Deep Sky

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="13ea11c3.png"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.petergarbett.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.petergarbett.com"><B><IMG SRC="14f64510.png" border=0 width="100" height="81" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="https://www.petergarbett.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.petergarbett.com"><B>Home</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <U>Emission nebulae</U></div> <div> are luminous clouds of gas and dust that usually glow because the gas is ionised by UV radiation from nearby stars of high surface temperature. Other less common causes are violent collision with another gas cloud or synchrotron radiation as charged particles spiral around a magnetic field.</div> <bR> <div> <U>Planetary nebulae</U> are shells of gas and dust that are puffed out of ordinary mass stars that are in the process of dying. The nebula glows because it is being bombarded by the UV light emitted from the dying star. With the outer atmosphere of the star blown away, what remains is a hot core whose temperature is typically 100,000K - hence the UV! The star will turn into a white dwarf that slowly fades, becoming a so called black dwarf. Our own star, the sun, wil end its life this way in about 5 billion years time.</div> <bR> <div> <U>Reflection nebula</U> is a cloud of gas and dust that reflects or scatters starlight.</div> <bR> <div> <U>Open clusters</U> are groups of stars that formed together in the spiral arms of a galaxy.</div> <bR> <div> <U>Globular clusters</U> are roughly spherical groups of old stars in the halo of a galaxy. They can contain a million stars with a very high concentration in their cores.</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Deep Sky</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="00758020.png" border=0 width="600" height="2" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Aberdovey, Wales mid-August 2015</div> <bR> <div> All of these images were taken using my modded Canon EOS 450D and 50mm, 135mm lenses.</div> <div> Almost all are single exposures of around 2-6 mins @ 800 ASA, so pretty basic!</div> <div> The limiting naked-eye magnitude was 6.4 on the night of 16/17 August and 6.2 on 17/18 August.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22528c10.jpg" border=0 width="1064" height="705" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> North America Nebula and Gamma Cygni nebulosity, with Deneb just above centre.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2262cc40.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="708" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Rift in the Milky-Way near Aquila.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22727c60.jpg" border=0 width="1063" height="710" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The Milky-Way in Cepheus: IC 1396 lower right with Mu Cephei 'the garnet star'.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22821c50.jpg" border=0 width="1057" height="709" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> IC 1848, IC 1805, IC 1795 in Cassiopeia</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22928c20.jpg" border=0 width="1064" height="706" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> IC 1499 'The California Nebula'</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22abcd80.jpg" border=0 width="700" height="472" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> M11, B111, Scutum Star Cloud, M16</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22b2cc50.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="709" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Sagitta, 'Coathanger Cluster', NGC 6940 extreme upper left</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22c2ac50.jpg" border=0 width="1066" height="709" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 'North America Nebula' NGC 7000; 'Pelican Nebula' IC5070; Deneb</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22d2cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Sagitta</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22e2cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> 'Andromeda Galaxy' M31</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22f2cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Cassiopeia and the Perseus 'Double Cluster'</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23029c40.jpg" border=0 width="1065" height="708" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> NGC 281 near Alpha Cassiopeia ('Schedar'); NGC 457 'The Owl Cluster' very diminuitive left of centre.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2312cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Cassiopeia</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2322cc40.