T:Takahashi FSQ 106ED reduced @f3.8

M: Astrophysics Mach1 GTO

C: QSI 690ws-g8

G: Lodestar X2

F: Astronomik HA, OIII and SII 6nm

Foc: Sesto Senso Primalucelab

CPU: Eagle-2 Primalucelab

Sw: Sequence Generator Pro - PHD2 - Pixinsight 1.8.7

Narrowband composition

HA:OIII:SIIxTv=27:27:27x1200"

Bias: 512

Dark: 64

Flat: 31

Centaurus A or NGC 5128 is a galaxy in the constellation of Centaurus. It was discovered in 1826 by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop from his home in Parramatta, in New South Wales, Australia. The galaxy is also the fifth-brightest in the sky,making it an ideal amateur astronomy target, although the galaxy is only visible from low northern latitudes and the southern hemisphere.

The center of the galaxy contains a supermassive black hole with a mass equivalent to 55 million solar masses.

Image Details:

Shot Sydney Australia in April 2018

Exposure Time: 5mins per exposure/shot equalling:

1hrs 15mins of Luminous channel total exposure.

Equipment Used:

Telescope: Esprit 100Triplet/ FeatherTouch

Mount: Paramount MYT

Camera: Atik One+OAG

Optec FocusLynx & HSM

Filters: Astronomik

Software Control/Capture: The SkyX

Software Processing: Pixinsight

After an upgrade with a feathertouch focuser my apm107 is ready again for astrophotography. So this is the scopes second first-light :)

EQUIPMENT

Camera: SBIG STF-8300

Filters: Astronomik Ha 6nm

Telescope: APM 107/700 apochromatic refractor

Mount: Astro-Physics 1100 GTO

Guiding: Off axis with Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2

Software: Sequence Generator Pro, PHD2, Pixinsight

DETAILS

Date: 04.10.2018

Location: My backyard

Exposures:

Ha: 5 x 1200 sec

Binning: 1x1

CCD Temp: -20°C

Total integration time: 1.6 hours

*** Ghost Nebula *** 👻👻👻

*** Το Νεφέλωμα του Φαντάσματος ***

Απόκοσμα σχήματα φαίνεται να στοιχειώνουν αυτή την έναστρη περιοχή στον αστερισμό του Κηφέα. Φυσικά, οι μορφές είναι κοσμικά νέφη σκόνης αμυδρά ορατά σε συνθήκες χαμηλής αστροφεγγιάς.

Τα νέφη αυτά βρίσκονται μακριά από τη γειτονιά του πλανήτη Γη, στην άκρη του σύνθετου μοριακού νέφους Φλόγα του Κηφέα περίπου 1.200 έτη φωτός μακριά. Πάνω από 2 έτη φωτός σε πλάτος και φωτεινότερο από τα άλλα φαντάσματα, το νεφέλωμα γνωστό ως Ghost Nebula SH2-136 κοντά στο κέντρο του πεδίου είναι ορατό ακόμα και στο υπέρυθρο φως.

Luminance data:

Avalon linear fast reverse

Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph

CCD Atik One 6.0

ZWO ASI290MM Mini (mono) + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope

Luminance Baader

Exposure: 203*180sec

Location: Stinger of Scorpius Observatory, Filiates, Thesprotia, Greece.

Color data:

W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener

Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod

Asi 533 MC Pro Color

W.O ZS 80 ED

P1 Mars-C IMX 462

FeatherTouch 3'' focuser

Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser

Exposure: 153*120sec

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Integration:

15h 15′

This is the 14" I've been sloooowly putting together.

It's originally a ~2003 f4.6 Orion Optics (OO) Dobsonian.

I got OO to make an 'Ultra Grade' 1/10 PV f4 mirror, changing the focal length from 1600 to 1400mm. I cut about 170mm off the tube and repositioned the primary mirror.

I had a carbon fibre secondary spider made by TS optics in Germany (which cost more than I originally paid for the scope). I fitted the primary and secondary mirrors with Kendrick dew heaters. I also upgraded the focuser with a 2" Feathertouch. The focuser/secondary area is stiffened with a flocked aluminium sleeve, which also offsets the centre of balance, giving a slightly tighter turning circle. The final weight is 23kg.

It now has 100mm back focus, as my intention is to run the scope at f2.9 with a 0.73x reducer (TS or ASA). I think f2.9 may not be worth trying without upgrading to a carbon tube however. I also have a 5x Televue Powermate, which can take the focal ratio to f20, with a pixel resolution of <0.1" using a ZWO 290.

P.S. Ronseal does much more than what it says on the tin. I promise to buy some more genuine counterweights, just not this month.

