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Posts Made By: Jim Thommes

April 6, 2009 10:39 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

NGC 4631 - Whale Galaxy

Posted By Jim Thommes
Or sometimes it is called the Herring Galaxy? Also, seems that my camera was a bit tilted. Most show the Whale as surfacing - mine seems to be diving. Image with exposure and processing details is at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/NGC4631C.htm

Scope - C8 at f/6.9
Camera - Artemis285 LRGB filters
Mount - G11/Gemini
Guiding - WO Megrez 80 mm at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding


April 13, 2009 10:10 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Wide Field in Coma Berenices

Posted By Jim Thommes
Here is a wide field shot with some familiar galaxies and some not so familiar ones. It is also a part of the sky with several bright stars in a small area. I think I am practicing some wide field stuff for the summer Milky Way.

I left the background kind of high so some of the fainter objects are visible. The edge stars were a bit affected by the short focal length so I merged a layer that used the star repair plugin for Photoshop. There is a full resolution version link for those of you who want to see the gory details.

Image and exposure / processing details are here:

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

Scope - Zenithstar 66 APO at f/4.6 using the WO FFIII reducer/Flattener
Camera - Canon 350D ISO800 18 images, 8 darks
Mount - Celestron CG-5 GOTO
Guiding - 38 mm reducer lens at 180 mm FL, Vesta 690 LE, K3CCDTools


April 16, 2009 06:10 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Seldom Imaged Galaxy - Draco

Posted By Jim Thommes
I think some of you have imaged this guy though. NGC 4236 is a galaxy spanning about 22 arc minutes in Draco. I suspect it is not frequently visited due to its low surface brightness. Its odd that it is dim yet relatively close (as part of the M81 group). I actually binned the luminance 2x2 in order to get reasonable signal level. The image and exposure / processing details are here:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/NGC4236.htm

Scope - C8 at f/6.4
Camera - Artemis285 - IR/UV Block, RGB filters
Mount - G11/Gemini
Guiding - WO Megrez 80 mm at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD guiding

April 23, 2009 06:25 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M95, M96, M105 Wide Field

Posted By Jim Thommes
Yep, I am still practicing wide field images. Here is M95, M96, and M105. Image and exposure / processing details are here:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/DSLR/M95_96_105.htm

I have provided several resolution scales including a full resolution version. I am also using my small travel set up rather than the G11. (It was engaged in another image that evening.)

Scope - Zenithstar 66 mm APO with WO FFIII at f/4.6
Camera - Canon 350D with Baader ACF mod - ISO 800
Mount - Celestron CG5 GOTO
Guiding - 180 mm FL, Vesta 690, K3CCDTools

May 3, 2009 11:55 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Splinter or Knife Edge Galaxy

Posted By Jim Thommes
Here is NGC 5907 in Draco. I got these images a little over a month ago but events have delayed my posting until now. It apparently has two common names. Full size image and exposure / processing details are here:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/NGC5907.htm

This object has a tidal halo surrounding it that R Jay GaBany captured in one of last year's APODs. My meager 2 hrs does not come close to catching any of those photons, but the galaxy comes through nicely.

Scope - C8 at f/6.4
Camera - Artemis285 IR/UV Block and RGB filters
Mount - G11/Gemini
Guiding - Megrez II at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, PHD Guiding


May 6, 2009 06:01 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Elegant Trogon

Posted By Jim Thommes
On a recent trip to Portal, Arizona, a group I was with spotted this parrot like bird on the South Fork of Cave Creek. The images are really not too notable, but it is a somewhat rare observation so I thought I would share it.

http://www.jthommes.com/Portal/
(you can click on the thumbnails for larger image)

May 7, 2009 09:53 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M81 and M82

Posted By Jim Thommes
Here is a wide field image of M81 and M82 and a few other friends in the group. I was at my favorite dark site, but the wind was howling - my tent blew down. So what do you do when it is windy? - Shoot wide fields! Image and exposure / processing details are here:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/DSLR/M81wide.htm

Scope - Zenithstar 66 mm APO with FFIII
Camera - Canon 350D (Bader ACF modified) ISO 800
Mount - Celestron CG5 GOTO
Guiding - Home made 180mm FL guider, Vesta 690, K3CCDTools

May 11, 2009 05:27 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Rho Ophi Complex

Posted By Jim Thommes
I had obtained a Sigma 150mm APO lens recently. This image is actually first light (astronomy target) for this optic. As you can see from the bright stars in the image, the FStop iris is nine vane (producing 18 spikes). This lens on an APS-c size sensor gives about 8 degrees in vertical portrait. Full image and processing details are at:

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

Scope - Sigma APO 150 mm lens at f3/3.5
Camera - Canon 350D (Baader ACF modified), no filters, ISO 800 and 1600
Mount - Celestron CG-5 GOTO
Guiding - Home made guide scope 180mm FL, Vesta 690, K3CCDTools

May 21, 2009 04:41 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

NGC 4244

Posted By Jim Thommes
This edge on galaxy ended up being somewhat lacking in features (at least in my image). I thought I would still post it. You can see the image and exposure / processing details at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/NGC4244.htm

Scope - C8 @ f/6.7
Camera - Artemis285 L-RGB (Astronomik)
Mount - G11/Gemini
Guiding - Megrez II at 1350 mm FL, DSI Pro, Phd Guiding

May 22, 2009 01:03 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Beehive - wide field

Posted By Jim Thommes
Nothing too special... It's actually pretty late season for this object, but I did it while I was waiting for another target to rise. It's a full 4 degree field, but the Beehive does not get lost in it. Image is at:

http://www.jthommes.com/Astro/DSLR/M44.htm

Scope - Zenithstar 66 APO at f/4.4 (WO - FF/III)
Camera - Canon 350D (Baader ACF modified)
Mount - Celestron CG5 - GOTO
Guiding - Home made 180mm FL optic, Vesta 690 LE, K3CCDTools

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