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="708" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> 'The Pleiades' M45 and 'California Nebula'</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2332cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The Scutum Star Cloud and 'The Wild Duck Cluster' M11</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="234b2c50.jpg" border=0 width="946" height="709" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> M16, M17 and B312</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2352cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> B138 and B139 dark nebulae</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23628c60.jpg" border=0 width="1064" height="710" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> B138, B139 (a diferent version)</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23727c60.jpg" border=0 width="1063" height="710" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 'The Veil Nebula' and the open cluster NGC 6940</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2382bc70.jpg" border=0 width="1067" height="711" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> The giant dark nebula  Le Gentil 3</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2392ac60.jpg" border=0 width="1066" height="710" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Le Gentil 3 and the 'North America Nebula'</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23a2cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Le Gentil 3 and the 'North America Nebula'</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23b2cc60.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="710" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The dark nebula B168 with the 'Cocoon Nebula' IC5146 at its left end.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="223b8020.jpg" border=0 width="696" height="514" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> 19th, 20th, 21st April 2015</div> <div> Telescope: 20cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F6.3. 61 x 5 minute exposures with SXV-H9 CCD binned 2x2;</div> <div> Trutek Type 1 L filter, Baader UV/IR rejection filter.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="224b8080.jpg" border=0 width="696" height="520" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Starwave Bahtinov Mask used on the star Alkaid to achieve critical focus for M51 imaging</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Beautiful nebulae in Auriga</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="219901f0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="543" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> (Lower) IC405 'The Flaming Star Nebula' with  the 'runaway star' AE Aurigae embedded in it.</div> <div> (Upper) IC410 and open cluster NGC1893</div> <div> The three 'bright' stars near centre are 19 Aur (mag. 5.05), IQ Aur (mag. 5.35) and 16 Aur (mag. 4.50).</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21a203d0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="1085" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> The images above were obtained on the nights of 19/20 December 2014 and 24/25 December 2014.</div> <div> Telescope: 80mm Megrez apo refractor with x0.8 focal reducer giving F4.8.</div> <div> Camera: SXVR-H18 CCD at -30C. Filters: Baader 7nm H-alpha 4h 15m of data made of 17 x 15 min subs;</div> <div> Baader 8.5 nm OIII 4h 30m of data made of 18 x 15 min subs. The final image was an H-Alpha:OIII:OIII combination.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Orion, the hunter</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21bc6280.jpg" border=0 width="710" height="1064" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Barnard's loop shows up well as does the diminuitive Horsehead Nebula. Very surprisingly, the Witch Head</div> <div> nebula is very faintly visible to the right of Rigel (lower right). This all despite having to contend with</div> <div> significant extra light pollution due to the ultra invasive site lighting where Network Rail are locally upgrading</div> <div> bridges for electrification of the line. Additionally, I cold not reach focus with the CLS filter in place so had to</div> <div> improvise and crudely blu tack it to the front of the lens, losing about a quarter of the light due to</div> <div> obscuration by the filter! No flats, bias or darks used!</div> <div> Canon EOS 450D; Astronomik CLS-CCD filter; 13 x 8 mins plus 5 x 2 mins from the night of the Geminids used</div> <div> to show the Orion Nebula without it being 'blown out'.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21ca7e90.jpg" border=0 width="679" height="489" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Closer look at the Horsehead.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> M33, the Triangulum Galaxy</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21d2b330.jpg" border=0 width="811" height="1075" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The image above were obtained on the nights of 24 November 2014, 13/14 December 2014 and 19/20 December 2014.</div> <div> Telescope: 80mm Megrez apo refractor with x0.8 focal reducer giving F4.8.</div> <div> Camera: SXVR-H18 CCD at -30C. Filters: Baader UV/IR rejection filter with Trutek Type 1 L, R, G and B filters.</div> <div> LRGB: L = 6h 45m in 15 min subs; R = 6 x 10 mins 2x2 binned, G = 7 x 10 mins 2x2 binned, B = 6 x 10 mins 2x2 binned.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21e25300.jpg" border=0 width="805" height="1072" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Luminance data only.