Dramatouch (alt version)

The Polynomial

@5600x2625, in-game downsampling

Gamma, exposure, saturation edited in-game

Voici une image de la célèbre zone du ciel située dans le Cygne et incluant les nébuleuses NGC7000 (Amerique du Nord à gauche), IC5067 (Pélican à droite) et IC5068 (en bas à droite).

Ces 3 nébuleuses à émission traversées par des bandes de poussiéres obscurcissantes constituent une zone très riche du ciel et cette image couvre une zone de 3.5 x 4 degrés soit environ 7x8=56 fois la taille apparente de la Lune.

Il s'agit d'une mosaïque de 2 images en 35h30 d'acquisitions réalisées cet été 2022 au travers de filtres SHO et la 2nde image réalisée avec mon setup grand champ constitué de :

Lunette Takahashi FS60CB Feathertouch

Camera ZWO ASI 2600mm & filtres ANTLIA SHO 3.5nm

Autoguidage OAG M68 ZWO + camera ASI 290mm mini

Montures Ioptron CEM70 & CEM25p

Acquisitions From 07/14/22 to 08/08/22

NGC7000 & IC5067 panel :

S : 56x300s

H : 92x300s

O : 65x300s

IC5068 panel :

S : 52x300s

H : 104x300s

O : 88x300s

*** Ένα φίδι στον βραδινό ουρανό ***

Τα σκοτεινά νεφελώματα γλιστρούν κατά μήκος αυτής της πανέμορφης θέας αστεριών προς τον αστερισμό του Οφιούχου (Ophiuchus) και το κέντρο του γαλαξία μας. Το παρακάτω σκοτεινό νεφέλωμα είναι γνωστό ως το < Νεφέλωμα του Φιδιού >.

Σε αντίθεση με τα φωτεινά νεφελώματα εκπομπής και τα σμήνη αστέρων, τα σκοτεινά νεφελώματα είναι διαστρικά σκοτεινά νέφη αερίου και σκόνης. Τα σχήματά τους είναι ορατά επειδή βρίσκονται σε πρώτο πλάνο κατά μήκος του πλούσιου αστρικού πεδίου και των λαμπερών αστρικών φυτώριων κοντά στο επίπεδο του Γαλαξία μας. Πολλά από αυτά τα νεφελώματα είναι πιθανοί μελλοντικοί χώροι σχηματισμού αστέρων. Το νεφέλωμα του φιδιού βρίσκεται περίπου 650 έτη φωτός μακριά μας.

Location: Stinger of Scorpius Observatory, Filiates, Thesprotia - Greece.

Telescope: Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph

Mount: Avalon linear fast reverse

Camera: CCD Atik One 6.0

Guide: ZWO ASI290MM Mini (mono) + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope

Filters: Luminance Baader

Process: Pixinsight - Photoshop CS6

Exposure: 36 X 300 sec total : 3 hours

Date: 21/06/2023

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Instruments and exposure data:

Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod

Guiding:

W.O ZS80 ED

P1 Mars-C IMX 462

Imaging:

W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener

FeatherTouch 3'' focuser

Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser

Asi 533 MC Pro Color

Exposure: 36 X 300 sec total : 3 hours

Date: 21/06/2023

Total : 6 hours

Ok, the weather forecasts were not promising a lot. But right after I had my stuff mounted outside, the clouds rolled in... again.

There have been a few of these idle runs lately ... it's frustrating. I Hope for clear skies soon...

I really would like to take some images with my small apo. Its euipped with a Starlight Feathertouch 3" and the HSM Motor.

I have to say that the feathertouch focuser is by far the best I ever had. Way better than the moonlight 2.5" ( in my opinion).

*** Αστρικό ταξίδι στην γειτονιά του Ωρίωνα ***

Δύο βραδιές λήψεων συνολικής έκθεσης 12 ωρών.

Απίστευτη ομορφιά από το νεφέλωμα ανάκλασης Messier 78 ή αλλιώς γνωστό ως NGC 2068.

Το Μ78 είναι το λαμπρότερο νεφέλωμα ανάκλασης στον ουρανό.

Οι αστέρες που φωτίζουν το Μεσιέ 78, ως νεφέλωμα ανάκλασης, είναι οι HD 38563A και HD 38563B.

Η πραγματική διάμετρος του Μεσιέ 78 φτάνει τα 4 έτη φωτός.

Στην υπέρυθρη ακτινοβολία γίνεται σαφέστερα ορατό το ανοικτό σμήνος από νέους αστέρες που σχηματίστηκαν μέσα στο νεφέλωμα όπου αποτελείται από 192 αστέρες.

