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Douglas Rollain

Lion Nebula SH2-132 - RC71

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Posts Made By: Jim Thommes

November 8, 2008 11:38 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Helix Nebula - NGC 7293

Posted By Jim Thommes
Here is a shot of the Helix Nebula taken from the mountains just east of San Diego. There was a fortunate conspiracy of good seeing, clear skies and good guiding for this image. In addition to RGB exposures, I took both H-Alpha and broadband luminance (with IR/UV blocking filter). I am glad I did both the H-Alpha and Luminance - their blended result produced a better image than either separately. A full size image and exposure / processing details are at:

http://jthommes.com/Astro/Helix.htm

Scope C8 @f/4.8
Artemis285 H-Alpha, IR/UV Blocking, RGB filter exposures
G11/Gemini
Guiding - Megrez II at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding

I have imaged this object a couple of time previously. Those images can be seen here:

2005: http://jthommes.com/MiscAstro/Archives/Helix.htm

2003: http://jthommes.com/MiscAstro/Archives/HelixA.htm
(Caution, this one may hurt the eyes)

November 16, 2008 12:06 AM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

The Orion Nebula and Running Man

Posted By Jim Thommes
Yes it's that time of the year, and this part of the sky gets a lot of imaging attention. I see that Ivan and Wei-Hao have made excellent compositions and recently posted them.

I wanted to be one of those imaging M42 and the Running Man - this time with a DSLR. I had done each object indiviually before with a CCD. M42 has a lot of dynamic range in the object. Even with taking some short 40 second exposures, I burned out the Trapezium. Also a bit noisy at the edges.

A full size image and exposure / processing details are at:

http://jthommes.com/Astro/DSLR/M42-NGC1977.htm

There were several exposure sets - 40 sec, 2 minute, 6 minute, and a 12 minute H-Alpha set.

Megrez II at f/5.6 (with WO FFIII reducer /Flattener)
Canon 350D (ACF modified) all exposures ISO800, Unfiltered and Astronomik H-Alpha EOS Clip
G11/Gemini
Guiding - C8 at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding


November 24, 2008 05:47 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Sharpless 132 - Cepheus

Posted By Jim Thommes
Here is an image of Sharpless 132. Full size image and exposure / processing details are at:

http://jthommes.com/Astro/Sh2-132.htm

Megrez II 80 mm at f/5.9
Artemis285 (HA, RGB)
G11/Gemini
Guiding - C8 at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, Phd Guiding

December 15, 2008 03:54 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

First Light - Horsehead and Flame

Posted By Jim Thommes
Here is an old favorite for this time of year - Horsehead and Flame. It is also first light on a WO Zenithstar 66 APO that I recently picked up. I also used the WO FFIII (works well for both the WO 80 mm and WO 66). Between the two I can range from 555 mm FL to 280 mm FL. This image was at the 280 mm FL - remember, I have a small CCD.

I used an H-Alpha filter on some 10 minute exposures. There was some star trailing - which I processed out - but the nebula softness was not correctable. I think the single foot mountinmg on the Zenithstar causes some flexure; guiding was fine. I'm going to get rings for it - I think it will help.

Anyway, the image as well as exposure and processing details are here:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/Horsehead-Flame.htm

Zenithstar 66 mm APO at f/4.3
Artemis285 IR/UV Block, H-Alpha, RGB
G11/Gemini
Guiding - C8 at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding

An older image made in 2005 is here:

http://www.jthommes.com/MiscAstro/Archives/Horsehead-Flame.htm



December 23, 2008 04:13 AM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

California Nebula NGC 1499 - Canon 350D

Posted By Jim Thommes
Greetings All,

Here is an image of the California Nebula. I did it with my Canon 350D. This is a filter modified camera (Baader ACF) for improved red spectrum response. I also used the Astronomiks H-Alpha EOS clip filter for some of the exposures. Image as well as exposure / processing details are at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/DSLR/NGC1499.htm
(there are higher resolution links provided)

Megrez II 80 mm APO at f/5.4
Canon 350D (Baader ACF filter Mod) Unfiltered and H-Alpha EOS Clip filter
G11/Gemini
Guiding - C8 at 1350 mm, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding

December 31, 2008 11:40 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

NGC 1365

Posted By Jim Thommes
This lovely southern spiral galaxy barely gets to 20 degrees above my horizion. It was really tough shootinh in ythe murk, but I think it turned out OK - I was happy with it. I took shorter subframes and binned 2x2 for the luminance and 3x3 for the color. A full size image and exposure / processing details are at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/Newest%20Images.htm
http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/NGC1365.htm

Scope - C8 at f/6.7
Camera - Artemis285
G11/Gemini
Guiding - Megrez 80 mm at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD guiding

January 4, 2009 12:02 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Polaris and Ursa Major - Slightly OT

Posted By Jim Thommes
I recently picked up a laptop for field work - nothing special 4 years used. But it left me with a second field laptop. I have an CG5-GT mount I haven't used much recently, so I decided to employ a second imaging set up (DSLR widefield) for when I am at the dark site and otherwise killing time during a long exposure set on my main setup.

I tried it out before the end of the year. I wanted to basically test it so I went real easy, I turned the tracking off smile . I went for some star trailing shots that can be seen here:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/DSLR/Polaris.htm
http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/DSLR/Ursa%20Major.htm

Optic - EF18-55 lens at 18 mm f/4.5
Camera - Canon XT 350D
ASGT Mount - (Tracking off)


January 13, 2009 03:28 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Barnard's Loop and NGC 2112

Posted By Jim Thommes
Well, not all of Barnard's Loop - but the brighter parts of it at least. This image was done with my 180 mm Vivitar SLR lens. Not the best glass, but it is workable. Star shapes can get kind of weird with this lens and some star repair was needed. Full size image and exposure and processing details are at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/BarLoop-NGC2112.htm

Optic - Vivitar 180mm SLR lens at f/4.0
Camera - Artemis285
G11/Gemini
Guiding - C8 at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding

January 19, 2009 12:51 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Rosette Nebula - HA and RGB

Posted By Jim Thommes
Here is a popular object this time of year - I will add my offering to this year's crop. This was my last data capture of 2008 - Ha and RGB of the Rosette Nebula with my relatively new Zenithstar 66. Image and exposure / processing details are at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/rosette.htm

Scope - Zenithstar 66 (William Optics) at f/4.5 - with WO FFIII
Camera - Artemis285 Ha (Astronomiks 13nm) and Edmund Optics RGB filters
G11/Gemini
Guiding - C8 at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding




January 27, 2009 04:09 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

NGC 1398

Posted By Jim Thommes
Here is a pic that is more of a CCD sketch than an image. I took some quick data while I was waiting for a planned object to get higher. This is NGC 1398 and I thought it worth a post in that it is a pretty remarkable object. I have enjoyed observing and imaging barred galaxies. This one is really quite a bit brighter in the center if presented in a linear stretch. Image and exposure / processing detail is at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/NGC1398.htm

Scope - C8 at f/7
Camera - Artemis285
G11/Gemini
Guiding - Megrez II at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding

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