Emission, planetary, reflection & dark nebulae and supervova remnants (click thumbnails to enlarge)


NGC 281
NGC 281
NGC 281
NGC 281
M16
M16
NGC 7635
NGC 7635
NGC 7635
NGC 7635
NGC 6992 Veil Nebula in Ha
NGC 6992 Veil Nebula in Ha
NGC 6992 Veil Nebula in Ha closeup
NGC 6992 Veil Nebula in Ha closeup
NGC 6992 Veil Nebula in Ha and OIII
  • Date - August 2008
  • Telescope - TMB 115 f7
  • Mount - Paramount ME
  • Camera - Starlight Xpress SXVF H36
  • Exposures - 9x10 minutes unguided each with Ha and OIII
  • Acquisition software - Maxim DL
  • Processing software - Photoshop CS2
Although the sky was clear as far as clouds were concerned the seeing wasn't very good, the sky appearing hazy and never getting completely dark, extra processing was needed to remove the effects of this
">NGC 6992 Veil Nebula in Ha and OIII
NGC 6992 Veil Nebula in Ha and OIII
NGC 6992 Veil Nebula in Ha and OIII closeup
NGC 6992 Veil Nebula in Ha and OIII closeup
NGC 6992 in Ha and OIII + synthetic blue channel
NGC 6992 in Ha and OIII + synthetic blue channel
NGC 6992 in Ha and OIII + synthetic blue channel closeup

This is just a closeup cropped section of the previous image
">NGC 6992 in Ha and OIII + synthetic blue channel
NGC 6992 in Ha and OIII + synthetic blue channel
NGC 6992 in Ha, OIII and OIII

Again following a suggestion from another imager who said that he adds some OIII data to the blue channel to give a variation in the colour palette
">NGC 6992 in Ha, OIII and OIII
NGC 6992 in Ha, OIII and OIII
NGC 6992 in Ha, OIII and OIII closeup
NGC 6992 in Ha, OIII and OIII closeup
NGC 281
NGC 281
NGC 281
NGC 281
IC 5146
IC 5146
NGC 6960 & NGC 6979 in H & OIII

  • Date - September 2008
  • Telescope - TMB 115 f7
  • Mount - Paramount ME
  • Camera - Starlight Xpress SXVF H36
  • Exposures - 6x10 minutes each for Ha & OIII unguided
  • Acquisition software - Maxim DL
  • Processing software - Photoshop CS2

Clear enough skies for 2 hours of imaging and a 3/4 moon close by, need more time for each channel

This image has been voted picture of the week for www.stargazerslounge.com for week commencing September 14th 2008

">NGC 6960 & NGC 6979 in Ha and OIII
NGC 6960 & NGC 6979 in Ha and OIII
NGC 6960 & NGC 6979 in Ha & OIII colour variation
NGC 6960 & NGC 6979 in Ha & OIII colour variation
NGC 6888 "Crescent nebula" in Ha and OIII

  • Date - September 2008
  • Telescope - TMB 115 f7
  • Mount - Paramount ME
  • Camera - Starlight Xpress SXVF H36
  • Exposures - 6x10 minutes unguided for Ha and 12x10 minutes unguided for OIII
  • Acquisition software - Maxim DL
  • Processing software - Photoshop CS2

Some patchy cloud towards the beginning of the imaging run may have affected some of the Ha subframes

">NGC 6888
NGC 6888
NGC 6888
NGC 6888
NGC 7822 in Cepheus in Ha
NGC 7822 in Cepheus in Ha
NGC 6888
NGC 6888
Van den Berg 142 (Elephant's Trunk Nebula) in SII, Ha and OIII

  • Date - October 2008
  • Telescope - TMB 115 f7
  • Mount - Paramount ME
  • Camera - Starlight Xpress SXVF H36
  • Exposures - 6x10 minutes unguided each with Ha, OIII and SII filters
  • Acquisition software - Maxim DL
  • Processing software - Photoshop CS2

The sky was clear which allowed me to get an hour for each filter but as usual the weather turned and fog and cloud came in but I am very pleased with the end result, a lot of adjustments to each channel was necessary to get the desired colour balance

">Van den Berg 142 in SII, Ha and OIII
Van den Berg 142 in SII, Ha and OIII
Van den Berg 142 in SII, Ha and OIII closeup
Van den Berg 142 in SII, Ha and OIII closeup
Van den Berg 142 in SII,Ha and OIII reprocessed
Van den Berg 142 in SII,Ha and OIII reprocessed
VdB 142 in SII, HA, OIII closeup reprocessed
VdB 142 in SII, HA, OIII closeup reprocessed
NGC 7635, M52 + neighbours in SII, Ha and OIII

