Thursday, December 31, 2020
All my photos from year 2020
The year 2020 has been interesting since I'm between the scopes at the moment. I converted my old Tokina At-x 300 mm f2.8 camera optics and paired it with the Apogee Alta U16 astro camera.
At first it looked like an impossible task since the back focus distance of Tokina lens was way too short for the camera. After some heavy handed modifications (including an angle grinder) I managed to marry those too junks of metal, glass and silicon together. Kind of Frankenstein's monster but worked!
Tokina 300mm f2.8 and Apogee Alta U16
After many years shooting with a long focal length instrument it was like a fresh air to work with wide field tool.
All my photos from the year 2020
Click for a full size poster (2000 x 2800 pixels)
NOTE, images are not in scale to each other
There are some very rarely imaged objects in the the poster
Photo 11, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/04/two-ways-to-go-in-same-field-of-view.html
Supernova remnant Sh2-221 and a planetary nebula Sh2-216. There are very few images out of them, I haven't seen any other three band NB images from Sh2-221
43 hours of exposures was needed to reveal targets in full glory. There are very few images out there from Sh2-205 and even less from LBN 696.
Photo 12, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/11/a-supernova-remnant-in-cygnus-g65357-snr.html
Photo 12, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/11/a-supernova-remnant-in-cygnus-g65357-snr.html
This is a very large dim and diffused supernova remnant in Cygnus, The dense starfield almost buries faint filament structures. Extremely few photos out there showing the whole SNR.
This SNR is part of the Cygnus mosaic (Image 21).
Photo 21, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/deep-in-to-my-heart-ic-1805-in-mapped.html
This SNR is part of the Cygnus mosaic (Image 21).
Photo 21, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/deep-in-to-my-heart-ic-1805-in-mapped.html
A very commonly imaged target but this deep exposure reveals a very dim supernova remnant just above the "Tip of the Heart". SNR can be seen at eight o'clock position in the photo.
Two massive panorama mosaics
This year I got ready two very large narrowband mosaic images.
Material for them was collected during past ten years.
The Great Mosaic of Cygnus covers now the whole constellation.
Second as large mosaic spans sky from Cassiopeia to Cepheus.
Exposure time for both of then is over 800 Hours.
Cygnus 
Cassiopeia to Cepheus
https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/12/from-cassiopeia-to-cepheus-eight-years.html
THE BOOK
At 2020 we published a book about nebulae, "Cosmic Clouds 3D" We = Brian May, David J Eicher and Me. It was a pleasure to work with talented people. The idea for the book came from Brian may, the legendary Queen guitarist and astrophysicist. At the moment the book is practically sold out.
IMAGE INFO
- Sh2-124, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/11/sharpless-124-sh2-124.html
- Sh2--124 wide field
- Clouds of Cassiopeia, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/11/cassiopeia-mosaic-gets-larger.html
- SNR CTB1, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/02/ctb1-supernova-remnant-in-cassiopeia.html
- Simeis 147, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-birth-of-venus.html
- Tulip nebula area, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-tulip-nebula-in-cygnus-sh2-101.html
- Sh2-205, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-rare-image-sharpless-205-and-ngc-1491.html
- NGC 1499, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-deep-view-to-california-nebula-in.html
- Sh2-132, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/11/a-new-photo-of-sharpless-132-sh2-132.html
- Sh2-126, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/10/new-photo-sharpless-126-in-lacerta.html
- Sh2-216 & 221, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/04/two-ways-to-go-in-same-field-of-view.html
- SNR G65.3+5,7,https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/11/a-supernova-remnant-in-cygnus-g65357-snr.html
- IC 63 & NGC281, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/ic-63-and-ngc-281.html
- SNR IC443, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/supernova-remnant-ic-443-wide-field.html
- Bubble to Cave, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/from-bubble-to-cave-nebula-area.html
- Cygnus, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/12/cygnus-project-grande-finale-for-now.html
- Sh2-114, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/12/sharpless-114-flying-dragon-nebula.html
- IC 405 & 410, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/new-photo-deep-in-to-darkness.html
- Cederblad 214,https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/02/new-photo-of-cederblad-214-cosmic.html
- From CTB1 to Cave,https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/from-cassiopeia-to-cepheus.html
- IC 1805, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/deep-in-to-my-heart-ic-1805-in-mapped.html
- IC 1396, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/ic-1396-wide-field-reprocessed.html
- Cassiopeia to Cepheus, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/12/from-cassiopeia-to-cepheus-eight-years.html
- Bubble to cave, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/from-bubble-to-cave-round-ii.html
- Sh2-205 & LBN 696, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-two-frame-mosaic-photo-of-sharpless.html
Sunday, December 27, 2020
From Cassiopeia to Cepheus, eight years and 300 hours of exposures
I started this imaging project back at 2012. During the years I have shot more frames for this active region of the sky. Now there are 26 panels and 22 high resolution sub-panels stitched together. Photo covers about 35 x 17 degrees of sky and the physical resolution is over 25.000 x 12.000 pixels. There are about 4,5 million individual stars visible in this image.
