Imaging Projects
In this blog, I will share the results of all of my imaging projects. The newest will be at the top and the oldest will be further down the stack. Going back in time here is interesting - some of my early stuff was pretty rough - but I did not see it that way at the time - I was thrilled to get anything back that looked like an image! Hopefully, you will see how my work has progressed with time!
IC 5070 - The Pelican Nebula - 2019 Version
IC 5070, also known as the Pelican Nebula, is a rich region of gas and dust that is undergoing rapid star formation. Located 1,800 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. It's called the Pelican nebula because.... well, damned if I know.... doesn't look like one to me at all!
(Comment 8-2-21: You can actually see the shape of the pelican in this early image. It does become more evident with greater exposure.
NGC 6946 - The Fireworks Galaxy - September 2019 Version
NGC 6946, also known as the Fireworks Galaxy. This galaxy is located 25.2 million light-years away between the constellations of Cepheus and Cygnus.
This is the first time I have tried this Target. There are more recent efforts on this in the collection.
Messier 31 - The Andromeda Galaxy - 2019 Version
Messier 31 is also known as NGC 224 and the Andromeda Galaxy, or as the Andromeda Nebula, before we knew what galaxies were. It can be seen by the naked eye in the constellation Andromeda (how appropriate!) and is our closest galactic neighbor located 2.5 Million light-years away. It is estimated that it contains about one trillion stars - twice that of our own Milky Way.
M32 (at the left of M31) can be seen in the frame.
This way, my first serious attempt on M31.
IC 5146 - The Cocoon Nebula - 2019 Version
IC 5146, known as the Cocoon Nebula. This is a small star cluster in the constellation Cygnus enveloped in gas and dust clouds. There are dark areas (non-glowing dust blocking light) and bright areas (gases emitted light due to excitation from local stars). This little fellow is only 4000 light-years away.
This was my first attempt on this target, using the first version of my telescope platform for the William Optics 132.
Messier 51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy 2019 Version
M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy. Last night's effort was not serious - just a quick test before the galaxy was cut-off by my garage roof. Did just a quick 10 frames of 90 seconds each. Not even any cal frames. But - it was my first Galaxy. I have observed this in much larger telescopes under very dark skies and have not seen this much detail! I can't wait to come back and do this one the right way!
NGC 6888 - The Crescent Nebula in RGB OSC
NGC 6888 - The Cresent Nebula. This is an emission nebula located about 5000 light-years away in the constellation of Cygnus, the Swan.
A very early project - within a few weeks of having my first telescope platform working,.
Messier 16 - The Eagle Nebula / Pillars of Creation - 2019 Version
M16, known most commonly as the Eagle Nebula, is also known as the Star Queen Nebula and the Spire. This is a rich open cluster of about 8100 stars surrounded by a rich region of gas and dust. Located towards the south during the summer season, M16 can be seen in the constellation Serpens and is located about 5100 light-years away. This area has been made famous by the Hubble Space Telescope classic image: The Pillars of Creation in 1995.
First attempt on m16’
NGC 6960 - The Witches Broom Nebula -2019 Version
NGC 6960 - a small portion of the "Veil Nebula" - also known as the "Finger of God" and "The Witch's broom". This is a super faint fragment of loops of gas more than 3 degrees across that came from a star 20 times more massive than the sun, which blew its lid 8000 years ago. This giant bubble of expanding gas and dust is near the constellation Cygnus.
Very early and crude image - taken in the first few weeks of imaging.
Messier 27 - The Dumbell Nebula - 2019 Version
Messier 27 - the "Dumbbell Nebula". This is a planetary nebula - basically a star that has thrown off its outer shell and we are seeing that gas still expanding around the remaining star. Located in the constellation Vulpecula, M27 is 1360 light-years from Earth.
One of my very first images.
Messier 57 - The Ring Nebula - First Version (2019)
M57 - The Ring Nebula. This is a tiny planetary nebula in Lyra. Probably too small for my imager scope and image scale. Not all that impressive, but I wanted to put it here to document progress later on...
Very first attempt on M57.
Messier 8 - The Lagoon Nebula - My First Image Ever!
My First image ever - this is the story about the very first time I setup my new telescope and mount - along with the ASI294MC_Pro camera and got things working enough to get a crude set of first subs that led this image. No color, No Guiding. No Cal frames. Bad focus. But I was thrilled anyway and hooked on this thing we call astrophotography!