Αυτό το σμήνος ονομάστηκε M78.

Luminance data:

Avalon linear fast reverse

Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph

CCD Atik One 6.0

ZWO ASI290MM Mini (mono) + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope

Luminance Baader

Exposure: 180*120sec

Location: Stinger of Scorpius Observatory, Filiates, Thesprotia, Greece.

Color data:

W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener

Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod

Asi 533 MC Pro Color

W.O ZS 80 ED

P1 Mars-C IMX 462

FeatherTouch 3'' focuser

Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser

Exposure: 180*120sec

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Integration:

12h 00′

Hello

This image was taken just minutes before I did a test on the ASI034 from ZWO. The seeing was very stable this is 6000 frames of LUM and 5000 each on R,G and B. The scope is my C11 on a CGEM mount using Astronomik Type II filters. Motorized filter wheel and motorized focuser mounted on a Feathertouch Crayford. The camera is a ASI120MM. Unfortunately the window of cloudless skies lasted only a couple of hours and with checking collimation and setting everything up I could only catch one run for the ASI034 and only one series of LRGBs for the ASI120MM. The focus might have been better but I am happy with the results.

www.sidharcher.com

Here is the famous IC1396 nebula in SHO rendition.

32h40 exposure in september 2022 from Amiens (France, Bortle 7) with :

Takahashi FS60CB Feathertouch

Ioptron CEM70 mount

Camera ZWO ASI 2600mm + SHO 3.5nm filters

H : 153x300s

S : 101x300s

O : 126x300s

Processed with Pixinsight & Photoshop

L 31x600 sec -10C bin 1x1

RGB 8x600 sec -10C bin 1x1 each

10" f/4 Carbon Newton, FeatherTouch Focuser, Paracorr II, QHY168M + 2" Baader LRGB filters, QHY5L-II-M + off axis guider / EQ-8 mount.

(August-October 2019)

*** M106 Galaxy and Friends in Canes Venatici ***

Στον μικρό αλλά πλούσιο σε όμορφους γαλαξίες αστερισμό των Θηρευτικών Κυνών βρίσκεται ο Μεσιέ 106 (M106), επίσης γνωστός ως NGC 4258. Πρόκειται για έναν σπειροειδή γαλαξία σε απόσταση περίπου 22 έως 25 εκατομμύρια έτη φωτός από τη Γη. Στο πεδίο εμφανίζεται και ένας ακόμα γαλαξίας, ο NGC 4217, πιθανόν να είναι γαλαξίας συνοδός του Μεσιέ 106.

Luminance data:

Avalon linear fast reverse

Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph

CCD Atik One 6.0

ZWO ASI290MM Mini (mono) + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope

Luminance Baader

Exposure: 115*180sec

Location: Stinger of Scorpius Observatory, Filiates, Thesprotia, Greece.

Color data:

W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener

Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod

Asi 533 MC Pro Color

W.O ZS 80 ED

P1 Mars-C IMX 462

FeatherTouch 3'' focuser

Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser

Exposure: 135*180sec

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Integration:

12h 30′

*** NGC 5033 Galaxy in Canes Venatici ***

Στον μικρό αλλά πλούσιο σε όμορφους γαλαξίες αστερισμό των Θηρευτικών Κυνών βρίσκεται ο Γαλαξίας NGC 5033. Οι εκτιμήσεις απόστασης ποικίλλουν από 38 έως 60 εκατομμύρια έτη φωτός από τον Γαλαξία μας. Ο NGC 5033 έχει έναν πολύ φωτεινό πυρήνα και έναν σχετικά αχνό δίσκο.

NGC 5033 is an inclined spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici. Distance estimates vary from between 38 and 60 million light years from the Milky Way. The galaxy has a very bright nucleus and a relatively faint disk. Significant warping is visible in the southern half of the disk. The galaxy's relatively large angular size and relatively high surface brightness make it an object that can be viewed and imaged by amateur astronomers. The galaxy's location relatively near Earth and its active galactic nucleus make it a commonly studied object for professional astronomers.

Luminance data: Kostas Tsekas

Avalon linear fast reverse

Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph

CCD Atik One 6.0

ZWO ASI290MM Mini (mono) + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope

Luminance Baader

Exposure: 120*180sec

Location: Stinger of Scorpius Observatory, Filiates, Thesprotia, Greece.

Color data: Aras Teo

W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener

Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod

Asi 533 MC Pro Color

W.O ZS 80 ED

P1 Mars-C IMX 462

FeatherTouch 3'' focuser

Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser

Exposure: 94*180sec

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Integration:

10h 42min

A postcard used to promote the Crosley automobile during the 1939 New York World's Fair. Also on display at the fair were various other products, including refrigerators, washing machines, stoves, and radios, that were designed and manufactured by Powel Crosley, Jr., and the Crosley Corporation.

