View allAll Photos Tagged Subframing
Full write up here: theastroenthusiast.com/a-luminous-m101-with-outer-spiral-...
Big, beautiful spiral galaxy M101 is one of the last entries in Charles Messier’s famous catalog, but definitely not one of the least. About 170,000 light-years across, this galaxy is enormous, almost twice the size of our own Milky Way galaxy. M101 was also one of the original spiral nebulae observed by Lord Rosse’s large 19th century telescope, the Leviathan of Parsontown. M101 shares this modern telescopic field of view with more distant background galaxies, foreground stars within the Milky Way, and a companion dwarf galaxy NGC 5474 (upper left). The colors of the Milky Way stars can also be found in the starlight from the large island universe. Its core is dominated by light from cool yellowish stars. Along its grand design spiral arms are the blue colors of hotter, young stars mixed with obscuring dust lanes and pinkish star forming regions. Also known as the Pinwheel Galaxy, M101 lies within the boundaries of the northern constellation Ursa Major, about 23 million light-years away. Its companion NGC 5474 has likely been distorted by its past gravitational interactions with the dominant M101.
I chose to dump a lot of integration time with longer subframes (28 hours worth of 3 minute frames) to try to reveal some of the fainter outer arms not shown in most astrographs. I think I succeeded quite well – you can see the three fainter arms take shape on the left side of the galaxy. Compared to my last image of M101, this is quite the improvement!
You can view all the background galaxies in this image: flic.kr/p/2n8WdGu
Website: theastroenthusiast.com/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_astronomy_enthusiast/
Starless verison
Original image : flic.kr/p/2mDTTGu
-Equipment-
Scope: TS-Optics 94/414 EPDH (414mm focal)
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro at -5°C
Guiding: ZWO OAG
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI 120MM
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ5
Filter: Astronomik L
-Acquisition-
Light :Panel-1 60x300s
Panel-2 60x300s
Panel-3 52x300s
Panel-4 60x300s
Dark-100x300s Flat-50 Bias-100
Date : Take on 2 night 05 September2021
and 10 October 2021
Location : France-Alsace Bortle 4/5
-Software-
Carte du Ciel, N.I.N.A, Phd2 , PoleMaster and PixInsight
Ez Processing Suite from darkarcon
darkarcon website : darkarchon.internet-box.ch:8443/
-Pre Processing each panels in PixInsight-
Image Calibration
Cosmetic Correction
Debayer
Subframe Selector
Star Alignement
Local Normalization
Drizzle x2
Dynamic crop
-Build the 4 panel mozaic
It's my first 4 panel mosaic so I follow this tutorial from Amy Astro www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0f8Tl_kC0A
-Processing
DBE master Light
Split L,R,G,B layer from Master light
__L__
Ez_Deconvolution
Ez_Denoise
Ez_Soft Streatch
Ez_HDR
UnsharpedMask with mask
__RGB__
Linear Fit
BackgroundNeutralization
PhotometricColorCalibration
Ez_Soft Streatch
Starnet++
CuvesTransformation with mask
A lot of curves...
Bring back stars with PixelMath
__LRGB__
LRGBCombination
Final CurvesTransformation
Ez_Star Reduction
DarkStructureEnhance script
Starnet++ for remove stars
Save as jpg
Clear Skies !
Tici Microcar (1971) Engine 998cc BMC A Series S4
Production 40 approx
Registration Number JCU 300 K (Leicester)
Pronounced Titchy
The project was created by British designer Anthony Hill, a Royal College of Art graduate and industrial design consultant based in Nottinghamshire. Before developing the TiCi, Hill had worked on everything from motorcycles and domestic appliances to wheelchairs, locomotives, and even marine projects. During the 1960s he became fascinated with the idea of a minimal urban commuter vehicle and founded TiCi Cars Ltd in 1966. The first prototype appeared in 1968. It was just six feet long and used a Triumph 500cc motorcycle engine combined with a highly experimental interconnected suspension system. Hill later returned to the idea with a more practical second-generation design, now known as the TiCi II. This version adopted Mini mechanical components but remained dramatically smaller than the donor car. Measuring only 89 inches long, it was roughly three feet shorter than a standard Mini. The wheelbase and track width were both set at exactly 50 inches, creating almost square proportions. The TiCi used a lightweight monocoque structure with a fiberglass body supplied in three separate sections. The entire Mini front subframe, complete with the A-Series engine and transmission, was relocated to the rear of the car, effectively making it a mid-engined machine. The front suspension was specially engineered because conventional Mini components would not fit the unusual dimensions. Despite its appearance the TiCi incorporated genuine safety engineering, including a reinforced windscreen surround and integrated crash structures. The removable roof panel and optional tiny fiberglass added some weather protection
Production officially began in 1972 after the TiCi debuted at the Evening News Motor Show Boat event, a floating motor show held aboard a Townsend Thoresen ferry. The car was promoted in Hot Car, Cars & Car Conversions, and Car Magazine, while television appearances on shows such as Tomorrow’s World, Blue Peter, and Record Breakers helped turn the TiCi into a cult sensation. Racing legend Stirling Moss became closely associated with the project and was frequently photographed driving a TiCi through central London. Inventor Clive Sinclair also supported the concept. Members of the rock and roll group Showaddywaddy owned several examples, while singer Eartha Kitt even appeared in promotional photos with the car. Around 40 TiCis are believed to have been built, with several exported overseas to Spain, Japan, and Cyprus. Most were sold as kits in yellow gelcoat finish, produced by Bourne Plastics
Diolch am 100,566,855 o olygiadau gwych, mae pob un ohonynt yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi'n fawr.