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Below are slightly differently processed versions that emphasise different aspects of M33.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21f1e320.jpg" border=0 width="798" height="1074" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22034320.jpg" border=0 width="820" height="1074" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> A nice dsiplay of the Geminids</div> <div> 13-14 December 2014</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="221e0d30.jpg" border=0 width="480" height="723" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="222c62e0.jpg" border=0 width="710" height="1070" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> A 2nd magnitude Geminid streaked by the Orion Nebula. I saw it visually and luckily it was caught</div> <div> with my Canon EOS 450D.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Wales: August 2014</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21731ca0.jpg" border=0 width="1073" height="714" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> IC 1396</div> <div> The large red nebulosity right of centre is IC 1396, with Herschel's red 'garnet star' sitting on top of it. The red patch far left of centre is Sh2-132. </div> <div> The dark nebulae upper centre are B169-71 and the bright bluish white star upper left is Delta Cephei, the prototype Cepheid Variable. The other </div> <div> bright reddish star is Zeta Cephei with red emission nebulosity Ced 199 extending above it.</div> <bR> <div> 26th August 2014, nr Pennal, Wales</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D DSLR, 135mm lens @ F3.5</div> <div> Autoguided by Lodestar through 20cm Meade LX200 with 0.33x reducer.</div> <div> Total exposure: 40 mins made from 5 x 8 min subs.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="218e89a0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="666" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Altair and central Aquila</div> <div> Notice the 'E' shaped dark nebulosity upper right (near the star Tarazed). This is the 'Triple Cave Nebula', fittingly attributed to E.E.Barnard!!!</div> <bR> <div> 26th August 2014, nr Pennal, Wales</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D DSLR, 135mm lens @ F3.5</div> <div> Autoguided by Lodestar through 20cm Meade LX200 with 0.33x reducer.</div> <div> Total exposure: 48 mins made from 6 x 8 min subs.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="210b6e70.jpg" border=0 width="950" height="743" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The Rosette Nebula: NGC 2244</div> <bR> <div> 9th, 11th and 19th January 2014</div> <div> SXVR-H18 CCD, 80mm Megrez apo refractor with x0.8 reducer/flattener giving F4.8.</div> <div> Autoguided by Lodestar through 20cm Meade LX200 with 0.33x reducer.</div> <div> Baader H-alpha filter 4h from 20 min and 10 min subs, OIII 4h 20m from 20 min subs, H-beta 3h 40m from 20 min subs.</div> <bR> <div> H-alpha view shown below ...</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="211e8f30.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="755" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="212e8fa0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="762" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The Pleiades: M45</div> <bR> <div> 30th December 2013 in quite poor and deteriorating transparency</div> <div> SXVR-H18 CCD, 80mm Megrez apo refractor with x0.8 reducer/flattener giving F4.8.</div> <div> Autoguided by Lodestar through 20cm Meade LX200 with 0.33x reducer.</div> <div> Baader UV/IR rejection filter only 25 x 10 mins = 4h 10m.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="213306e0.jpg" border=0 width="816" height="622" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="214e8f10.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="753" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The California Nebula: NGC 1499</div> <bR> <div> 22nd and 28th December 2013</div> <div> SXVR-H18 CCD, 80mm Megrez apo refractor with x0.8 reducer/flattener giving F4.8.</div> <div> Autoguided by Lodestar through 20cm Meade LX200 with 0.33x reducer.</div> <div> Baader H-alpha filter 46 x 10 mins = 7h 40m.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Andromeda Galaxy, M31</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="20e31ca0.jpg" border=0 width="1073" height="714" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Andromeda Galaxy, M31</div> <div> 4th, 7th-9th November 2013</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D DSLR, 80mm Orion ED apo refractor with x0.8 reducer/flattener giving F6; Astronomik CLS CCD filter.</div> <div> Autoguided by Lodestar through 20cm Meade LX200 with 0.33x reducer.</div> <div> Total exposure: 4h 55m 59s made from 59 x 301s subs.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The Veil Nebula</div> <bR> <div> The Veil Nebla in Cygnus is the remnant of a supernova that exploded between 5,000 and 8,000 years ago and </div> <div> could well have been a spectacular event witnessed by prehistoric people. It is about 1,470 light years away </div> <div> and has a diameter approaching 100 light years. This spectacular nebula was discovered by William Herschel </div> <div> on 5th September 1784.