M81 and M82

Another reprocess.  M81, also known as Bode's Galaxy, and M82.

Camera: QHY8

Mount: Celestron CGEM

Scope: Celestron 800 8" SCT with Hyperstar

Filter: None

Effective Focal Length: 400mm

Effective Focal Ratio: f/2.0

Exposure: 8 x 8min OSC

Total Exposure: 1hrs, 20min

Date: 6/13/2010 12:10 AM CDT (start)

Location: Owasso, OK, USA

Acquisition: CCD Commander/Maxim DL Platesolve

Focus: Robofocus

Dithering: None

Guiding: ST-80, SSAG, CCD Commander, Maxim DL

 

Processing:  Calibration & Stacking in Maxim DL, Background and wavelets in PixInsight, 

Curves, noise, and sharpening in Photoshop.

NGC 7000

This is a reprocess of NGC 7000 with a trial version of Pixinsight.  In less than an hour, I went from skeptic to believer.  This emission nebula is also known as the North American Nebula (mine is rotated 90d ccw).  Part of the Pelican nebula can be seen at the top of the photo.

Camera: QHY8

Mount: Celestron CGEM

Scope: Celestron 800 8" SCT with Hyperstar

Filter: None

Effective Focal Length: 400mm

Effective Focal Ratio: f/2.0

Exposure: 8 x 10min OSC

Total Exposure: 1hrs, 20min

Date: 6/13/2010 3:10 AM CDT (start)

Location: Owasso, OK, USA

Acquisition: CCD Commander/Maxim DL Platesolve

Focus: Robofocus

Dithering: None

Guiding: ST-80, SSAG, CCD Commander, Maxim DL

NGC 6960 is the western end of the veil nebula and is also known as the Witch's Broom.  It is the remnants of a supernova approximately 1800 light-years away.

Camera: QHY8

Mount: Celestron CGEM

Scope: Celestron 800 8" SCT with Hyperstar

Filter: None

Effective Focal Length: 400mm

Effective Focal Ratio: f/2.0

Exposure: 10 x 10min OSC

Total Exposure: 1hrs, 40min

Date: 6/20/2010 11:55 PM CDT (start)

Location: Owasso, OK, USA

Acquisition: CCD Commander/Maxim DL Platesolve

Focus: Robofocus

Dithering: None

Guiding: ST-80, SSAG, CCD Commander, Maxim DL

NGC 6888 widefield

NGC 6888, also known as the Crescent Nebula, is a cosmic bubble approximately 5,000 light-years away. It was formed by the stellar wind emanating from its central star, WR 136, which is classified as a Wolf-Rayet star. This emission nebula is approximately 25 light-years across.

QHY8 OSC 24x9min
Taken June 17th, 2010
CGEM 800, Hyperstar, ~400mm
Moderate seeing, Moderate LP