--------

Front:

The Car of Tomorrow at the World of Tomorrow. As shown at the Crosley Building at the N.Y. World's Fair. Also the amazing Freezorcold Shelvador Refrigerator, Feather Touch Electric Magnetune Radios.

See the newest of the new in home appliances at popular prices. Crosley Reado, facsimile radio printing. Crosley Camera, Press Jr. model, Gas and electric ranges. Electric and gas engine washers. Electric ironers. At Crosley Dealers everywhere.

Back (printed not handwritten):

My feet are no longer tired after what I've seen at the Crosley Building.

Originally posted on Ipernity: The Car of Tomorrow at the World of Tomorrow.

*** M101 Galaxy in Ursa Major ***

Στον πιο γνωστό αστερισμό του ουρανού, στον αστερισμό της Μεγάλης Άρκτου βρίσκεται ο γαλαξίας Μεσιέ 101. Πρόκειται για έναν μεγάλο ραβδωτό σπειροειδή γαλαξία σε απόσταση 27 εκατομμυρίων ετών φωτός από τον πλανήτη μας περίπου. Η διάμετρος του Μεσιέ 101 υπολογίζεται ότι είναι 170.000 έτη φωτός, περίπου 2 φορές αυτή του Γαλαξία μας.

Luminance data:

Avalon linear fast reverse

Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph

CCD Atik One 6.0

ZWO ASI290MM Mini + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope

Luminance Baader

Exposure: 172*180sec

Location: Stinger of Scorpius Observatory, Filiates, Thesprotia, Greece.

Color data:

W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener

Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod

Asi 533 MC Pro Color

W.O ZS 80 ED

P1 Mars-C IMX 462

FeatherTouch 3'' focuser

Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser

Exposure: 106*180sec

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Total Integration:13h 54min Δείτε λιγότερ

Sony A7rii + Summicron R 50mm + Godox.

*** Needle Galaxy, also known as NGC 4565 ***.

Ο γαλαξίας της βελόνας βρίσκεται στον αστερισμό της Κόμης Βερενίκης σε απόσταση 39 εκατομμύρια έτη φωτός περίπου από την Γη. Πρόκειται για έναν σπειροειδή γαλαξία και αποτελεί ένα από τα χαρακτηριστικότερα και διασημότερα παραδείγματα γαλαξία σε πλάγια θέαση στον γήινο ουρανό.

Luminance data: Kostas Tsekas

Avalon linear fast reverse

Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph

Asi 533 MΜ Pro

ZWO ASI290MM Mini (mono) + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope

Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen2

Luminance Baader

Exposure: 184*180sec

Location: Stinger of Scorpius Observatory, Filiates, Thesprotia, Greece.

Color data: Aras Teo

W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener

Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod

Asi 533 MC Pro Color

W.O ZS 80 ED

P1 Mars-C IMX 462

FeatherTouch 3'' focuser

Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser

Exposure: 106*180sec

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Integration:

14h 30min

FS-60CB with feather touch focuser.

普段Sx694を使用しているときはオフアキですが、デジでガイド鏡ガイドしたい場合もあるので組み替えてみました。

trying to figure out how to tension focuser...turns out screw in lunt box fits the brass looking hole under the feathertouch

Finally, after a 5 month wait, the 2.5" Feathertouch focuser arrived for the AT10RC. Full focal length, 2000mm, AT2FF, HEUIB-II in the Nikon D5100.

Got out tonight for some initial testing. Nine 600 second exposures @ ISO 800 on a star field just south of Almach.

Guided with PHD2 at basically default settings. Looks good from my house..:)

It is not at all a special one. Just a simple white feather, perhaps from a dove or a small sparrow, just floated down and landed in front of my feet on the stones. For a second I thought it is not worth taking a picture, there is nothing in it. Then I decided against it (as I am a photographer!!!:) and took a shot.

I think this picture is nice in a way.

Beautiful on black too.

25 x 900 sec.

10" f/4 Carbon Newton, FeatherTouch Focuser, Paracorr II, QHY10, QHY5-II + off axis guider / NEQ-6 W Pro Belt mod.

August 2016.