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Eastern Veil: NGC 6995 and NGC 6992</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Bi-colour</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="20d98aa0.jpg" border=0 width="920" height="682" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Eastern Veil: NGC 6995 and NGC 6992</div> <bR> <div> 5th and 6th October 2013</div> <div> SXV-H9 CCD, 80mm Megrez apo refractor with x0.8 reducer/flattener giving F4.8.</div> <div> Autoguided by Lodestar through 20cm Meade LX200 with 0.33x reducer.</div> <div> Baader H-alpha filter 18 x 10 mins = 3 hrs; Baader OIII filter 21 x 10 mins = 3.5 hrs.</div> <div> HA[g]OIII composite.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Bi-colour</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f1cad00.jpg" border=0 width="970" height="720" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> H-alpha:OIII:OIII combination</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f29cb00.jpg" border=0 width="924" height="688" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> H-alpha</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f395b10.jpg" border=0 width="917" height="689" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> OIII</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Tri-colour</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f4a2aa0.jpg" border=0 width="930" height="682" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Eastern Veil: NGC 6995 and NGC 6992</div> <bR> <div> 5th, 6th and 16th October 2013</div> <div> SXV-H9 CCD, 80mm Megrez apo refractor with x0.8 reducer/flattener giving F4.8.</div> <div> Autoguided by Lodestar through 20cm Meade LX200 with 0.33x reducer.</div> <div> Baader H-alpha filter 18 x 10 mins = 3 hrs; Baader OIII filter 21 x 10 mins = 3.5 hrs; Baader H-beta filter 20 x 10 mins = 3h 20m</div> <div> HAOIIIHb composite.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Western Veil: NGC 6960</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f699aa0.jpg" border=0 width="921" height="682" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Western Veil: NGC 6960</div> <bR> <div> 23rd October 2013</div> <div> SXV-H9 CCD, 80mm Megrez apo refractor with x0.8 reducer/flattener giving F4.8.</div> <div> Autoguided by Lodestar through 20cm Meade LX200 with 0.33x reducer.</div> <div> Baader H-alpha filter 18 x 10 mins = 1h 40m; Moon and wind issues.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1f92cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>06.09.13</B></div> <div> M27 'The Dumbbell Nebula'</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D, 20cm Meade LX200 x0.63 focal reducer; just 3 x 5 mins</div> <div> Autoguided by Lodestar through Orion 80mm f=600mm refractor piggy-backed</div> <div> on the Meade.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="209b6200.jpg" border=0 width="1206" height="800" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Perseus Double Cluster: NGC 884 and NGC 869</div> <bR> <div> 30th September 2013</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D, 80mm Megrez apo refractor with x0.8 reducer/flattener giving F4.8; Atronomik CLS CCD filter.</div> <div> Autoguided by Lodestar through 20cm Meade LX200 with 0.33x reducer.</div> <div> Total exposure: 59m 53s, made from 3 - 6 minute subs.</div> <div> No dark frame applied: just flat and bias!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="20a26c40.jpg" border=0 width="1062" height="708" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> As above, but showing the central portion in more detail.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="20b46840.jpg" border=0 width="1350" height="900" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> North America (NGC 7000) and Pelican Nebula (IC 5070)</div> <div> 14th-15th September 2013</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D, 80mm Megrez apo refractor with x0.8 reducer/flattener giving F4.8; Astronomik CLS CCD filter.</div> <div> Autoguided by Lodestar through 20cm Meade LX200 with 0.33x reducer.</div> <div> Total exposure: 2h 55m 20s, made from 5 - 10 minute subs.</div> <div> No dark frame applied: just flat and bias!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="20c80a80.jpg" border=0 width="1408" height="936" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> M13 and the galaxy NGC 6207</div> <div> 9th September 2013</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D, 80mm Orion ED apo refractor @ F7.5.</div> <div> Autoguided by Lodestar through 20cm Meade LX200 with 0.33x reducer.</div> <div> Total exposure just 26.5 mins, mainly of 1 min subs.</div> <div> No darks, flats or bias used!