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Open Clusters in Vulpecula1047 viewsNGC 6882 /NGC 6885 are open clusters in the constellation Vulpecula, although there is considerable discussion in the literature as to whether one is superimposed on the other, are separate clusters, or if they where accidentally duplicated in the original 1784 observation. The bright foreground star, 20 Vulpeculae, does not belong to the cluster. The image taken with a 12.5†RCOS f/9 astrograph and a SBIG STF8300c camera on a Paramount ME on Oct 2, 2016 in Mayhill, NM (5 x 1200 sec lights @ -15 degrees C; 18 darks; 128 bias; 128 flats). Calibrated, registered, integrated, and processed in PixInsight 1.8.4.1195 Ripley (x64).
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NGC-2531405 viewsTaken at Steve's on Nov 2, 2007 7x10 minute exposures with TakFS-102 and Sbig ST200XCM
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M46942 viewsMessier 46 (M46, NGC 2437) This open cluster is very rich, with 150 stars of mag 10-13 and probably a total population of over 500. The brightest of these stars are of spectral type A0, and each about 100 times more luminous than the Sun (the brightest is of apparent magnitude 8.7). This indicates an age of about 300 million years. As a special and famous feature which is also obvious in my photograph, a planetary nebula (NGC 2438, also FC 87) appears within the apparent borders of M46. This object appears to lie near the northern fringes of the cluster. However, this nebula is not a true member but is superimposed, or perhaps a passing "guest". The distance of the cluster is 4,600 light years and only about 2,900 light years for the nebula
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Andromeda rises next to the Milky Way1205 viewsThis is a photo I took while camping in Mayhill, NM. You can see Andromeda Galaxy rising next to the Milky Way towards Cassiopeia. 3 one minute exposures using a Canon 60Da 18mm lens mounted on a Polarie star tracker.
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The IC 1805 region1101 views IC 1805 is a bright heart-shaped emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia. The open cluster in the center of IC 1805 is Melotte 15 that contains several extremely large stars whose intense radiation ionizes the hydrogen gas in the region. To the lower left of IC 1805 is the bright nebula NGC 896. To the mid-right of IC 1805 is the open cluster NGC 1027. The image encompasses a vast region with the image scale being approximately 3.1 x 2 degrees.
The image was taken with a Canon 60Da DSLR (ISO 800) and a Takahashi FSQ 106ED with focal reducer (f/3.6; focal length = 385 mm) on an Astro-Physics 1200 mount. Image was a total of 6 hours 15 minutes exposure [75 x 300 sec lights (guided with a Takahashi Mewlon 300/SBIG ST-i); 12 darks; 128 bias; 64 flats]. Images selected (SubframeSelector), calibrated (using a “superbias†master), registered, integrated, and processed in PixInsight 1.8.3.1115.
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The King of the Planets1233 viewsJupiter is visible in the early morning almost directly overhead in late September/early October. Larger than all the other planets combined, its only 1/1000th the mass of the Sun. The bands visible in the atmosphere are due to upwelling compounds whose exact nature is not quite known. Ultraviolet light from the Sun caused the compounds brown, orange and other colors. Imaged taken using a 5" SCT at f25 (~3750mm) using an Imaging Source 21AU618 color camera (1/45 sec exp, 3316 fr cap/2875 stacked /90% qual)
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Galaxies in Leo2039 viewsMany bright and faint galaxies can be found in the Constellation Leo. The bright galaxy on the upper left is Messier 95; on the upper right is Messier 96; and in the lower right is Messier 105; next to M 105 is NGC 3389 and NGC 3371 (from top to bottom). Equipment: Takahashi E-180 f/2.8 astrograph, modified Canon 40D, Exposure 28 x 5 minute light frames, Images Plus and Adobe Photoshop CS5.
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Comet Catalina950 viewsComet Catalina as of the morning of December 17, 2015. Image taken with an ES127mm refractor and a Canon 60Da camera.