Thanks for 100,566,855 amazing views, every one is greatly appreciated.
Shot 12.11.2022, at the Classic Car Show, NEC, Marston Green, Birmingham REF 167-481
First Light with QHY163M
Gain:10
Offset:57
Camera: QHY163M Cooled CMOS to -30C
Telescope: 11" Celestron EdgeHD w/Hyperstar
Mount:Pier mounted CGEM-DX
46x30 second LUM subframes, unguided
I added some RGB from an older image
This is a stack of 8 150 s exposures taken around 2021-06-11 05:15 UT. The Leo Triplet consists of M65 (lower right), M66 (lower left) and NGC 3628 (top). These galaxies appear in Leo, about 8° north of the ecliptic. Since the inclination of Vesta's orbit is a bit over 7° to the ecliptic and its orbit is larger than Earth's, it can be photographed with the three galaxies.
Subframes taken with an Atik 314L+ color CCD on a HyperStar on a Celestron Edge HD 925. Preprocessing in Nebulosity; processing in PixInsight with final touches in Photoshop.
Vesta is the bright object in the lower right corner.
Some of the 50000 or so starlings that return each day at dusk to roost on the metal subframe of the pier - Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales
Manufacturer: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, Osnabrück - Germany / Volkswagen AG (VAG), Wolfsburg - Germany
Type: Typ 34 1500S Karmann Ghia Coupé
Production time: 1962 - 1965
Production outlet: 29,502
Production outlet: 42,505 (September 1961 - July 1969: 1500, 1500S and 1600 models)
Engine: 1493cc (HO4 OHV) four-cylinder boxer forced air-cooled
Power: 54 bhp / 4.200 rpm
Torque: 106 Nm / 2.400 rpm
Drivetrain: rear wheels
Speed: 145 km/h
Curb weight: 866 kg
Wheelbase: 94.5 inch
Chassis: central tubular frame with continuous deck, rear forked subframe and monocoque all-steel body
Steering: worm & roller with hydraulic damper
Gearbox: four-speed manual / all synchronized / floor shifter
Clutch: single dry plate disc
Carburettor: twin Solex 32 PDSIT downdraft
Fuel tank: 40 liter
Electric system: Bosch 6 Volts 77 Ah
Ignition system: distributor and coil
Brakes front: ATE hydraulic Duplex drums
Brakes rear: ATE hydraulic drums
Suspension front: independent lengthwise crank trailing arms, anti-roll bar connected to upper trailing links, crossed transverse round torsion spring rods, progressively acting rubber springs + hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers
Suspension rear: pendulum axle, double jointed CV joint trailing arms, transversely rotating torsion bars, progressively acting rubber springs + hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers
Rear axle: live swing type
Differential: spiral bevel 4.125:1
Wheels: 4½J x 15 safety rim wheels
Tires: 6.00S x 15L Bias 6-Ply tubeless
Options: Fichtel & Sachs Saxomat semi-automatic four speed transmission (an electromagnetic clutch with a centrifugal clutch used for idle), three-speed automatic transmission, Air Conditioning (USA), radio, electrically operated sliding steel sunroof
Special:
- The body, based on Typ 3 platform (VW 1500/1600) and for that called „große Karmann-Ghia“ / „big Karmann-Ghia“ in Germany, was restyled by Sergio Sartorelli from Carrozzeria Ghia SpA, Turin - Italy, but built by Karmann in Osnabrück - Germany.
- The Typ 34 was the flagship model of the entire Volkswagen line. It was the most expensive Volkswagen available (handcrafted body), the fastest, and the most luxurious (built-in fog lights, cigar lighter, electric clock, locking steering column, front & rear vent windows, variable wiper controls and luxurious interior).
- Initially, this would replace the original Type 14 Karmann Ghia, but later it was decided to assemble both types at the same time.
- Sales went bad because Type 34, nicknamed “Razor-Edge Ghia” in the UK, was almost as expensive as a Porsche 356 and it was not offered officially in the USA. But nowadays the USA has the largest number of known Typ 34’s Karmann Ghia’s left in the world (400 of the total 1,500 (officially registered) to 2,000 or so remaining.
- Currently, less than 1500 are worldwide registered at the “VW Type 34 Karmann Ghia Registry”, San Diego, California - USA.