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="20f68010.jpg" border=0 width="616" height="769" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Perseus: Algol in primary eclipse</div> <bR> <div> 2nd April 2013</div> <div> 13 x 11s unguided exposures with Canon EOS 450D (modded)</div> <div> 50mm Olympus OM lens</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Reprocessing some images from South Africa</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1fe959b0.jpg" border=0 width="917" height="667" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1ff959b0.jpg" border=0 width="917" height="667" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The Lagoon Nebula, M20</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="200a5f40.jpg" border=0 width="677" height="500" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> The Helix Nebula, NGC 7293</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="201abbc0.jpg" border=0 width="939" height="700" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> M83 in H-alpha</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="20296040.jpg" border=0 width="662" height="516" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The Pillars of Creation, M16</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="203aebc0.jpg" border=0 width="942" height="700" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="204aebc0.jpg" border=0 width="942" height="700" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The Eagle Nebula, M16</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="205238c0.jpg" border=0 width="803" height="1164" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Eta Carinae</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="206bc200.jpg" border=0 width="1212" height="800" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The Southern Cross</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="207a3f40.jpg" border=0 width="675" height="500" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The Jewel Box</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="208c3f40.jpg" border=0 width="707" height="500" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The Gem cluster</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Images from the Dyfi (Dovey) Valley, Wales</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e1b0200.jpg" border=0 width="1200" height="800" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e284580.jpg" border=0 width="900" height="600" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>12.08.13  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >22:00 UTC</FONT></div> <div> Cygnus through drifting cloud. Deneb is the bluish star towards the top, with the North America Nebula NGC 7000 and the Pelican</div> <div> Nebula IC 5070 to its right. The extensive red nebulosity surrounding the central star (Gamma Cygni - Sadr) is IC 1318, 1311 and</div> <div> NGC 6910, 6914. Portions of the Veil Nebula (NGC 6992 and 6995) are just visible as purple nebulosity (well to the left of bottom centre).</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D, 50mm lens @ f4, 800 ASA, median stack of 94s, 67s, 81s frames</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Larger version ...</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e3dce80.jpg" border=0 width="1500" height="1000" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e42cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>12.08.13  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >22:38 UTC</FONT></div> <div> Southern Aquila</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D, 50mm lens @ f4, 800 ASA, 82s</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e584580.jpg" border=0 width="900" height="600" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>12.08.13  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >22:49 UTC</FONT></div> <div> Sagitta and down through Aquila</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D, 50mm lens @ f4, 800 ASA, 196s</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Larger version ...</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e6dce80.jpg" border=0 width="1500" height="1000" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e72cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>13.08.13  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >00:06 UTC</FONT></div> <div> The 'water jar' of Aquarius</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D, 50mm lens @ f4, 800 ASA, 68s</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e8dce80.jpg" border=0 width="1500" height="1000" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>13.08.13  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >00:41 UTC</FONT></div> <div> Cepheus. The red nebulosity (lower centre) is the emission nebula IC 1396, with Herschel's Garnet Star (Mu Cephei) near its edge.</div> <div> Just visible is a faint arc of red nebulosity a bit above and to the right of IC 1396: this is Sh2-129. </div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D, 50mm lens @ f4, 800 ASA, 201s</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e9dce80.jpg" border=0 width="1500" height="1000" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>13.08.13  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >02:01 UTC</FONT></div> <div> Cygnus almost eclipsed by a tree!</div> <div> The large dark nebula (Le Gentil 3) above the red North America Nebula was a distinct naked-eye chunk out of the milky-way under </div> <div> these dark skies. Deneb is the bright star (lower centre).</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D, 50mm lens @ f4, 800 ASA, 349s</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1eb84580.jpg" border=0 width="900" height="600" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>13.08.13  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >02:27 - 02:52 UTC</FONT></div> <div> Cassiopeia. "Double cluster" NGC 869 and 884 (left, just below centre). IC 1805, 1795 and 896 red nebulosity (left, just above centre).