 frames/sec

Image Stacking in AutoStakkert2
Wavelet Processing in Registax6
Final Image Processing in Photoshop

Bottom Image
Y800 Codec @ 1256x958
750 Frames @ 3 frames/sec

Image Stacking in AutoStakkert2

Wavelet Processing in Registax6
Final Image Processing in Photoshop

NGC 7331 (Deerlick Group) - Revisted

One of the first images I every photographed, back in 2013, was the galaxy NGC 7331.  It's known as the main attraction of the Deerlick Group.  Two things immediately grabbed my attention in this image.  First, is the almost uniform spatial distribution of stars.  Second is the incredible number of galaxies in this one view.  I found over twenty, and with a longer exposure, more would certainly be evident.  The galaxies gathered around NGC 7331, though appearing nearby, are estimated to be 10 times more distant than the main galaxy.  For comparison, check out my first attempt at this image below.  Needless to say, a lot of reading, practice and some better equipment adds up to better images.

Photo Details

December 10, 2017

Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Baader MPC Mark III Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector

Skyglow filter

46 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 2 hours 18 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

Pelican Nebula - Wide Field View

In mid-November, I revisited the Pelican Nebula (see original post below) with a new wide-field telescope.  The original was take with a much longer focal length reflector so it was zoomed in closer than the one above.  The new wide field covers a significantly larger area and was able to capture the entire Pelican, along with part of its neighbor (North American Nebula) visible in the upper left portion of this image.  It's hard to get a sense of scale for this image, but the Pelican covers nearly 8 times the sky area as a full moon.  Too bad we can't see it without long-exposure photography!

Photo Details

November 13-14, 2017

AstroTech 65Q on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Skyglow filter

83 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 4 hours 9 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

Pelican Nebula - IC 5070

Soaring high in the sky on these increasing cool fall nights is the Pelican Nebula.  It takes some imagination, can you see it?  This is an HII region of ionized intersteller atomic hydrogen left over from "recent" star formation.  The gas clouds are still evolving and in a few million years may look like something else entirely.  Enjoy it while you can!

Photo Details

October 17-18 & 26, 2017

Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Baader MPC Mark III Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector

Skyglow filter

66 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 3 hours 6 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

Great American Solar Eclipse

 

We had a great family adventure up to Nashville for the total solar eclipse (August 21, 2017).  We took lots of pictures leading up to totality, but decided to just experience the final moments without any electronics.  We all agreed it was the most profound and awe-inspiring natural wonder we've ever seen.  Already making plans for April 8, 2024.  We can't wait!

Messier 109

A couple weeks ago we had a lot of fun getting out the telescopes to share with friends and neighbors.  A beautifully clear (& mostly bug free) night allowed us to check out the moon, many star clusters and before we were done Jupiter rose into view and stole the show.  We can't wait to do it all again!

At the same time we were touring the cosmos, I had the astrograph set up capturing Messier 109 (above).  This is one of the faintest objects in the Messier catalog evidenced by over 4 hours total exposure time and precious little detail to see.  Although, if you consider that the light in this image began its journey to us when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth, maybe it's not so dim after all.  M109 is a beautiful barred-galaxy found near the bowl of the Big Dipper.  In fact, the incredibly bright star in the image is one of the main stars (Phecda) in the Big Dipper.

Photo Details

March 29 - 30, 2017

Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Baader MPC Mark III Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector

Skyglow filter

82 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 4 hours 6 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

NGC 2403

NGC 2403 is 10 million light years away and is about half the mass of our own Milky Way.  The reddish clusters scattered around the arms are active star-forming regions.  At 10 million light years, the light from this galaxy began its journey long before humans walked the Earth.  It's incredibly humbling to think about entire geological and evolutionary epochs passing on Earth while this light was in transit, undisturbed, to the moment it entered my imaging system.  A true cosmic connection.

Photo Details

January 31, 2017

Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Baader MPC Mark III Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector

Skyglow filter

52 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 2 hours 36 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

Messier 36

Messier 36 is the smallest of three star clusters in the constellation Auriga.  Though small, it is one of the prettiest with nice arrangements of stars spiraling out from the center.  Lying about 4,300 light years away, astronomers estimate it's age at 20 to 40 million years which is relatively young on the cosmic time scale.  The main cluster consists of predominantly bluish-white stars, but can you see the many reddish stars adorning the edges?  

Photo Details

January 24, 2017

Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Baader MPC Mark III Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector

Skyglow filter

34 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 1 hours 42 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

NGC 147 & 185

My last image of 2016 was a nice galaxy pair consisting of NGC 147 (oblong galaxy on the right) and NGC 185 (spherical galaxy on the left).  There is some debate among astronomers, but there is some evidence to support that these two galaxies form a binary pair meaning their gravities interact and also are considered satellites of the massive Andromeda Galaxy.

Photo Details

December 30, 2016

Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Baader MPC Mark III Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector

Skyglow filter

56 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 2 hours 48 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

IC 342

On Christmas Night, we had some early clear skies that gave way to clouds rolling in from the south.  Before that happened, I was able to image IC342, the sprawling island universe pictured above.  Normally, something of this size and brightness at 10 million light years away would be easily seen, but it happens to lie in the plane of our own Milky Way galaxy.  So, we are viewing it through the dust, stars and gas of our own galaxy which renders it much more difficult to view.  Think cosmic light pollution.  Normally, light pollution is the arch-enemy of astronomy, but when its coming from our own galaxy it creates quite a sight!