  • Date - October 2008
  • Telescope - TMB 115 f7
  • Mount - Paramount ME
  • Camera - Starlight Xpress SXVF H36
  • Exposures - 6x10 minutes unguided each for SII, Ha and OIII filters
  • Acquisition software - Maxim DL
  • Processing software - Photoshop CS2

The weather was clear until about 4.30am  when fog came in which put a stop to the imaging run, I ideally need more data for the OIII and SII channels in comparison with the Ha

">NGC 7635 in SII, Ha and OIII
NGC 7635 in SII, Ha and OIII
NGC 7635 in SII, Ha and OIII closeup
NGC 7635 in SII, Ha and OIII closeup
IC 1318 in Ha SII Ha OIII
IC 1318 in Ha SII Ha OIII
IC 1318 reprocessed
IC 1318 reprocessed
B33 & NGC 2024
B33 & NGC 2024
NGC 2244 & NGC 2237-9,46 "Rosette Nebula" in HST palette

  • Date - October 2008
  • Telescope - TMB 115 f7
  • Mount - Paramount ME
  • Camera - Starlight Xpress SXVF H36
  • Exposures - 7x10 minutes Ha 7x10 minutes OIII 6x10 minutes SII unguided
  • Acquisition software - Maxim DL
  • Processing Software - Photoshop CS2

I managed to get just over 3 hours worth of subframes in before it got light, the last SII subframe was ruined by rapidly advancing daylight. I will try reprocessing this later using a different palette to see what effect the different colour schemes have

">NGC 2244 & NGC 2237-9,46 in HST palette
NGC 2244 & NGC 2237-9,46 in HST palette
NGC 2244 & NGC 2237-9,46 HST palette reprocessed
NGC 2244 & NGC 2237-9,46 HST palette reprocessed
NGC 2244 & NGC 2237-9,46 Reverse HST palette
NGC 2244 & NGC 2237-9,46 Reverse HST palette
NGC 2244 & NGC 2237-9,46 Traditional NB palette
NGC 2244 & NGC 2237-9,46 Traditional NB palette
NGC 2244 & NGC 2237-9,46 in HaOIIOII
NGC 2244 & NGC 2237-9,46 in HaOIIOII
NGC 2174/5 "Monkey Head Nebula" in Ha

  • Date - October 2008
  • Telescope - TMB 115 f7
  • Mount - Paramount ME
  • Camera - Starlight Xpress SXVF H36
  • Exposures - 1x20 minutes unguided with Ha filter
  • Acquisition software - Maxim DL
  • Processing software - Photoshop CS2

This was an experiment at the end of a clear imaging session and I thought I would see how far I could push the Paramount ME as far as unguided exposures are concerned and I am amazed tat I am still getting round stars with 20 minutes with no PEC or guiding, the quality of the pictur is poor due to the rapidly advancing daylight

This image has been voted image of the week on www.myastrospace.com for week commencing November 11th 2008

">NGC 2174/5
NGC 2174/5
B 33 & NGC 2024 in Ha Ha SII OIII
B 33 & NGC 2024 in Ha Ha SII OIII
B33 & NGC 2024 in Ha Ha SII OIII reprocessed
B33 & NGC 2024 in Ha Ha SII OIII reprocessed
IC 1848
IC 1848
M1
M1
M1
M1
M1
M1
M1
M1
IC 1805
IC 1805
IC 1805 "Heart Nebula" cropped closeup

This is just a cropped section of the central part of the nebula showing what appears to be a know of gas

">IC 1805
IC 1805
NGC 896
NGC 896
IC 1805 Reprocessed
IC 1805 Reprocessed
IC 1848 Reprocessed
IC 1848 Reprocessed
IC 443 "Jellyfish Nebula" in HST palette

  • Date - December 2008
  • Telescope - TMB 115 f7
  • Mount - Paramount ME
  • Camera - Starlight Xpress SXVF H36
  • Exposures - 6x10 minutes (Ha), 10x10 minutes (OIII) and 5x10 minutes (SII) all unguided
  • Acquisition software - Maxim DL
  • Processing software - Photoshop CS2

Not enough subframes as subject went behind a tree and some cloud interupted some of the session

">IC 443
IC 443
IC 1805
IC 1805
IC 410 in Ha
IC 410 in Ha
IC 410 in Ha close up
IC 410 in Ha close up
Cone and fox fur nebulae in Ha
Cone and fox fur nebulae in Ha
IC 443 Jelly fish nebula in Ha
IC 443 "Jelly fish" nebula in Ha
M 97 Owl nebula in HST palette
M 97 "Owl" nebula in HST palette
M 97 Owl nebula in HST palette close up
M 97 "Owl" nebula in HST palette close up