Gibbous Moon - 100% crop from 16 stacked subexposures (best 16 out of 360)

Image Scale = 0.44 arc-second/pixel

Date: 2011/11/21 - 19:04 to 19:57 EST

Exposure: mixture of 1/250 sec at ISO 200 and 1/125 at ISO 100

Telescope: Celestron EdgeHd 800 -- approx 2000mm at f/10

Camera : unmodified Canon T2i = 550D

Mount: Astro-Physics AP900 -- rough polar alignment (no drift alignment)

Processing:

1) Focusing via EOS utility live view, exposures made from live view mode (EFSC active, so no mirror slap or first shutter curtain shake?). Three individually focused sequences were done. Two were at ISO 200 and one at ISO 100. The Feathertouch motorized focuser was moved 20 or 25 steps between groups of about 25 shots at each focuser position. The total range in each sequence was about 75-80 steps between closest focus and farthest. The hope was that some of the shots in each sequence were near optimal focus, and these would be selected later by stacking software.

2) 16 best of 360 individual shots selected, centered and cropped to 4400 x 3000 using Planetary Imaging PreProcessor (PIPP).

3) These 16 shots were split 9 ways in a 3x3 grid (with overlap), into 1800 by 1200 pixel panes using Photoshop CS5, since neither Registax nor AutoStakkert 2 would handle the large 4400 x 3000 frames. (Zerene stacker PMAX mode could handle them, but the output was not good.)

4) The 16 sub-shots in each of the 9 panes was passed to Registax for stacking, using 50% drizzle, yielding one 3600 x 2400 output stack for each of the 9 panes. "Wavelets" processing was done on each pane, using the same settings. These setings were far from optimal, since the whole wavelets thing is a mystery to me.

5) The 9 panes were then combined into a mosaic using Auto Pano Pro 2.

6) Photoshop was used to expand the canvas size to 9600 x 7200, convert to gray scale, adjust the levels, do 90 degree rotation, and then reduce the image size to 4800 x 3600 (100% crop of the original shots from the T2i). JPEG conversion was done with quality = 10.

78 x 900 sec (August-September 2017)

10" f/4 Carbon Newton, FeatherTouch Focuser, Paracorr II, QHY10, QHY5L-II-M + off axis guider / EQ-8.

Borg 60mm on a iOptron Smart EQ Pro.

Fabbed bracket for the Orion Mini50/SSAG.

Mounting dovetail is a AOK Swiss item, and needed to attach a Feathertouch focuser.

The Nikon D5100 and Vello Intervalometer receiver mounted to the Borg Feathertouch focuser. The white label is the filter box on the 7704 reducer, allows instant filter changes.

The gaffer's tape seals up the focuser tube, preventing light leakage.

This is the system that I use for my astrophotography. In this shot, the Losmandy GM-8 mount is holding the Stellarvue SV4 as the main scope, with the Stellarvue SV 70 ED as the guide scope.

What is not visible in this shot is the autoguider or the the camera attached in prime focus. Also not seen is the laptop used for the autoguider and interval control of the camera.

Specs on the scopes are:

Stellarvue SV4: Air-spaced triplet Apochromatic Refractor

102mm Aperture at F6.4

650mm focal length

It also has a 2'' Feathertouch focuser.

Stellarvue SV 70 ED: doublet refractor with ED glass elements

70 mm Aperture at F6

420 mm focal length

It also has the 2'' Feathertouch focuser.

This photo was taken a little over a year ago, too. Just going through my old data and reprocessing it when I stumbled on this shot.

Messier 13 (M13), also designated NGC 6205 and sometimes called the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules or the Hercules Globular Cluster, is a globular cluster of about 300,000 stars in the constellation of Hercules.

M13 was discovered by Edmond Halley in 1714, and catalogued by Charles Messier on June 1, 1764.

It is located at right ascension 16h 41.7m and declination +36° 28'. With an apparent magnitude of 5.8, it is barely visible with the naked eye on a very clear night. Its diameter is about 23 arc minutes and it is readily viewable in small telescopes. Nearby is NGC 6207, a 12th magnitude edge-on galaxy that lies 28 arc minutes directly north east. A small galaxy, IC 4617, lies halfway between NGC 6207 and M13, north-northeast of the large globular cluster's center.

M13 is about 145 light-years in diameter, and it is composed of several hundred thousand stars, the brightest of which is the variable star V11 with an apparent magnitude of 11.95. M13 is 25,100 light-years away from Earth.

50 subs at 25 seconds using ISO 3200 using full frame (46 used)

50 subs at 120 seconds using ISO 0200 using full frame (43 used)

Captured in Images Plus V5.0

Processed in Images Plus V5.0

EDGE-11 @ f/10

HyperTuned by Ed Thomas Deep Space Products CGEM mount

FeatherTouch auto back focuser / Micro Touch SCT focuser Starizona.com

Modified by Hap Griffin Canon T1i

Hutech IDAS P2

AutoGuiding: Orion Solitaire stand alone

Have a wonderful week ahead...dear friends!! :-)

_________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

The famous Whirlpool galaxy Messier 51 (M51, NGC 5194) is one of the most conspicuous, and probably the most wellknown spiral galaxy in the sky.