- Production figures from Convertibles differences, but it is very likely that 12 vehicles (prototypes and zero-series) were built at Karmann in Osnabrück. Some sources mention 17 prototype units.
- Lorenz Karosserie GmbH, Wetter an der Ruhr, Northrhein Westfalen - Germany converted Coupé’s into Convertibles on customer request. There should have been about 20 Lorenz Convertibles.
This is part of my ongoing experiment to adapt one of my mono lunar/planetary cameras, a cooled ZWO ASI174MM, for deep sky work through my 300mm f/10 SCT. This is only a slightly trimmed LRGB image so M27 only just fits vertically in this close-up view. All luminance subframes were just 20 seconds each.
Practice experiments on two previous nights in the last week were ruined by a combination of poor skies with high cloud and some technical issues working out the right settings. I'm sure I can later improve on this image once I work out the optimum camera settings for the scope and add more data. The most important aspect was to gather appropriate dark and flat frames to ensure amp noise was removed.
The other parallel experiment was to abandon autoguiding and rely on the accuracy of my EQ8 mount.
Peter
L = 97x20 seconds
R = 13x30 seconds
G = 14 x30 seconds
B = 15x30 seconds
Peter
(español abajo) The pencil nebula, NGC 2736 in Vela, a very difficult target, about 24 hours in a mix HOO-L+HOO/LRGB (9 hours in O3 and 5 hours in Ha) from my backyard obs in La Colonia, Illapel, Chile. GSO RC 30cms scope, camera STF8300/AO-8, 8 and 16 min subframes at -35°C. Maxim-Registar-CCDStack-Photoshop software. This picture is dedicated to my daughters. Comments welcome, have a nice day !
La nebulosa del lápiz, también conocida como "el rayo de Herschel", NGC 2736, un blanco difícil en la constelación de Vela. Alrededor de 24 horas d exposición en una mezcla HOO-L+HOO/LRGB (con 9 horas de filtro O3 y 5 de H alfa), desde mi observatorio en La Colonia, Illapel, Chile. Telescopio GSO RC de 30 cms, cámara STF8300/AO-8, tomas de 8 y 16 minutos a -35°C. Softwares Maxim-Registar-CCDStack-Photoshop. Este trabajo está dedicado a mis hijas. Comentarios bienvenidos, que tengan un buen día...
The Cepheus Dust Complex: Dark Shark (LDN 1235), Anglerfish (LDN 1251) & vdB 152
Here is my 2-panel mosaic capturing a wide field of rich molecular clouds and dust complexes in the constellation Cepheus. Framing this region allowed me to capture not only the iconic Dark Shark Nebula but also several surrounding dark clouds and reflection nebulae embedded in the Integrated Flux Nebula (IFN).
MAIN OBJECTS IN THE FIELD:
- LDN 1235 (Dark Shark Nebula): Prominently swimming vertically near the center.
- vdB 149 & vdB 150: The two blue reflection nebulae glowing inside the body/head of the Shark.
- LDN 1251 (Anglerfish / Rotten Fish Nebula): Visible in the bottom-left corner with its distinct hook-like structure.
- vdB 152 (Wolf's Cave Nebula) & LDN 1217: The dark dust lane extending to the far right edge into the small blue reflection nebula vdB 152.
- Integrated Flux Nebula (IFN): Faint, high-latitude cosmic dust clouds surrounding the main targets across the entire field of view.
ACQUISITION DETAILS:
- Target: Cepheus Molecular Clouds (LDN 1235 / LDN 1251)
- Panels: 2-panel mosaic
- Subframes: 80 x 120s per panel (160 frames total)
- Total Integration Time: 5 hours 20 minutes (5h 20m)
EQUIPMENT:
- Telescope/Lens: Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
- Camera: Canon EOS 6D (Full Frame)
- Mount: Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro
- Controller/Guiding: ZWO ASIAIR Plus
PROCESSING:
- Stacked and stitched in PixInsight
- Star separation using StarXTerminator
- Background & dust stretch in PixInsight
- Final mosaic blending, color calibration, star reduction, and fine adjustments in Adobe Photoshop
****************************************************************************
Photographed 25 km east of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia, long. 134.04° E., lat. 23.76° S., between 23.24 and 23.46 CAST (Central Australian Standard Time)
* Altitude of centre of frame at time of exposures: 40-43°
* Temperature 12° C.
* Total exposure time: 10 minutes
* 105 mm focal length lens
___________________________________________
Description:
The star pattern in the constellation Scorpius (The Scorpion) is one of the most recognizable in the sky. The lower part of this pattern - the tail of the scorpion - lies very low in the sky as seen from the northern hemisphere. From southern latitudes, however, this part of the sky is directly overhead during nighttime hours in the months of April-July.
Our home galaxy, the Milky Way, passes through Scorpius, as can be seen in this view. Numerous pink hydrogen gas clouds and many star clusters are concentrated in this part of the sky as well.