</div> <div> IC 63 and 59 purple nebulosity near central star of the 'W'. NGC 281 to left of golden yellow star Alpha Cass (Schedar). Open cluster </div> <div> NGC 7789 appears to right of the 'W' (golden yellow colour). The red nebulosity at the top of the image is Ced 214 and NGC 7822.</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D, 50mm lens @ f4, 800 ASA, average of four exposures, each of just over 6 minutes</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Larger version ...</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1ec08b00.jpg" border=0 width="1800" height="1200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Nova Delphinus 2013</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1ef2cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>20.08.13</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >  01:31 UTC</FONT></div> <div> Nova Delphinus 2013 shining at about magnitude 5.5 in strong moonlight</div> <div> Modded Canon EOS 450D, 50mm lens @ f4, 800 ASA, 6s unguided</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Sirius</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1fd2cc50.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="709" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Sirius with a possible faint meteor.</div> <div> Open cluster M41 visible below Sirius at about "7 o'clock" position.</div> <div> 02.04.13; Canon EOS 450D with IR blocker removed</div> <div> 800 ASA, 50mm lens @ f4</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1ed2cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Jupiter in Taurus  <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >29.03.13</FONT></div> <div> Canon EOS 450D with IR blocker removed</div> <div> 800 ASA, 4 secs, 50mm lens</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1dffc5e0.png" border=0 width="1020" height="606" ALT="Microsoft Excel Worksheet" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The graph above shows my naked-eye estimates of the brightness of the star Epsilon Aurigae. The drop in brightness is thought to be due</div> <div> to a giant dust cloud passing in front of the star. This dust disk has a star buried within it that is much less luminous than the star it orbits. </div> <div> The dimming is periodic and occurs every 27.1 years, corresponding to the orbital period of the binary system.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Emission nebulae</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1c2b6080.jpg" border=0 width="694" height="520" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Gamma Cygni: IC 1318 emission nebula and  NGC 6910 open cluster</B></div> <bR> <div> The brilliant star is Gamma Cygni and below it and to the right is the open cluster </div> <div> NGC 6910. The red nebulosity is part of the extensive emission nebula, IC 1318.</div> <bR> <div> Megrez 80mm fluorite triplet apo refractor @ F4.8; SXV-H9 CCD; Baader UV/IR blocker; Trutek RGB filters.</div> <div> R = 46 x 1 min.; G = 36 x 1 min.;  B = 46 x 1 min. RRGB blended image.</div> <div> Mediocre transparency: limiting naked-eye magnitude about 5.5.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1c420560.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="598" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>North America and Pelican Nebulae</B></div> <bR> <div> 135mm F2.8 lens with Astronomik 13nm H-alpha filter mounted in front.</div> <div> Total exposure of 3h 07m with an SXV-H9 CCD.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1c958c00.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="448" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Orion Nebula, M42</B></div> <div> SXV-H9 CCD on Orion 80 ED Apo refractor @ F4.8</div> <div> Blend of 43 x 1min H-alpha, 43 x 15sec Luminance, 34 x 30sec Blue, 42 x 30sec Green</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1c7f4710.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="369" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> H-alpha only version</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1caf9a10.jpg" border=0 width="505" height="673" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>NGC 2264  Christmas Tree Cluster  and Cone Nebula</B></div> <div> Can you spot the Christmas Tree arrangement of bright  stars in the centre?! The brightest </div> <div> star is the 'trunk' and the Cone Nebula is about where the fairy might sit at the top of the tree.</div> <div> Telescope: 80mm Megrez fluorite triplet apo refractor</div> <div> F-ratio: 4.8</div> <div> Camera: Starlight Xpress SXV-H9 CCD</div> <div> Filter: Astronomik 13nm H-alpha</div> <div> Exposures: L = 101 x 2 min</div> <div> Conditions: substantial crescent moon nearby but fairly</div> <div> transparent skies</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Planetary nebulae</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1cc96a30.jpg" border=0 width="918" height="675" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>M27 'The Dumbbell'</B></div> <div>   </div> <div> 80mm Megrez triplet fluorite apo refractor @ F4.8.</div> <div> Exposures of H-alpha 30 x 2', Green 11 x 2 min and Blue 10 x 2' with an SXV-H9 CCD.