M51 was one of Charles Messier's original discoveries: He discovered it on October 13, 1773, when observing a comet, and described it as a "very faint nebula, without stars" which is difficult to see. Its companion, NGC 5195, was discovered on March 21, 1781 by his friend Pierre Méchain, so that it is mentioned in Messier's 1781 catalog: `It is double, each has a bright center, which are separated 4'35". The two "atmospheres" touch each other, the one is even fainter than the other.' In addition to the description, in his personal copy of the catalog, Messier has added a small drawing, or sketch of the two "nebulae," M51 and NGC 5195, one of the rare cases a detailed drawing by Charles Messier of one of his objects is preserved. NGC 5195 was assigned an own catalog number by William Herschel: H I.186.

Occasionally, there is some confusion what is meant with the designation M51: The pair (justified by Messier's mention of both "nebulae") or the larger galaxy, NGC 5194. If the pair is meant, NGC 5194 is sometimes called "M51A", and NGC 5195 is then "M51B".

This galaxy was the first one where the spiral structure was discovered, in spring 1845 by Lord Rosse, who made a very careful and acurate painting. Therefore, M51 is sometimes referenced as Rosse's Galaxy or Lord Rosse's "Question Mark" - he is cited with this name (see, e.g., NED).

According to our present understanding, the pronounced spiral structure is a result of M51's current encounter with its neighbor, NGC 5195 (the fainter one in Messier's description). Due to this interaction, the gas in the galaxy was disturbed and compressed in some regions, resulting in the formation of new young stars. As is common in galactic encounters, spiral structure is preferably induced in the more massive galaxy. Halton Arp has included M51 as No. 85 in his Catalogue of Peculiar Galaxies as "Spiral with Large High-Surface-Brightness Companion".

For the amateur, M51 is easy and a showpiece if the sky is dark, but is quite sensitive for light pollution which easily makes it fade in the background. Under very good conditions, even suggestions of its spiral arms can be glanced with telescopes starting from 4-inch. Low magnification is best for viewing this pair.

Equipment and tools used:

Captured in Images Plus V5.0

Processed in Images Plus V5.0

EDGE-11 @ f/2

Starizona.com HyperStar

5 subs 480 seconds @ ISO 400

HyperTuned by ED Thomas Deep Space Products CGEM mount

FeatherTouch auto back focuser / Micro Touch SCT focuser Starizona.com

Modified by Hap Griffin Canon T1i

Hutech IDAS V4

AutoGuiding

Orion Solitaire stand alone

12 x 600 sec (August 2015) + 39 x 900 sec (September 2017)

10" f/4 Carbon Newton, FeatherTouch Focuser, Paracorr II, QHY10, QHY5L-II-M + off axis guider / EQ-8.

NGC-2903 is a barred spiral galaxy about 30 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. It was discovered by William Herschel who cataloged it on November 16, 1784. NGC 2905 is a bright star cloud within this galaxy.

01-31-13

30 subs @ 240 seconds ISO 100

Equipment and tools used:

Captured in Images Plus V5.0

Processed in Images Plus V5.0

EDGE-11 @ f/2

Starizona.com HyperStar

HyperTuned by ED Thomas Deep Space Products CGEM mount

FeatherTouch auto back focuser / Micro Touch SCT focuser Starizona.com

Modified by Hap Griffin Canon T1i

Hutech IDAS V4

AutoGuiding

Shoestring GPUSB

Orion Solitaire stand alone w/80mm scope

Messier 81 is located approximately 10° northwest of Alpha Ursae Majoris along with several other galaxies in the Messier 81 Group.[9][25] Messier 81 and Messier 82 can both be viewed easily using binoculars and small telescopes.[9][25] The two objects are generally not observable to the unaided eye, although highly experienced amateur astronomers may be able to see Messier 81 under exceptional observing conditions.[9] Telescopes with apertures of 8 inches or larger are needed to distinguish structures in the galaxy

Messier 82 (also known as NGC 3034, Cigar Galaxy or M82) is the prototype[5] nearby starburst galaxy about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. The starburst galaxy is five times as bright as the whole Milky Way and one hundred times as bright as our galaxy's center.[5]

In 2005, the Hubble Space Telescope revealed 197 young massive clusters in the starburst core.[5] The average mass of these clusters is around 2×105 M⊙, hence the starburst core is a very energetic and high-density environment.[5] Throughout the galaxy's center, young stars are being born 10 times faster than they are inside our entire Milky Way Galaxy