This is the telescope and mount that I used for my astrophotography on this trip:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/28602350028
For a version of this photo WITH LABELS, click on your screen to the RIGHT of the photo, or click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/40663302100
__________________________________________
Technical information:
Nikkor AF-S 70-200 mm f/2.8 G ED VRII lens on Nikon D810a camera body, mounted on Sky-Watcher HEQ5 equatorial mount with Kirk Enterprises ball head
Seven stacked subframes; each frame:
ISO 3200; 1 minute exposure at f/4.5, 105 mm focal length, unguided (with LENR - long exposure noise reduction)
Subframes stacked in RegiStar;
Processed in Photoshop CS6 (levels, brightness, contrast)
****************************************************************************
Description:
Some celestial objects announce themselves with explosive violence. Others emerge in silence, hidden within the dust that will one day give birth to stars. The Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex belongs firmly to the latter, a vast and intricate region of interstellar gas and dust located roughly 460 light-years away in the constellation of Ophiuchus, making it one of the closest stellar nurseries to Earth.
Unlike the glowing hydrogen-rich nebulae that dominate many astrophotography images, Rho Ophiuchi is a masterpiece of reflection and obscuration, shot here in a single night in broadband under Bortle 4 skies. Its characteristic blue hues arise from starlight scattering off fine cosmic dust particles, while the deep reddish-brown lanes are enormous concentrations of colder dust dense enough to absorb and extinguish the light behind them. Embedded within this chaotic structure are newly forming stars, protostellar systems, and complex molecular clouds that continue to evolve over astronomical timescales.
This target presents a unique challenge for astrophotographers in Kuwait. At my latitude, Rho Ophiuchi never climbs particularly high in the sky, reaching a maximum altitude of only about 36 degrees above the horizon. Imaging through such a thick layer of atmosphere means fighting against increased turbulence, atmospheric extinction, gradients, and the relentless scattering effects caused by dust and humidity near the horizon. Capturing fine detail under these conditions requires patience, careful calibration, and many hours of integration.
This image was captured using my dual Askar 140 APO setup operating at a focal length of 784.2mm. By combining two identical refractors simultaneously, I was able to produce an image I can truly be proud of in a single night.
Equipment:
Imaging Telescopes: 2x Askar 140APO
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Equatorial mounts used: Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Pro · ZWO AM5N
Filters:
Antlia Luminance 36 mm
Chroma Blue 36 mm
Chroma Green 36 mm
Chroma Red 36 mm
Accessories:
Askar 0.8x Full Frame Reducer / Flattener for 140APO Telescope
Acquisition details:
Date: May 14, 2026
Subframes:
Luminance: 65×300″ (5h 25′)
Blue: 20×300″ (1h 40′)
Green: 20×300″ (1h 40′)
Red: 20×300″ (1h 40′)
Total integration: 10h 25′
Location:
Al Salmy Desert, Al Jahra Governorate, Kuwait
#Subframing #FlickrFriday
I'd set out to use this WW2 coastal look-out bunker somehow for Flickr Friday anyway, but this as-found can was a gift from the photography Gods :-)
Most astrophotographers would label this as the Rho Ophiuchi dust complex. I don't think I took long enough exposures to pull out the colors and richness around Antares. I think I need more time with each subframe. This is a stack of 13 3 minute exposures with an unmodified Nikon D80 piggybacked on my Edge HD on a Celestron CGEM mount. Stacking and initial processing in PixInsight; final touches in PS CS 5.1.
The image center (J2000) is at
RA 16h 26m
DEC -24° 51'
The image spans 20° x 24°
Germantown, MD
The Tulip Nebula (Sh2-101) is located 6,000 light year away in the constellation of Cygnus and is an Hii emissions nebula. The black hole Cygnus X-1 is also in this region. This was the first black hole discovered. Cygnus X-1 is the brightest X-Ray source seen from Earth. This X-Ray source is the supergiant star HDE 226868. You can see the blue pressure wave from Cygnus X-1 to left of the Tulip nebula.
This image was taken over two nights 13 July 2026 and 23 July 2026. On 13 July I captured 33 subframes x 510s = 4.6 hrs. On 23 July I captured 25 subframes x 510s=3.5 hrs. For a total integration of 8.1 hours. Since each session had it own flat subframes I used keywords in WBPP to process both session into a single final master light.
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC
Guide Camera: QHY5III462
Telescope: Tele Vue NP101is
Mount: Losmandy G11
Integration: 33 x 510s= 4.6 hrs (2026-07-13)
25 x 510s=3.5 hrs (2026-07-23)
Total Integration = 8.1hrs
Filters: Optolong L-Ultimate 3nm Dual HaOiii
Capture: NINA, PHD2
Processing: Pixinsight, Affinity
This a monochrome image that was captured in Ha narrowband only, with subframes of 10 minutes each. I had intended to capture OIII and SII as well, but the target was above my limited southern horizon for only about an hour. More to come if I can get some more limited "peeks" before its gone for this season, and certainly more to come if I go to WInter Star Party next year.