This is my second large mosaic image finalized in this month, a very large mosaic image of Cygnus can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/12/cygnus-project-grande-finale-for-now.html
From Cassiopeia to Cepheus
Click for a large image, it's really worth it! (2000 x 4000 pixels)
Click for a large image, it's really worth it! (2000 x 4000 pixels)
Image is in mapped colors from a light from the ionized elements, hydrogen = green, sulfur = red and oxygen = blue. NOTE, there is an image of the Moon at the same scale in lower left corner.
A horizontal version
Click for a large image, it's really worth it! (1500 x 3000 pixels)
Orientation and size
Click for a large image
Upper one in the map is a new mosaic image, lower is another large new mosaic image about Cygnus.
Info about the Cygnus mosaic can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/12/cygnus-project-grande-finale-for-now.html
Info about the Cygnus mosaic can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/12/cygnus-project-grande-finale-for-now.html
Closeups from the large mosaic
You should click the images to see them in full glory, it's worth the effort!
Supernova remnant CTB1
You should click the images to see them in full glory, it's worth the effort!
Supernova remnant CTB1
From Bubble to Cave Nebula
IC 1396
This zoom out series gives a good view to the resolution. (Photo is 6500 pixel long)
Sharpless 132
Zoom out series
THE MOSAIC
Evolution of the mosaic between 2012 and 2020
Click for a large image
Frames
There are 26 base panels with shorter focal length tools (200mm f2.8 Tokina and 200mm f1.8 Canon) There is also 22 sub-panels used, they are shot with my old 12" Meade and 11" Celestron Edge scopes.
Equipments
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Sharpless 114, the Flying Dragon Nebula
While shooting more frames for my great mosaic of Cygnus I shot a set of frames for the Sharpless 114 (Sh2-114) , the Flying Dragon Nebula. Part of the image was used for the mosaic but the dragon part was out of the field of view.
I decided to make an individual image out of it since it's not a very well known object and it's beautiful too. I have shot the Sh2-114 with a longer focal length instrumen back in 2015
The Flying Dragon
Click for a large image
A closeup
Click for a large image
Photo is in natural colors combined from narrowband channels. An ionized hydrogen, H-alpha, is emitting deep red light and it's dominating the color scheme.
An older long focal length version
Click for a large image
Photo is in natural colors combined from narrowband channels. An ionized hydrogen, H-alpha, is emitting deep red light and it's dominating the color scheme.
INFO
Sh2-114 is a complex and unusual HII emission nebula. Its complex, wispy structure is likely the result of winds from hot, massive stars interacting with the magnetic fields in the interstellar medium. But very little is known about it. (Source, https://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im1112.html)
Orientation
Click for a large image
Sharpless 114 can be seen at lower left corner, field of view is framed.
Technical details
Processing workflow
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 33 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS CS3
Levels and curves in PS CS3.
Imaging optics
Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x 2 and an old spotting scope of Meade LX200
Astrodon filters,
5nm H-alpha 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III
5nm H-alpha 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III
Exposure time
H-alpha, 15 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 5 h
O-III, 1x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 20 min.
S-II, 1 x 1200 s. binned 2x2 = 20 min.
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Cygnus project, ten years and 500 hours, the grande finale!
Total exposure time is way over 600 hours shot between 2010 and 2020. Some areas of this mosaic panorama required more exposure time than others. There are two large supernova remnants in this mosaic. both are large, diffused and very dim. I have used about 150 hours of exposures for them alone! There are hardly any deep and large enough photos around showing them well.
I have started this imaging project back at 2010. My aim was make a highish resolution mosaic covering the constellation Cygnus. Work like that takes time and patience, especially since I have worked so, that many of the individual sub mosaics or frames can be published as an individual artworks. Here is a poster format presentation about all of longer focal length images used for this mosaic beside actual panels, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2018/11/treasures-of-swan.html
As a result I have now a huge 37 panel (And 58 long focal length sub-panel) mosaic panorama covering 28 x 18 degrees of sky. I have collected photons way over 500 hours during past ten years for this photo. The full size mosaic image has a size of about 25.000 x 15.000 pixels.
A photo of five million stars*
Great Mosaic of Cygnus (2010-2020)
28x18 degrees, 37 + 58 panels and over 600 hours of exposure time
The full size photo is worth to see! (2700 x 1700 pixels)
An apparent size of the Moon is marked as a scale at bottom left on the picture frame.
This is a large area of sky! (28 x 18 degrees) Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen. NOTE, the horizontal version at end of the page!
* I actually counted the stars and in this field of view there are little over five million individual stars
* I actually counted the stars and in this field of view there are little over five million individual stars
Orientation
Three supernova remnants, two Wolf Rayet stars and a black hole
Please, click the image for full resolution
Three supernova remnants, two Wolf Rayet stars and a black hole
Please, click the image for full resolution
Some closeups from the large mosaic image to show the resolution
You should click the images to see them in full glory, it's worth the effort!
