Image Location and Date: Tierra Del Sol on May 16th, 2010
Object: M8 Lagoon Nebula
Mount: CG5GT
Imaging scope: Omni XLT 150 Newtonian
Imaging FL: 750mm
Imaging focal ratio: f5
Imaging camera: unmodified Nikon D60
Lights: 28 x 180 sec ISO 3200 (1 hour 24 minutes)
Calibration: Darks, flats.
Guide scope: Antares 8×50mm finder with Orion StarShoot Auto Guider
Other details: guided with PHD, stacked in DSS processed in Photoshop
I’m still really not satisfied with anything I’ve got on this object yet, here is another attempt. I was able to combine last weeks data from Tierra Del Sol’s with last night’s Palomar session. I need to image this at least one more time to add more data before it sets until next winter. So far I’ve got 1 hour 15 minutes of data on it at 3200 ISO. 4 minute exposures.
I actually stayed up late enough to see Cygnus rise. Time sure flies. This is part of the North American Nebula (NGC7000).
Image Location and Date: SDAA site at Tierra Del Sol on March 13th
Object: North American Nebula in Cygnus
Mount: CG5GT
Imaging scope: Omni XLT 150 Newtonian
Imaging FL: 750mm
Imaging focal ratio: f5
Imaging camera: unmodified Nikon D60
Lights: 4 x 300 sec ISO 3200 (20min)
Calibration: Darks and Flats
Guide scope: Antares 8×50mm finder with Orion StarShoot Auto Guider
Other details: guided with PHD, stacked in DSS processed in Photoshop
40 Minute exposure. It was getting very close to the horizon by the time I had all the bugs worked out of my alignment so I was battling the neighbors porch light. Either way, it still looks better than my last attempt at this object from Palomar Mountain (see below) as far as star trails go. The nebula in the Palomar version is much brighter as it was directly overhead. If I’m lucky I’ll be able to get to this again next weekend, otherwise I’ll have to wait until next December.
Palomar Attempt from earlier this year:
Image Location and Date: SDAA site at Tierra Del Sol on January 16th 2010
Object: Horsehead Nebula in Orion
Mount: CG5GT
Imaging scope: Omni XLT 150 Newtonian
Imaging FL: 750mm
Imaging focal ratio: f5
Imaging camera: unmodified Nikon D60
Lights: 6 x 300 sec ISO 3200 (30min)
Calibration: None
Guide scope: Antares 8×50mm finder with Orion StarShoot Auto Guider
Other details: guided with PHD, stacked in DSS processed in Photoshop
Clouds started rolling in so I had to wrap this one up early. Shame because I haven’t gotten another chance to reshoot this, I’ll likely have to wait until next winter.
Image Location and Date: SDAA site at Tierra Del Sol on December 24th 2009
Object: M42 Nebula in Orion
Mount: CG5GT
Imaging scope: Omni XLT 150 Newtonian
Imaging FL: 750mm
Imaging focal ratio: f5
Imaging camera: unmodified Nikon D60
Lights: 65 x 30 sec ISO 3200 (32min)
Calibration: None
Guide scope: None
Stacked in DSS processed in Photoshop
Image Location and Date: Vallecitos Stage Station Campground on November 21st, 2009
Object: M45 Cluster in Taurus
Mount: CG5GT
Imaging scope: Omni XLT 150 Newtonian
Imaging FL: 750mm
Imaging focal ratio: f5
Imaging camera: unmodified Nikon D60
Lights: 98 x 30 sec ISO 3200 (49min)
Calibration: None
Guide scope: None
Stacked in DSS processed in Photoshop