Equipment:
ZWO ASI6200MM-P/EFW 2" x 7 (Ha)
TeleVue NP101is (4" f/4.3)
Losmandy G11
Software:
Captured in NINA
Processed in PixInsight
Integration:
Ha 4 x 600s = 0:40
The bright blue reflection nebulae of M78 glowing amidst intertwining lanes of dust and gas, with a section of the bright red emission nebula Barnard's Loop in the lower left of frame.
This image is an integration of 20 hours total exposure (241 x 300s subframes) shot on a QHY168C OSC with a WO Zenithstar 103 telescope. An STC astro-multispectra filter was used. Imaging was managed via Sequence Generator Pro and guiding controlled via PHD2. All post-processing was carried out in PixInsight.
Observed from Prachinburi, Thailand.
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Photographed at Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, between 21.57 and 22.18 EDT
(285 km by road north of Toronto)
* Altitude of centre of frame at time of exposures: xx°
* Temperature 12° C.
* Total exposure time: 8 minutes
* 540 mm focal length telescope
___________________________________________
Description:
Perhaps the most unusual and uncharacteristic object in Charles Messier's catalog of non-stellar objects is the M24 starcloud. Messier's other objects are easily identified galaxies, planetary nebulae, bright nebulae and star clusters. This object is a large, amorphous, extended cloud of stars that has a very imprecise boundary.
From Wikipedia: "The Sagittarius Star Cloud (also known as Delle Caustiche, Messier 24, IC 4715) is a star cloud in the constellation of Sagittarius, approximately 600 light years wide, which was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764. It is sometimes known as the Small Sagittarius Star Cloud to distinguish it from the Great Sagittarius Star Cloud located to the north of Gamma Sagittarii and Delta Sagittarii.
The stars, clusters and other objects comprising M24 are part of the Sagittarius or Sagittarius-Carina arms of the Milky Way galaxy. Messier described M24 as a "large nebulosity containing many stars" and gave its dimensions as being some 1.5° across. Some sources, improperly, identify M24 as the faint cluster NGC 6603.
M24 fills a space of significant volume to a depth of 10,000 to 16,000 light-years. This is the most dense concentration of individual stars visible using binoculars, with around 1,000 stars visible within a single field of view."
For a version of this photo WITH LABELS, click on your screen to the RIGHT of the photo, or click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/29460091631
And for a wider angle view of this entire region, showing neighbouring nebulae and stars clusters, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/28874267555
___________________________________________
Technical information:
Nikon D810a camera body on Teleview 101is apochromatic refracting telescope, mounted on Astrophysics 1100GTO equatorial mount with a Kirk Enterprises ball head
Eight stacked frames; each frame:
540 mm focal length
ISO 3200; 1 minute exposure at f/5.4; unguided
(with LENR - long exposure noise reduction)
Subframes registered in RegiStar;
Stacked and processed in Photoshop CS6 (brightness, contrast, levels, colour balance, sharpening)
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I told my wife that this is called the "Pelican Nebula" because some astronomer thought it looked like one. She was skeptical and said, "In that case I think that structure on top of the beak with the white beady-eyes should be called the "Opossum Nebula." You know! I think she's right!
We had a nice stretch of reasonably clear nights with tolerable seeing. Alas it has come to an end. Cloudy nights are in the forecast for the foreseeable future. I did get a good amount of "seat time" with my gear and had fun exploring the Cygnus region.
Just a note for my fellow travelers. I had a chronic problem with "exposure failure" failures. The ZWO ASI533MC Pro coupled with an ASIAir Plus seems prone to this issue, from what I read in various astro forums. I did all the common troubleshooting tactics like changing cables. Using a separate power supply for the camera seemed to resolve the issue.
One confident forum commenter suggested that the Raspberry Pi model that the ASIAir Plus is based on is notorious for having flaky connectivity above a temperature threshold. I'm not technical enough to know if it's true, but I think I'll add a heat sink on top of mine just in case. The ASIAir does get toasty on a warm night.
October 1, 2026; Tallahassee, Florida. Bortle 7/8, average transparency, average seeing. 174 1-minute subframes, calibration frames, AT60ED (f/6), ASI533MC Pro, L-Ultimate dual narrow-band filter, Sky Watcher Star Adventurer GTi. I used an ASIAir for control; AstroWizard and PS for post processing. Processed as dual narrowband/OSC.
1999 Alfa Romeo 156 1.8 T. Spark.
Scrapped (last MoT test expired in September 2015).
It failed a test that month -
Nearside front subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.a.3)
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)
Over the past weekend, Rochester experienced something rare - four clear nights in a row! While it is true that the moon did not make for the best time for astro imaging, I had to take advantage of the rare clears skies and so I had both of my imaging platforms out catching photons every night!
The first image I am ready to share from this series is M81 and M82. I have been wanting to image these two beautiful galaxies for a while now and I finally got my chance!
