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Lion Nebula SH2-132 - RC71

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Posts Made By: Jim Thommes

February 5, 2009 04:09 AM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Orion Belt and Sword

Posted By Jim Thommes
This is a pretty popular region of the sky this time of year.

Here is a wide field image of Orion's belt and sword. Interestingly enough, this was done with the Canon EF18-55 Kit lens. Its not ideal glass, but it is a fun shot. Image and exposure / processing details are at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/DSLR/Orion.htm

Lens - Canon EF18-55 mm at 55mm
Camera - Canon 350D (Baader ACF modified). otherwise unfiltered
Celestron ASGT mount (yes, I have dragged this out of the closet)
Guiding - none

10 x 8 minute (no filters) ISO 800, 8 Darks

February 10, 2009 04:39 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Sharpless 302

Posted By Jim Thommes
Boy, some of these guys are pretty dim. This is Sharpless 302 with 12 minute Ha exposures on my Artemis285. The signal level was still low, but it stretched reasonably well. An image as well as exposure / processing details is at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/Sh2-302.htm

C8 at f/4.2
Artemis285 Ha, RGB filters
G11/Gemini mount
Guiding - WO Megrez II at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PhD Guiding

February 11, 2009 04:42 AM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

M36 Region and Milky Way (very wide field)

Posted By Jim Thommes
Here is an image of a wide patch of sky centered on M36. This is a 23 degree field with my Canon 350D - with just the kit lens at 55 mm zoom. M36,M37, and M38 are visible. You can also see some red smudges for IC 405 and IC 410. Image and exposure / processing details are at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/DSLR/M36Region%20WF.htm

Optic - Canon EF18-55 mm (at 55 mm)
Canon 350D (Baader ACF modified) no filters
Celestron ASGT mount (CG5-GT)
Unguided

February 20, 2009 04:30 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Christmas Tree and Cluster NGC 2264

Posted By Jim Thommes
This is an image taken with my Zenithstar 66 APO and Artemis285 Camera. I used some 15 minute H-Alpha exposures and they helped me to identify a flexure problem I was having with the little Zenithstar. Despite some of the star trailing, it was repairable in the processing and the image came out OK. Image and exposure / processing details are at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/ngc2264.htm

Scope - Zenithstar 66 APO at f/4.8
Camera - Artemis285 HA, IR/UV Block, RGB
Mount - G11/Gemini
Guiding - C8 at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding

Some older images are here:

2005:
http://www.jthommes.com/MiscAstro/Archives/ngc2264.htm

2003:
http://www.jthommes.com/MiscAstro/Archives/ngc2264B.htm


March 13, 2009 09:56 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Anna's Hummingbird - Feeding Animations

Posted By Jim Thommes
Greetings,
My wife and I have had Anna's Hummingbirds nesting in our back yard for several years running. In 2009 Danielle suggested that I turn my Astro Telescopes onto a terrestrial subject - possibly get a few closeups of a momma hummingbird and her chicks.

The effort turned into a fun project of capturing several weeks of the hummingbird's nesting and caring for two little chicks.

I have attached one picture, but I have many others including some feeding animations of the little chicks here:

http://www.jthommes.com/Hummers/

The optics was a William Optics 80 mm Megrez II APO. The camera was a Canon 350D with its IR filter modified for Astronomy so the white balance is a custom setting to compensate.


March 16, 2009 05:53 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

NGC 4565

Posted By Jim Thommes
Greetings,
Seems I have been busy with non astronomy things. I thought I would check back in to the group with an image that I got the exposures on back in January. This is NGC 4565. Image and exposure / processing details are at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/NGC4565.htm

The orientation is a bit unconventional, North is to the left - I felt it was a more natural presentation of the object.

Scope - C8 at f/7.5
Camera - Artemis 285 (LRGB filters)
Mount - G11 Gemini
Guiding - WO Megrez II at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding



March 20, 2009 04:01 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Sharpless 278

Posted By Jim Thommes
Here is a pretty dim emission nebula in Orion (at least dim by my short exposure standards). I know it is galaxy season and kinda late for this object, but I got the data Mid January and I thought I would get it processed before the summer snuck up on me. This object lies midway between M42 and the Witch Head. A full size image and exposure / processing details are at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/Sh2-278.htm

Scope - WO Zenithstar 66 APO
Camera - Artemis285 - Ha RGB filters
Mount - G11/Gemini
Guiding - C8 at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding

March 24, 2009 11:17 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

The Owl - M97

Posted By Jim Thommes
Hi All,
I did an image of the Owl a few nights back. The Owl is well known for its OIII emissions. Richard Crisp has done a nice Ha OIII image of the Owl. Unfortunately my green filter is very poor on the OIII emission line so a straight LRGB combine renders the object rather blue with my setup. (I really am going to get some good RGBs one of these days.) I corrected by doing a 24% Hard light application of the blue channel on the green. It was the best I could do.

A full size image is at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/M97.htm

Scope - C8 at f7.7
Camera - Artemis285 LRGB filters
Mount - G11/Gemini (McClennan Gearbox modified)
Guiding - Megrez II at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding


March 30, 2009 05:59 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M101 (with a little Ha)

Posted By Jim Thommes
Here is a recent image of M101 somewhat close up. I also got a little H-Alpha data and merged it with the red channel. Image and exposure / processing details are here:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/M101C.htm

Scope - C8 at f/6.4
Camera - Artemis285 H-Alpha, LRGB filters
Mount - G11/Gemini
Guiding - WO Megrez II at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD guiding

A wider field image taken in 2005 is here:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/M101.htm

April 3, 2009 05:46 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Virgo Galaxies

Posted By Jim Thommes
I did a wide field image of several galaxies in Virgo and Coma Berenices - pardon the DSLR post. I realize later that I have 5 Messier objects in the one image. Had I thought about it, a little focal length adjustment and I think I could have gotten 9 in one image - Oh well, next time. A full image is at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/DSLR/VirgoGalaxies.htm
(be sure to click on link or image for full resolution image)

Scope - Zenithstar 66 mm at f/4.6
Camera - Canon 350D (Baader ACF modified) 15 exposures 5 minutes each ISO 800
Mount - CG5 - Goto
Guiding - 38 mm reducer lens converted to 180 mm FL refractor, Vesta 690 LE webcam, K3CCDTools


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