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="181b1a30.jpg" border=0 width="177" height="163" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> NGC 2392 'Eskimo'   <IMG SRC="182766c0.jpg" border=0 width="118" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  IC5148</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="184b1850.jpg" border=0 width="177" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> M57 'Ring'   <IMG SRC="186b18c0.jpg" border=0 width="177" height="140" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> M76 'Lttle Dumbbell'</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="187b1a20.jpg" border=0 width="177" height="162" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> M97 'Owl'   <IMG SRC="189ecd80.jpg" border=0 width="236" height="216" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> M27 'Dumbbell'</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Reflection nebulae</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="16076590.jpg" border=0 width="118" height="89" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> NGC2261   <IMG SRC="16176590.jpg" border=0 width="118" height="89" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> NGC7023   <IMG SRC="16676550.jpg" border=0 width="118" height="85" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> NGC 1975</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Stars and Star Clusters</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Open Cluster M7, Scorpius from England</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1ce31580.jpg" border=0 width="561" height="600" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> This was sketched on the nights of 11th and 12th August 2010 from Charmouth, Dorset whilst</div> <div> on holiday with the family. The altitude of this southern cluster varied from 4.2 to 2.9 degrees</div> <div> during the course of the drawing, and the sky was not fully dark either! At the caravan park in Dorset, </div> <div> I was almost as far south as you can get in England at +50 44' 07". You may know that M7 is at a very</div> <div> low declination of -34 49', so even from this site it does not attain an altitude greater than 4.4 deg.!</div> <bR> <div> Telescope: Megrez 80mm triplet apo refractor, x24, on simple camera tripod.</div> <bR> <div> I thoroughly enjoyed four clear nights, just lapping up the dark skies by naked-eye and through the</div> <div> 80mm refractor! On the night of the Perseids maximum, the limiting naked-eye magnitude at the</div> <div> zenith was 6.6 - 6.8, with Uranus and M33 glimpsed without optical aid. My 13 year old son, Jack</div> <div> and I counted exactly 100 meteors between 22:10 and 23:10 UTC and a further 89 between 23:10</div> <div> and 24:10 on the night of 12/13 August - we were both facing in mostly, but not entirely, the same </div> <div> direction.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1d0b3020.jpg" border=0 width="691" height="514" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>NGC 457: The Owl Cluster</B></div> <bR> <div> 27.10.08  RGB  R = 11 x 1 min; G = 10 x 1 min; B = 10 x 1 min</div> <div> Megrez 80mm Apo Refractor @ F4.8; SXV-H9 CCD; Baader UV/IR rejection filter; Trutek R,G and B.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1d128d30.jpg" border=0 width="552" height="467" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Open clusters M35 and NGC 2158 in Gemini</B></div> <div> The cluster on the left (M35) appears larger than the one on the right (NGC 2158) because </div> <div> at a distance of a 'mere' 2,700 light years, M35 is  less than a sixth of the distance to </div> <div> NGC 2158. M35 is believed to be 'only' 95 million years old and so it is dominated by 'young' </div> <div> brilliant blue-white stars. NGC 2158 has been around for more than a billion years and so </div> <div> a far higher proportion of its stars have evolved into red giants, giving this cluster a more </div> <div> mellow hue. Technical details: stack of a total of 64 x 2 min exposures through R, G and B </div> <div> filters using a SXV-H9 CCD on a Megrez 80 Apo refractor @ F4.8. Cloud meant it took three </div> <div> nights to complete!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="19827360.jpg" border=0 width="295" height="310" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">    <IMG SRC="19a27360.jpg" border=0 width="295" height="310" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  'Owl cluster'                                               M67</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="19b27fa0.jpg" border=0 width="295" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">     </div> <div> M11 'Wild duck cluster'                             </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1d3bc4a0.jpg" border=0 width="700" height="586" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Omega Centauri - the largest globular star cluster in our galaxy</div> <div> ~ 15min exposure Elitechrome 200 colour reversal film, 25cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F6.3</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="18becae0.jpg" border=0 width="236" height="174" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">        </div> <div> Arcturus through a net curtain!