Photo Details

December 25, 2016

Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Baader MPC Mark III Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector

Skyglow filter

27 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 1 hours 21 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

SuperMoon - Ben's First Shot

As many of you know, this week we had the closest approach of the moon, at full, since 1948.  We had a great time watching it rise over the trees in our neighborhood.  Later in the evening, Ben and I got out the camera and tripod and Ben captured the beautiful image above.  Great work for his first official astrophoto!

Photo Details

November 14, 2016
45 images stacked with Registax 6
All photography and image processing by Ben!

Messier 15

This beautiful cluster is part of our home galaxy and revolves, as we do, around the galactic center of the Milky Way.  One orbit takes about 250 million years.  The cluster itself contains approximately 100,000 suns and there is debate about the center of the cluster.  Some astronomers believe that stars are actively collapsing toward the center to create a high-density environment.  Others believe that there may be a black whole lurking at the center.  Either way, it makes for a glorious sight!

Photo Details

October 11, 2016

Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Baader MPC Mark III Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector

Skyglow filter

27 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 1 hours 27 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

NGC 7331 - Deer Lick Group

After a long and hot summer, we finally had two gorgeous nights last week with beautiful clear skies and overnight temperatures dipping into the 50's.  I was able to get out Thursday and Friday night to capture the image above.  NGC 7331 is part of the Deer Lick Group.  The main galaxy (NGC 7331) is at the perfect angle to give us a real sense of depth.  Do you notice the other four, much smaller, galaxies arrayed around it?  The difference in size is just an optical illusion. They are all of similar size, but are at much further distance from us.  NGC 7331 is about 40 million light years away while the others are 300 to 400 million light years distant.  In other words, the "smaller" galaxies are about 10 times further away.  It's a bit mind-numbing (& humbling) to contemplate light in this image representing vastly different ages of our universe.  One final note:  I had targeted this same group about three years ago (see below).  A lot of learning, skill building and equipment upgrades over the past three years shows a big difference (thankfully!).

Photo Details

September 29-30, 2016

Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Baader MPC Mark III Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector

Skyglow filter

83 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 3 hours 54 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

NGC 7331 Taken on 11/27/2013

Messier 58 and the Siamese Galaxies

My original intent with this image was to focus on Messier 58 (barred face on galaxy on right).  This 300,000 solar mass galaxy is beautiful all by itself, but the Siamese Twin (or Butterfly) galaxies in the upper left steal the show.  The twin galaxies are actively colliding and merging together with active star formation where they overlap.  Imagine the newly born star systems and worlds forming at this very moment.  The light captured in this picture is nearly 60 million years old.  What will it look like 60 million years from now when the light currently leaving the twins finally arrives to Earth?  

Photo Details

May 13, 2016

Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Baader MPC Mark III Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector

Skyglow filter

35 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 1 hours 45 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

The Markarian Chain - Messier 84 & Messier 86

The constellation Virgo is absolutely brimming with galaxies and perhaps one of the finest examples is the Markarian Chain pictured above.  Each nonpoint source of light is, in fact, a galaxy.  Named for the Armenian astronomer Benjamin Markarian who discovered they share a common motion (at least 7 appear to move together), this stunning chain of galaxies forms a beautiful curve through the night sky.  Messier 84 and 86 anchor the lower right portion of the chain.  M84 is the galaxy in the lower right corner and the next one up the curve is M86.  

Photo Details

May 6-7, 2016

Orion 8" Astrograph on VX Mount

SBIG STF-8300C Camera

Baader MPC Mark III Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector

Skyglow filter

69 subframes at 3 minutes/frame

Total Exposure Time = 3 hours 27 minutes
Image Acquisition in CCDOps
Image Stacking in Deep Sky Tracker
Image Processing in PhotoShop

Transit of Mercury

Another celestial alignment occurred this morning as the planet Mercury passed between us and the Sun.  I was fortunate to have some breaks in the clouds and capture the image above.  I was also fortunate to share it with some students, colleagues and friends at the Test Track.  In the image above, Mercury is the very small, circular object in the lower half of the sun, the other amorphous blobs you see are sunspots.  It's incredible to see the Sun and Mercury like this as it forces our minds to consider the vastness of the Sun relative to Mercury and in turn, our own planet.  Mercury is about 40% of our own size, so if Earth were seen transiting in an image like this, we'd be a little over two times the small planet above.  In other words, incredibly small.  The next transit will be in November, 2019 and I hope to see it again.  After that, it won't occur again until 2032.  We'll hopefully have human exploration on Mars by then.  Stay tuned!

Moon Occults Aldebaran

Last night we had beautifully clear skies to see the moon occult the bright star Aldebaran.  An occultation is anything passes between an object and the observer.  In this case, the moon passed between us and the star.  We set up our telescope and binoculars so Jen and I could both view it in real time.  Since this was a blue-sky event occurring well before sunset (between 5:30 and 6:45 pm), it was pretty challenging to pick out the star in contrast to the brighter and larger moon in a sunlit sky.  At the eyepiece, it was absolutely stunning to see the star suddenly disappear behind the moon; like a light suddenly extinguished.  About an hour and 15 minutes later, Jen and I patiently waited for Aldebaran to rise over the lunar landscape.  We both were able to see it just as it popped back into view and then gain greater and greater separation from the moon.  To me it's simply staggering to think about this perfect cosmic alignment spanning 66.6 light years.  For about an hour, earth, the moon and this distant star formed a straight line stretching 391,140,000,000,000 miles.

The picture above was taken a little later in the evening, once the sky had grown more fully dark.  The moon is obvious and Aldebaran is in the lower right corner.  I thought about trying to capture Aldebaran as it just came back into view but figured I'd mess up the exposure and didn't want to miss it.  Seeing it live was well worth it!