20 subs @ 240 seconds using ISO 800

Equipment and tools used:

Captured in Images Plus V5.0

Processed in Images Plus V5.0

EDGE-11 @ f/2

Starizona.com HyperStar

HyperTuned by ED Thomas Deep Space Products CGEM mount

FeatherTouch auto back focuser / Micro Touch SCT focuser Starizona.com

Modified by Hap Griffin Canon T1i

Hutech IDAS V4

AutoGuiding Orion Solitaire stand alone

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PreFilter=none

Limit=300 Frames X LRGB

Equipment and tools used:

Captured in firecapture V2.2

Processed in Images Plus V4.5

EDGE-11 @ f/20

CGEM mount

FeatherTouch auto back focuser / Micro Touch SCT focuser

Basler Ace ACA1300-30GM Monochrome GigE Camera (XAGYL.com)

XAGYL Filter wheel and filters

Shoestring GPUSB guiding

ScopeStuff.com 1.6X 2" Barlow

The Owl Nebula (also known as Messier Object 97 or NGC 3587) is a planetary nebula in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781.

M97 is regarded as one of the more complex of the planetaries. The 16th magnitude central star has about 0.7 solar mass and the nebula itself about 0.15 solar mass. The nebula formed roughly 6,000 years ago.

The nebula gets its name from the appearance of owl-like "eyes" when viewed through a large (>200 mm) telescope under dark sky conditions with the aid of a so-called "nebula filter." The eyes are also easily visible in photographs of the nebula.

Messier 108 (also known as NGC 3556) is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781 or 1782.[5] From the perspective of the Earth, this galaxy is seen almost edge-on.

This galaxy is an isolated[3] member of the Ursa Major Cluster cluster of galaxies in the Virgo supercluster. It has a morphological classification of type SBbc in the de Vaucouleurs system, which means it is a barred spiral galaxy with somewhat loosely wound arms. The maximum angular size of the galaxy in the optical band is 11′.1 × 4′.6, and it is inclined 75° to the line of sight.[4]

25 subs 240 seconds @ ISO800

Equipment and tools used:

Captured in Images Plus V5.0

Processed in Images Plus V5.0

EDGE-11 @ f/2

Starizona.com HyperStar

HyperTuned by ED Thomas Deep Space Products CGEM mount

FeatherTouch auto back focuser / Micro Touch SCT focuser Starizona.com

Modified by Hap Griffin Canon T1i

Hutech IDAS V4

AutoGuiding

Orion Solitaire stand alone

with feathertouch focuser

M42 From DownTown Austin, Texas

01-30-13

15 subs at 180 sec.

ISO 100

Equipment and tools used:

Captured in Images Plus V5.0

Processed in Images Plus V5.0

EDGE-11 @ f/2

Starizona.com HyperStar

HyperTuned by ED Thomas Deep Space Products CGEM mount

FeatherTouch auto back focuser / Micro Touch SCT focuser Starizona.com

Modified by Hap Griffin Canon T1i

Hutech IDAS V4

AutoGuiding

Orion Solitaire stand alone

Messier 13 (M13), also designated NGC 6205 and sometimes called the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules or the Hercules Globular Cluster, is a globular cluster of about 300,000 stars in the constellation of Hercules.

M13 was discovered by Edmond Halley in 1714, and catalogued by Charles Messier on June 1, 1764.

It is located at right ascension 16h 41.7m and declination +36° 28'. With an apparent magnitude of 5.8, it is barely visible with the naked eye on a very clear night. Its diameter is about 23 arc minutes and it is readily viewable in small telescopes. Nearby is NGC 6207, a 12th magnitude edge-on galaxy that lies 28 arc minutes directly north east. A small galaxy, IC 4617, lies halfway between NGC 6207 and M13, north-northeast of the large globular cluster's center.

M13 is about 145 light-years in diameter, and it is composed of several hundred thousand stars, the brightest of which is the variable star V11 with an apparent magnitude of 11.95. M13 is 25,100 light-years away from Earth.

50 subs at 25 seconds using ISO 3200 using full frame

Captured in Images Plus V5.0

Processed in Images Plus V5.0

EDGE-11 @ f/10

HyperTuned by Ed Thomas Deep Space Products CGEM mount

FeatherTouch auto back focuser / Micro Touch SCT focuser Starizona.com

Modified by Hap Griffin Canon T1i

Hutech IDAS P2

AutoGuiding: None

The Sombrero Galaxy (also known as M104 or NGC 4594) is an unbarred spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgo located 28 million light years from Earth. It has a bright nucleus, an unusually large central bulge, and a prominent dust lane in its inclined disk. The dark dust lane and the bulge give this galaxy the appearance of a sombrero. Astronomers initially thought that the halo was small and light, indicative of a spiral galaxy. But Spitzer found that halo around the Sombrero Galaxy is larger and more massive than previously thought, indicative of a giant elliptical galaxy.[5] The galaxy has an apparent magnitude of +9.0, making it easily visible with amateur telescopes. The large bulge, the central supermassive black hole, and the dust lane all attract the attention of professional astronomers.