Messier 81, also known as NGC 3031 and Bode's Galaxy, is a beautiful spiral galaxy located 12 Million light years away in the constellation Ursa Major. It was first discovered by Johann Elert Bode on 31 December 1774, thus the common name of Bode's Galaxy. M81 is the largest galaxy in a group of 34 galaxies, known appropriately enough as the M81 Group.
Messier 82, also known as the NGC 3034 and as the Cigar Galaxy, and is also located 12 million light years away and is part of the M81 group of galaxies. M82 is an extremely luminous galaxy - being five time brighter than our own Milky Way, and has a core that is 100 time brighter! This is due to intense star formation caused by gravitational perturbations from interactions with M81. M82 is known for its complex network of dusty filaments that extend to the side of the galaxy.
This particular image is the result of 191 subframes with an exposure of 180 seconds, for a total integration time of just over 9.5 hours. These frames were taken over three nights.
I would really like to image this again using narrowband and see if I can get a better mage of the tendrils from M82! - A fun future project…..
Details for this image:
191 x 180 seconds, bin 1x1, unity gain @ -15C. (Total integration of 9.55 hours).
50 Bias exposures
34 Dark exposures
45 Flat Darks
30 Flats taken each night, each nights data was calibrated to these flats.
Scope: William Optics 132mm FLT F/7 APO
Guide Scope: Sharpstar 61DPHII
Guide Scope Focus Motor: ZWO EAF
Camera: ZWO ASI294MC-Pro
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI290Mini
Main Scope Focus Motor: Pegasus Astro Focus Cube 2
Field Rotator: Pegasus Astro Falcon
Mount: Ioptron CEM60
Polar Alignment: Ioptron Ipolar integrated alignment cameras
Capture Software: PHD2 Guider, Sequence Generator Pro controller
Image Processing: Deepsky Stacker, Pixinsight, Photoshop, Coffee, extensive processing indecision and second guessing, and much swearing…..
Thanks for looking!
Pat
Comet C2016 R2 from this morning. At first, the situation was quite frustrating. The clouds that ran through again and again left only small gaps in order to design and focus the image at all. Eventually the whole sky closed up (I used these shots as flats; -). I just kept the recordings running. And eventually, when I was sleeping, the sky finally opened up. Only the rechargeable battery of the Sony A7s had "given up"until then, so that only 6 subframes were possible in a good sky. What a joy this morning that some subframes were usable between 1:30 and 3:30h.
Technology:
(1) Hyperstar C14, Starlight Xpress H36 mono, 60 x 90 sec (bin 2x2)
(2) RASA C11, Sony A7s, ISO 3200,6 x 90 sec
ASA DDM85 mount
Tenerife, 1180 m a. s. l. 2018-01-15 1:30h - 3:30h UT
My only other image of this galaxy was from when a supernova was visible.
Now? No supernova.The RGB data was taken in October 2020 with Hα data added in January 2021. This image is a bit of a mess, but it was what I could do with about 3 hours of data from my very light polluted yard.
All subframes taken with a Celestron Edge HD 925 at f/2.3 with Hyperstar. RGB data was taken with an Atik 314L+ CCD camera with a light pollution filter; Hα data was taken with an Atik 414-EX with an Atik hydrogen-alpha filter. Preprocessing in Nebulosity; channel combination and subsequent processing in Pixinsight; final touches in Photoshop.
IC 443, commonly known as the Jellyfish Nebula, is a supernova remnant located in the constellation Gemini about 5,000 light-years from Earth. It gets its name due to its peculiar shape, resembling a jellyfish floating in space. IC 443 is the result of a massive star explosion that occurred thousands of years ago leaving behind a cloud of gas and dust that spans approximately 70 light-years across. The bright star on the left is Eta Geminorum aka Propus and is part of a triple star system.
AQUISITION:
Telescope: SkyWatcher Esprit 120
Camera: QHY268MM
Filters: Astronomik Deep Sky LRGB Ha/OIII
SUBFRAMES:
Red: 35 x 300"
Green: 40 x 300"
Blue: 40 x 300"
Ha: 40 X 300"
OIII: 26 x 300"
Total exposure time: 15.1hrs
Taken between January & February 2023 by Hector Jimenez
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Photographed at Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
(285 km by road north of Toronto)
between 21.22 and 21.40 EDT
* Altitude of the cluster at time of exposures: 29.5°
* Temperature 13° C.
* Total exposure time: 16 minutes
* 1200 mm focal length telescope
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Description:
This large, pretty and bright open cluster of stars - which happens to lie in our line of sight in front of one of the bright and star-dense arms of our Milky Way galaxy - is a favourite observational target of northern hemisphere astronomers on summer evenings.
From Wikipedia:
"The Wild Duck Cluster is one of the richest and most compact of the known open clusters, containing about 2900 stars. Its age has been estimated to about 250 million years. Its name derives from the brighter stars forming a triangle which could resemble a flying flock of ducks (or, from other angles, one swimming duck)."