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“37” Open Cluster in Orion57 viewsThe open cluster 2169, often called the 37 cluster or Shopping Cart cluster, is found in the constellation Orion. It was arguably discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1694 and was independently discovered by William Herschel in 1784. Combined exposure was 2.7 hr through an Takahashi Epsilon-180ED f/2.8 astrograph with a SBIG STC-7 camera mounted on a Paramount ME on the night 16 March 2022 in Mayhill, NM (20 x 160 sec B, 20 X160 sec G, 20 X 160 sec R, Medium Gain, sub-exposure 10 sec, MaxIm DL Stack ProTM). All images calibrated, registered, and integrated with PixInsight 1.8.8-9 Ripley (x64).Apr 16, 2022
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Arp 270 in Leo Minor63 viewsArp 270, a pair of galaxies with connected arm NGC 3395 and NCC 3396, lies in the constellation Leo Minor. The image of NGC 3395 appears disturbed and a bridge extends from it to NGC 3396. The image is a total of 3 hours exposure with a 12.5 inch RCOS f/9 operating at f/6 (Astro-Physics CCDT67) with a SBIG STF8300m mounted on a Paramount taken on the nights of 26 Feb and 5 Mar 2019 in Mayhill, NM (9 x 1200 sec Lights, 128 Bias, 128 Flats, 22 Darks all @ -15 degrees C). Processed with PixInsight 1.8.8-12 Ripley (x64).Feb 11, 2022
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A Spiral Galaxy in Leo196 viewsMessier 66, aka M66 or NGC 3627, is a spiral galaxy (semi-barred) found in the constellation Leo. M66 belongs to a group of galaxies including M65 and NGC 3628 known as the Leo Triplet. In the past, it is likely that M66 that encountered NGC 3628. M66 lies around 31 to 33.5 million light-years from us. Image is a total of 10 hr 40 min combined exposure taken with a Takahashi CCA-250 f/5 astrograph with a QSI683wsg CCD camera mounted on a Paramount ME on the nights of 28, 29 March, 3, 29 May 2019 and 15, 26 April 2020 in Mayhill, NM (19 x 1200 sec Lum; 4 x 1200 sec R; 5 x 1200 sec G; 4 x 1200 sec B all at -20 degrees C.; 128 Bias; 22 Darks; 128 Flats for LRGB, respectively). Processed in PixInsight 1.8.8-7 Ripley (x64).Apr 10, 2021
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The Ring Nebula in the Constellation Lyra205 viewsM57, the ring nebula, is found in the constellation Lyra. M57 is a planetary nebula, which is an expanding shell of gas ejected from a star in the later stages of its evolution. The image captured the outer halo structure of M57 as well as the galaxy IC 1296 (see annotated image on the Facebook page). Image is a total of 9 hr 20 min exposure taken through a 12.5†RCOS f/9 astrograph at f/6 (Astro-Physics CCDT67 reducer) with a SBIG STF8300m CCD camera on a Paramount ME on the nights of 18, 19, 22 May 17, 19 June 2020 in Mayhill, NM (13 x 1200 s lights, 5 x 1200 s blue, 5 x 1200 s red, 5 x 1200 s green all at -15 degrees C). Processed in PixInsight 1.8.8-6 Ripley (x64).
Mar 17, 2021
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Jan 2019 lunar eclipse661 viewsJanuary 20, 2019 lunar eclipse taken with Borg 71FL refractor and Canon 1000D DSLR on a Vixen alt-az mount. Single exposure 0.8 sec, ISO 400Jan 22, 2019
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The Perseus Cluster of Galaxies709 viewsThis image of the Perseus cluster of galaxies, also known as Abell 426, is centered on NGC 1275. NGC 1275 is a giant elliptical galaxy, which is a radio source and x-ray emitter. Abell 426 is part of the Pisces-Perseus supercluster, which contains over a thousand galaxies. The image is a total of 9 hrs exposure with a Takahashi CCA-250 f/5 astrograph and a QSI683wsg camera (Astrodon Gen2 filters) on a Paramount ME taken on the nights of 7 Nov, 3, 13 Dec 2018 in Mayhill, NM (18 x 1200 sec lights; 3 x 1200 sec R, G, and B at -20 degrees; 24 darks; 128 flats; 128 bias). Processed with PixInsight 1.8.5.1353 Ripley (x64).Jan 18, 2019
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Open Cluster in Cassiopeia 653 viewsThe open cluster NGC 663 is found in the constellation Cassiopeia. NGC 663 contains a significant number of Be stars (spectral class B stars showing emission lines in their spectra). The distance from us is on the order of 2,100 parsecs (6850 light years). The image is a total of 5 hrs 20 min exposure taken with a 12.5†RCOS f/9 @ f/6 (Astro-Physics CCDT67) and SBIG STF8300m camera on a Paramount ME in Mayhill, NM on the nights of 28 Nov and 3 Dec, 2018 (6 x 1200 sec R; 5 x 1200 sec G & B; 24 darks; 128 bias; 128 flats). Processed in PixInsight 1.8.5.1353 Ripley (x64).Jan 18, 2019
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A Large Emission Nebula in Cassiopeia686 viewsNGC 281 is a H II emission nebula in Cassiopeia containing the open cluster IC 1590, which powers the ionization of the hydrogen gas. Large dust filaments as well as Bok globules, which may be the site of future star formation, can be seen. The image is a total of 5 hrs 20 min exposure in H alpha light. Image taken with a Takahashi CCA250 astrograph and QSI683wsg camera on a Paramount ME on the nights of 13, 15 Dec, 16 Nov 2018 in Mayhill, NM (16 x 1200 sec lights @ -20 degrees C. Astrodon H alpha filter 5 nm bandwidth; 24 darks; 128 bias; 128 flats). Processed with PixInsight 1.8.5.1353 Ripley (x64). Oct 19, 2018
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