Captured in Images Plus V5.0

Processed in Images Plus V5.0

EDGE-11 @ f/10

HyperTuned by Ed Thomas Deep Space Products CGEM mount

FeatherTouch auto back focuser / Micro Touch SCT focuser Starizona.com

Modified by Hap Griffin Canon T1i Cropped and rotated for viewing

40 subs 240 seconds @ ISO 800

Hutech IDAS P2

AutoGuiding

Solitaire stand alone

The famous Whirlpool galaxy Messier 51 (M51, NGC 5194) is one of the most conspicuous, and probably the most wellknown spiral galaxy in the sky.

M51 was one of Charles Messier's original discoveries: He discovered it on October 13, 1773, when observing a comet, and described it as a "very faint nebula, without stars" which is difficult to see. Its companion, NGC 5195, was discovered on March 21, 1781 by his friend Pierre Méchain, so that it is mentioned in Messier's 1781 catalog: `It is double, each has a bright center, which are separated 4'35". The two "atmospheres" touch each other, the one is even fainter than the other.' In addition to the description, in his personal copy of the catalog, Messier has added a small drawing, or sketch of the two "nebulae," M51 and NGC 5195, one of the rare cases a detailed drawing by Charles Messier of one of his objects is preserved. NGC 5195 was assigned an own catalog number by William Herschel: H I.186.

Occasionally, there is some confusion what is meant with the designation M51: The pair (justified by Messier's mention of both "nebulae") or the larger galaxy, NGC 5194. If the pair is meant, NGC 5194 is sometimes called "M51A", and NGC 5195 is then "M51B".

This galaxy was the first one where the spiral structure was discovered, in spring 1845 by Lord Rosse, who made a very careful and acurate painting. Therefore, M51 is sometimes referenced as Rosse's Galaxy or Lord Rosse's "Question Mark" - he is cited with this name (see, e.g., NED).

According to our present understanding, the pronounced spiral structure is a result of M51's current encounter with its neighbor, NGC 5195 (the fainter one in Messier's description). Due to this interaction, the gas in the galaxy was disturbed and compressed in some regions, resulting in the formation of new young stars. As is common in galactic encounters, spiral structure is preferably induced in the more massive galaxy. Halton Arp has included M51 as No. 85 in his Catalogue of Peculiar Galaxies as "Spiral with Large High-Surface-Brightness Companion".

For the amateur, M51 is easy and a showpiece if the sky is dark, but is quite sensitive for light pollution which easily makes it fade in the background. Under very good conditions, even suggestions of its spiral arms can be glanced with telescopes starting from 4-inch. Low magnification is best for viewing this pair.

Equipment and tools used:

Captured in Images Plus V5.0

Processed in Images Plus V5.0

EDGE-11 @ f/10

20 subs 600 seconds @ ISO 800

HyperTuned by ED Thomas Deep Space Products CGEM mount

FeatherTouch auto back focuser / Micro Touch SCT focuser Starizona.com

Modified by Hap Griffin Canon T1i

Hutech IDAS P2

AutoGuiding

Orion Solitaire stand alone

Messier 82 (also known as NGC 3034, Cigar Galaxy or M82) is the prototype[5] nearby starburst galaxy about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. The starburst galaxy is five times as bright as the whole Milky Way and one hundred times as bright as our galaxy's center.[5]

In 2005, the Hubble Space Telescope revealed 197 young massive clusters in the starburst core.[5] The average mass of these clusters is around 2×105 M⊙, hence the starburst core is a very energetic and high-density environment.[5] Throughout the galaxy's center, young stars are being born 10 times faster than they are inside our entire Milky Way Galaxy

13 of 15 subs @ 540 seconds using ISO 800

Equipment and tools used:

Captured in Images Plus V5.0

Processed in Images Plus V5.0

EDGE-11 @ f/10

HyperTuned by ED Thomas Deep Space Products CGEM mount

FeatherTouch auto back focuser / Micro Touch SCT focuser Starizona.com

Modified by Hap Griffin Canon T1i

Hutech IDAS P2

AutoGuiding Orion Solitaire stand alone

SV105T x2 and a TS115 with Feathertouch focuser!