Category Archives: Nebulae

November 7, 2021 Imaging Session

Earthshine from the Moon on Nov 7, 2021. An overexposed thin crescent and Earthshine from a 2 to 3-days old moon. 2 sec at Gain 42, Astro-Tech AT60ED at F/4.8, QHY183c at -15C, Optolong L-eNhance filter.
Witch’s Broom – 20 x 180 sec at Gain 11, Offset 50, QHY-183C at -15C, Optolong L-eNhance filter, Astro-Tech AT60ED at F/4.8.
California Nebula – 51 x 180 sec at Gain 11, Offset 50, QHY-183C at -15C, Optolong L-eNhance filter, Astro-Tech AT60ED at F/4.8.

From last night, Sunday, Nov 7, 2021 local time.

I stayed out till almost 1:00 AM shooting this image of the California Nebula. It is 2.55 hours of 3 minute sub-images (51×180 sec) calibrated and stacked in SharpCap 3.2 LiveStacking. Taken with a QHY183c camera at -15C cooling, an Astro-Tech AT60ED at F/4.8 and an Optolong L-eNhance filter. Metro area location under heavy light pollution, but clear and transparent skies.

At the beginning of the session, the moon was beautiful next to Venus, but I could not fit them in the same field of view. So, I decided to catch the Earthshine before it got too low.

The Witch’s Broom was taken to kill time while waiting for the California Nebula to get into position.

Elephant’s Trunk Nebula (IC 1396)

IC 1396 with the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula. 30×180 sec, QHY183c at -15C, Gain 11, Offset 50, Astro-Tech AT60ED at F/4.8, Optolong L-eNhance filter. Taken from a metro-area under heavy LP on Sep 26, 2021
Detail View – IC 1396 with the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula (IC 13996A.) 30×180 sec, QHY183c at -15C, Gain 11, Offset 50, Astro-Tech AT60ED at F/4.8, Optolong L-eNhance filter.

The Crescent Nebula on Sep 26, 2021

Crescent Nebula. 120 minutes (3 min subs,) QHY183c at -15C, Astro-Tech AT60ED at F/4.8, Optolong L-eNhance filter, SharpCap 3.2 LiveStacking from a metro area. Quick Fitsworks stretch, then final processing in PS.
Rotated, cropped and enhanced version of the Crescent Nebula. 120 minutes (3 min subs,) QHY183c at -15C, Astro-Tech AT60ED at F/4.8, Optolong L-eNhance filter, SharpCap 3.2 LiveStacking from a metro area. Quick Fitsworks stretch, then final processing in PS.

First Light – AT60ED

The Eagle Nebula – M16. 41×180 sec, QHY183C at Gain 20, Offset 0, -15C cooling, UHC filter, Astro-Tech AT60 ED at F/4.8.
The Trifid Nebula. 9×180 sec, QHY183C at Gain 20, Offset 0, -15C cooling, UHC filter, Astro-Tech AT60 ED at F/4.8.

First Light Images for a new Astro-Tech AT60ED telescope. Nice 360mm F/6 doublet with FPL-53 synthetic fluorite and Lanthanum lenses. I bought the 0.8x Reducer/Flattener that goes with it, too. It gives you a 288mm F.L. at F/4.8 with that combo. Resolution is still good at 1.72 arc sec/pixel with my camera.

These objects are the Eagle Nebula, Trifid and North America Nebulae.  All were taken with a QHY183C camera at gain 20, -15C cooling and a cheap no-name UHC filter from a metro area, Bortle 7-8 zone.

The North America Nebula. 9 x180 sec, QHY183C at Gain 20, Offset 0, -15C cooling, UHC filter, Astro-Tech AT60 ED at F/4.8.