For a wider angle view of Scutum and M11, made with a 740 mm focal length telescope in September 2016, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/30487082573
For a version of this photo WITH LABELS, click on your screen to the RIGHT of the photo, or click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/30507824983
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Nikon D810a camera body on Explore Scientific 152 mm (6") apochromatic refracting telescope, mounted on Astrophysics 1100GTO equatorial mount
Sixteen stacked subframes; each frame:
ISO 6400; 1 minute exposure at f/8
(with LENR - long exposure noise reduction)
Subframes stacked in RegiStar;
Processed in Photoshop CS6 (brightness, contrast, levels, colour balance)
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Photographed at Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
(285 km by road north of Toronto)
between 01.03 and 01.24 EDT
* Altitude of centre of frame at time of exposures: ~37°
* Temperature 16° C.
* Total exposure time: 10 minutes
* 105 mm focal length lens
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Description:
On of the brightest patches in the northern section of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, lies in the constellation Aquila (the Eagle), Scutum (the Shield), and Serpens Cauda (the Serpent's Tail). This starcloud contains many open clusters of stars, together with foreground globules of cold dark gas that are the incubators of new star formation.
One of the most prominent star clusters in this area of the sky is M11, the so-called "Wild Duck" cluster, which is a favourite observing target of amateur astronomers with modest telescopes. M11 is almost dead centre in this image. This is a rich open cluster of stars that looks like a duck in flight. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Duck_Cluster for more information about M11.
For a closer in view of M11 and the surrounding area, made on the same night with a 660 mm focal length telescope, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/50039721548
For a version of this photo WITH LABELS, showing constellation boundaries and the dozens of open and globular star clusters, and dark nebulae, click on the RIGHT side of your screen, or click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/50061525587
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Technical information:
Nikkor AF-S 70-200 mm f/2.8 G ED VRII lens on Nikon D810a camera body, mounted on Astrophysics 1100GTO mount with a Kirk Enterprises ball head
Ten stacked subframes; each frame:
105 mm focal length
ISO 4000; 1 minute exposure at f/5, unguided
(with LENR - long exposure noise reduction)
Subframes stacked in RegiStar;
Processed in Photoshop CS6 (levels, brightness, contrast, colour balance, M11 masking)
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Photographed at Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, between 03.47 and 03.59 EDT
(285 km by road north of Toronto)
* Temperature 10° C.
* Total exposure time: 6 minutes
* 90 mm lens
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Description:
The familiar "W" shape of the constellation Cassiopeia rises in the north-eastern sky after midnight in mid-summer in the northern hemisphere. The Milky Way galaxy runs through this part of the sky. Many open clusters of stars, loosely bound together gravitationally, also populate this area of the sky.
Many dark tendrils of foreground gas obscure the light of the stars beyond in this view.
For a version of this image withOUT labels, click on the LEFT side of your screen, or click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/36158810952
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Technical information:
Nikkor AF-S 70-200 mm f/2.8 G ED VRII lens on Nikon D810a camera body, mounted on Astrophysics 1100GTO equatorial mount with a Kirk Enterprises ball head
Six stacked frames; each frame:
90 mm focal length
ISO 3200; 1 minute exposure at f/4.5; unguided
(with LENR - long exposure noise reduction)
Subframes registered in RegiStar;
Stacked and processed in Photoshop CS6 (brightness, contrast, levels, colour balance)
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First light with QHY294C OSC / one-shot color/ camera . Testing for best setting and best capturing software but weather not cooperating, nice hot beautiful summer days but hazy nights. For this stack, I choose only 23 subframes, 60 sec each from 100 's using SubframeSelector in PixInsiaght. I hope I'II grab more and reprocess image soon. All processing done in PI included StarMask, all bright stars saturated so I did not touch them. This camera is so sensitive and captures so many bright stars especially on Milky Way take so much time to process. I used a Sequence Generator, When I am using SharpCup I am not relaxed because is downloading all the time video frames and crushing often.
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Photographed at Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
(285 km by road north of Toronto)
between 23.29 and 00.01 EDT
* Altitude of the nebula at time of exposures: 63°, increasing to 67°
* Temperature 15° C.
* Total exposure time: 15 minutes
* 660 mm focal length telescope
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This is a large ionized emission nebula and star forming region more than 100 light-years in diameter, located about 2,400 light-years away in the constellation Cepheus. The gas cloud is energized by the bright multiple star HD206267, which is just a little right of centre in this image, as well as by the entire cluster (Tr37) of young, bright, bluish hot stars that is in the centre of the cloud.
Per Wikipedia: The HD206267 "system is emitting a stellar wind that reaches an exceptional velocity of 3,225 km/s, among the highest measured for stars of this type".
The very small Elephant’s Trunk Nebula (IC 1396A) is the elongated globule to the right of centre. Up to 250 stars are in the process of being created in this nebula. One 2012 study of this region argues that "the TSF [triggered star formation] mechanism in IC 1396A is a radiation-driven implosion process persisting over several million years".
