The Horsehead Nebula
NGC 2023 & 2024 feat. bright star Alnitak
Object Information
Magnitude: 6.8
Constellation: Orion
Distance from Earth: 1,500 light-years
Size: 3.5 light-years across
Acquisition Details
Imaging wavelengths: 7nm narrowband Hα, SII, OIII
Light frames: Hα, SII, OIII, 20x each 240s exposures
Total integration time: Four hours
OTA: Orion 8” Newtonian
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Optics: Coma corrector, narrowband filters
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro Cooled
Processing Software: PixInsight, Lightroom
The Whirlpool Galaxy
Messier 51
Object Information
Magnitude: 8.4
Constellation: Canes Venatici
Distance from Earth: 31 million light-years
Size: 76,000 light years in diameter
Acquisition Details
Imaging wavelengths: HαLRGB Narrowband & Wideband
Light frames: 20x Hα @ 180s, 15x each LRGB @ 120s
Total integration time: Three hours
OTA: Orion 8” Newtonian
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Optics: Coma corrector, narrowband/wideband filters
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro Cooled
Processing Software: PixInsight, Lightroom
The Orion Nebula
Messier 42 - NGC 1976
Object Information
Magnitude: 4.00
Constellation: Orion
Distance from Earth: 1,343.9 light-years
Size: 24 light-years across
Acquisition Details
Imaging wavelengths: 7nm narrowband Hα, SII, OIII
Light frames: Hα, SII, OIII, 25x each 60s exposures
Total integration time: One hour and fifteen minutes
OTA: Orion 8” Newtonian
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Optics: Coma corrector, narrowband filters
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro Cooled
Processing Software: PixInsight, Lightroom
The Wizard Nebula
NGC 7380
Object Information
Magnitude: 7.2
Constellation: Cepheus
Distance from Earth: 8,500 light-years
Size: 20 light-years
Acquisition Details
Imaging wavelengths: 7nm narrowband Hα, SII, OIII
Light frames: 10x Hα, 6x SII, 6x OIII at 600s each
Total integration time: Three hours and forty minutes
OTA: Orion 8” Newtonian
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Optics: Coma corrector, narrowband filters
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro Cooled
Processing Software: PixInsight, Lightroom
Omega & Trifid Nebulae
Messier 17 and 20
Object Information
Magnitude: 6.00
Constellation: Sagittarius
Distance from Earth: 5,500 light-years
Size: 11 light-years across
Acquisition Details
Light Frames: Wideband color 3x 30s exposures
ISO 8000, f/6.3, 1280mm focal length mosaic
Total integration time: ninety seconds
OTA: 8” Orion Newtonian
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Optics: Coma corrector
Camera: Nikon D750 unmodified DSLR
Software: PixInsight, Adobe Lightroom
The Veil Nebula
NGC 6960
Object Information
Magnitude: 7.00
Constellation: Cygnus
Distance from Earth: 1,470.2 light-years
Size: 50 light-years across
Image Acquisition
Light frames: 9 stacked 2.5 minute exposures
ISO 400, f/6.3, 1280mm focal length, cropped
Total integration time: ~22 minutes
OTA: 70-200mm Sigma f/2.8
Mount: Celestron CG-5
Optics: none
Camera: Nikon D750 unmodified DSLR
Software: PixInsight, Adobe Lightroom
The Dumbbell Nebula
Messier 27 - NGC 6853
Object Information
Magnitude: 7.40
Constellation: Vulpecula
Distance from Earth: 1,360.3 light years
Size: 1.44 light years across
Acquisition Details
Light Frames: 19 stacked 30 second exposures
ISO 4000, f/6.3, 1280mm focal length, cropped
Total integration time: 9.5 minutes
OTA: Celestron C8 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Mount: Celestron CG-5
Optics: f/6.3 focal reducer
Camera: Nikon D750 unmodified DSLR
Software: PixInsight, Adobe Lightroom
The Eagle Nebula
Messier 16 - NGC 6611
Object Informaiton
Magnitude: 6.00
Constellation: Serpens
Distance from Earth: 7,000.3 light-years
Size: 70 light-years across
Acquisition Details
Light Frames: 14 stacked 30 second exposures
ISO 4000, f/6.3 1280mm focal length, cropped
Total integration time: 7 minutes
OTA: Celestron C8 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Mount: Celestron CG-5
Optics: f/6.3 focal reducer
Camera: Nikon D750 unmodified DSLR
Software: PixInsight, Adobe Lightroom
The following images are old and have been reimaged above! I learn something new every time I take out the telescope and this lets me improve my images every time.
The Orion Nebula
Messier 42 - NGC 1976
Object Information
Magnitude: 4.00
Constellation: Orion
Distance from Earth: 1,343.9 light-years
Size: 24 light-years across
Acquisition Details
Light frames: 16 stacked 30 second exposures
ISO 400, f/6.3, 1280mm focal length, cropped
Total integration time: 8 minutes
OTA: Celestron C8 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Mount: Celestron CG-5
Optics: f/6.3 focal reducer
Camera: Nikon D5300 unmodified DSLR
Software: PixInsight, Adobe Lightroom
The Horsehead Nebula
NGC 2023
Object Information
Magnitude: 6.8
Constellation: Orion
Distance from Earth: 1,500 light-years
Size: 3.5 light-years across
Acquisition Details
Light Frames: Single 10 minute exposure
ISO 800, f/6.3, 1280mm focal length, cropped
Total integration time: 10 minutes
OTA: Celestron C8 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Mount: Celestron CG-5
Optics: f/6.3 focal reducer
Camera: Nikon D5300 unmodified DSLR
Software: Adobe Lightroom