</div> <div> 49cm Newtonian f4.64</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Galaxies</B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="791" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 391 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1d8f47e0.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="382" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>  NGC 4565</B></div> <bR> <div>    Telescope: 30cm Meade LX200 SCT</div> <div>    F-ratio: 6.3</div> <div>    Camera: Starlight Xpress SXV-H9 CCD</div> <div>    Filters: Trutek LRGB, Baader UV/IR blocker,</div> <div>    Astronomik 13nm H-alpha</div> <div>    Exposures: L = 102 x 1 min  2 x 2 binned;</div> <div>    R = 11 x 1 min in H-alpha 4 x 4 binned, </div> <div>    28 x 1 min in R  4 x 4 binned; G = 20 x 1 min</div> <div>    4 x 4 binned; B = 33 x 1 min 4 x 4 binned.</div> <div>    Conditions: crescent moon throughout L</div> <div>    exposures. Good transparency for most of</div> <div>    the time, but deteriorated as I progressed</div> <div>    through to the B filter.</div> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>M81, M82 and NGC 3077 - a galaxy trio (quintet if you look carefully)</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1dbbcfe0.jpg" border=0 width="700" height="510" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Megrez 80mm fluorite triplet Apo refractor @ F4.8; SXV-H9 CCD; Trutek LRGB filters and Baader UV/IR </div> <div> blocker. L = 130 minutes total exposure 1x1, R = 29 minutes 2x2 binned, G = 29 minutes 2x2 binned, </div> <div> B = 30 minutes 2x2 binned.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1dda7af0.jpg" border=0 width="679" height="431" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> M31 'Andromeda Galaxy'</div> <div> Orion 80 ED Apo refractor @ F4.8 with SXV-H9 CCD.</div> <div> 60 x 2mins Luminance: 8 x 2mins 2x2 binned for RGB.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="158765a0.jpg" border=0 width="118" height="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  NGC253    <IMG SRC="19376710.jpg" border=0 width="118" height="113" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  NGC4038/9   <IMG SRC="194765a0.jpg" border=0 width="118" height="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  NGC55   </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="192765b0.jpg" border=0 width="118" height="91" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> NGC7814    <IMG SRC="191765d0.jpg" border=0 width="118" height="93" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> NGC891     <IMG SRC="18f967d0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="125" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> M83</div> <div> <IMG SRC="190aa900.jpg" border=0 width="170" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">         <IMG SRC="18a9d9d0.jpg" border=0 width="413" height="413" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  </div> <div>                 M104                                                                M51         </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Orion Nebula photographed through my 0.5m Newtonian, c. autumn 1997</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21528330.jpg" border=0 width="808" height="563" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="216c3010.jpg" border=0 width="707" height="513" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> A Chance Capture!</div> <bR> <div> When I examined the individual frames for the Orion's belt and sword stack, I saw what at first appeared to be a short meteor trail. The odd thing was</div> <div> that tracks of identical length were found on subsequent frames, just displaced a little towards the east. I immediately realised that this was likely to be a</div> <div> geostationary satellite as this region of Orion is close to the celestial equator and geostationary satellites orbit high above the Earth's equator. Since the</div> <div> camera was piggy-backed on my C14 telescope, and tracked the westward apparent motion of the stars, a geostationary satellite would appear to get 'left</div> <div> behind' and hence show a track headed towards the east. To prove the point all I needed to do was measure the angular length of the track. Using the stars</div> <div> Alnitak and Alnilam in Orion's belt which are separated by an angle on the sky of 1 deg. 21'  22" and 159mm on my monitor screen, the satellite trail (59mm </div> <div> in length) corresponded to 30'.2. An exposure of 2 minutes should produce a trail of angular length 30'.1 calculated from the Earth's 23h 56m sidereal rate. </div> <div> This close agreement is well within measurement uncertainties and so I can be confident that indeed the track is that of a geostationary satellite. Very </div> <div> close examination of these frames revealed other fainter tracks of other satellites.</div> <bR> <div> Below is a pair of successive 2 minute exposures showing the track produced by the geostationary satellite.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23c2cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23d2cc80.jpg" border=0 width="1068" height="712" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>