For a version of this photo WITH LABELS, click on your screen to the RIGHT of the photo, or click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/49230602858
For a view of this same region made with a 540 mm focal length telescope two years earlier, click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/36698969403
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Nikon D810a camera body on Tele Vue 127is (127 mm - 5" - diameter) apochromatic astrograph, mounted on Astrophysics 1100GTO equatorial mount
Fifteen stacked subframes; each frame:
ISO 8000; 1 minute exposure at f/5.2, unguided
(with LENR - long exposure noise reduction)
Subframes stacked in RegiStar;
Processed in Photoshop CS6 (brightness / contrast, levels, colour balance)
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Shot from Mt. Pinos, CA on the morning of 2016-07-08. The Cocoon Nebula is an emission nebula in Cygnus. There is a long tail of dark nebulae extending away from it to the west (to the right in this image).
This image is a mosaic of three separate regions. Each panel of the mosaic is a stack of 150s subframes taken with an Edge HD 9.25" at f/2.3 with Hyperstar, and an Atik 314L+ color CCD. Preprocessing done in Nebulosity; stacking, compositing, and processing in PixInsight; some final touches in PS CS 5.1.
Manufacturer: Zagato Milano s.r.l., Rho, Italy / for Lancia Automobiles S.p.A., Turin - Italy
Type: Fulvia Sport 1.3 S Tipo 818.650/651 Series IIa
Production time: 1970 - 1973
Production outlet: 2,600 (incl. 600 Series II with Series I bodyshell)
Engine: 1298cc Lancia Tipo 818.303 SOHC V-4 13°
Power: 90 bhp / 6.000 rpm
Torque: 114 Nm / 5.000 rpm
Drivetrain: front wheels
Speed: 170 km/h
Curb weight: 944 kg
Wheelbase: 91.7 inch
Chassis: with front subframe and self-supporting steel unibody
Steering: worm & roller
Gearbox: five-speed manual / all synchromesh / floor shift
Clutch: Birfield homokinetic double joints dry disc
Carburettor: twin horizontal Solex C 35 PHH 19 2-barrel / twin Solex C35 PHH-E2 2-barrel
Fuel tank: 38 liter
Electric system: 12 Volts
Ignition system: electronic
Brakes front: hydraulic Girling calipers discs with Brake Power Regulator
Brakes rear: hydraulic Girling calipers discs with Brake Power Regulator
Suspension front: independent trapezoidal wishbones (A-arm, control arm), sway bar, transverse leaf springs + De-Carbon telescopic shock absorbers
Suspension rear: Panhard rod, sway bar, semi-ellipt leaf springs + De-Carbon telescopic shock absorbers
Rear axle: live
Differential: hypoid
Wheels: 4½ x 14
Tires: 165/65-R14
Options: 13-inch Cromodora wheels, a racing fuel filler
Special:
- The Lancia Fulvia Series (named after Fulvia Flacca Bambula, an aristocratic Roman woman and wife of Mark Antony) was designed in-house at Lancia in Milan - Italy. The technical concept is by Antonio Fessia, the model was designed by Pietro Castagnero.
- The narrow-angle (13 degrees) V-4 engine was designed by Zaccone Mina and has only a single cylinder head.
- From 1970 until 1973 there was this Fastback Coupé called Sport 1.3 S Series II, designed by Ercole Spada and assembled at Zagato Milano s.r.l., Rho, Italy. The first 600 units of Series II were still fitted with Series I bodyshells (1967-1970: 1,602 units built) with a separate spare wheel-hatch and smaller rear lights and aluminium bonnet and doors.
I think this could sum up a lot of emotions right now as our world is stood still but working together for the greatest cause.. it is such a strange and weird time - it’s almost like your body has been granted the rest it’s been craving, you’ve been unplugged from the mains and the subframe you were running and given a chance for repairs - and that is truly how I felt at the beginning of this lockdown.
This week would be a month for me in lockdown and it’s been so surreal, it’s been a weird mix of trying to understand what I am meant to do with my life now... enjoying the rest but worrying and overthinking about everything that’s not happening or not going to happen and one point at the beginning just feeling like shutting down.
However I have such a wonderful support network and I’ve been to be more in control now I’ve got used to the idea of having to stay indoors. And like me I know that each of you reading this are going through your own process - but that’s okay! You don’t need to be at someone else’s stage in this process - live each day to your fullest - do what you feel you can and want to do! There is no right or wrong in this!
One thing I do have to say though is that this is a weird feeling knowing that the next series of images that will be coming out by me are all of me! I don’t do self portraits a lot but this I see as creative challenge ☺️ and this is the first image I got to edit using Adobe lightroom! I’m certainly starting to branch out my creativity and I can’t wait to see how it goes 🙌
Let me know what you think and what you’re doing to stay sane ☺️