North America and the Pelican Nebula
You should click the images to see them in full glory, it's worth the effort!
North America and the Pelican Nebula
NOTE, image is reduced to 2000 x 1300 pixels from 6000 x 4000 pixels.
The supernova remnant G65.3+5.7 at top of the mosaic image
More info about this image here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/11/g65357-large-supernova-remnant-in_22.html
A closeup from the supernova remnant G65.3+5.7
The noise is not a noise, just a massive amount of stars
A closeup from the supernova remnant G65.3+5.7
The noise is not a noise, just a massive amount of stars
The starfield in this part of Milky Way is extremely dense, blog post about this SNR can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/11/a-supernova-remnant-in-cygnus-g65357-snr.html
The Tulip Nebula, Sh2-101, can be seen at center right, there is also a black hole Cygnus X-1
The blog post with technical details can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-tulip-nebula-in-cygnus-sh2-101.html
Cirrus of Cygnus
Blog post about this photo, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/12/cirrus-of-cygnus-and-supernova-remnant.html
The blog post with technical details can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-tulip-nebula-in-cygnus-sh2-101.html
Cirrus of Cygnus
THE MOSAIC
Evolution of the mosaic between 2010 and 2020
Click for a large image
Mosaic panels in chronological order
Click for a large image
Here is an updated image about individual panels shot for this large mosaic image.
There are 37 base panels with shorter focal length tools (200mm f2.8 Tokina and 200mm f1.8 Canon) There is also 59 sub-panels used, they are shot with my old 12" Meade and 11" Celestron Edge scopes.
NOTE I recalculated the total exposure time and it's actually way over 600 hours.
Here is a poster format presentation and a list all of longer focal length images used for this mosaic beside the actual panels, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2018/11/treasures-of-swan.html
NOTE I recalculated the total exposure time and it's actually way over 600 hours.
Here is a poster format presentation and a list all of longer focal length images used for this mosaic beside the actual panels, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2018/11/treasures-of-swan.html
INFO
Three supernova remnants, two Wolf Rayet stars and a black hole
In the orientation image above, there are three large supernova remnants visible, first the Cygnus Shell W63 , bluish ring at upper left quarter, secondly the large SNR G65.3+5.7 at utmost right and finally the third is a brighter SNR, the Veil nebula just outside of field of view at bottom center. (Image is partly overlapping with large mosaic but I didn't want to include it yet due to artistic composition.)
Beside three supernova remnants there are two Wolf Rayet stars with outer shell formations. NGC 6888, the Crescent Nebula at center of the image and the WR 134, it can be seen as a blue arch just right from the Crescent Nebula, near the Tulip nebula.
Next to the Tulip Nebula lays a Black hole Cygnus X-1, it's marked in small closeup image of the Tulip Neula at center right in orientation image above.
Constellation Cygnus is an endless source of celestial wonders, both scientifically and aesthetically. For me, as an visual artist, this are of night sky is very inspiring There are endless amount of amazing shapes and structures, I can spend rest of my life just shooting images from this treasury.
Beside three supernova remnants there are two Wolf Rayet stars with outer shell formations. NGC 6888, the Crescent Nebula at center of the image and the WR 134, it can be seen as a blue arch just right from the Crescent Nebula, near the Tulip nebula.
Next to the Tulip Nebula lays a Black hole Cygnus X-1, it's marked in small closeup image of the Tulip Neula at center right in orientation image above.
Constellation Cygnus is an endless source of celestial wonders, both scientifically and aesthetically. For me, as an visual artist, this are of night sky is very inspiring There are endless amount of amazing shapes and structures, I can spend rest of my life just shooting images from this treasury.
The smaller 18 panel version of this mosaic from a year 2013
My beautiful wife Anna as a scale at front of the framed copy of the Cygnus mosaic version from 2013.
A funny anecdote
A funny anecdote
About a week ago I showed this new mosaic image to my wife Anna. She is an art teacher and I value her opinions very highly. We talked about the composition of the new photo and I asked if she knows where the black hole (Cygnus X-1) locates isn constellation Swan. She doesn't even blink when she pointed her finger on the exactly right spot in the large mosaic! Even though she is interested about astronomy, I was stunned. I asked how she know about the location of the black hole so well ?
The answer was; "If you think about the swan, I just pointed out the anatomically correct location"
The answer was; "If you think about the swan, I just pointed out the anatomically correct location"
The Black Hole of a Swan
Click for a large image (2700 x 1700 pixels)
Equipments used
Thursday, December 10, 2020
Cirrus of Cygnus and the supernova remnant W63
The dim are in the Western Cygnus is very much overlooked, the reason must be the there are so many brighter and well known astronomical objects just nearby.
Hydrogen filaments in the image are about thousand light years long, the blue ring in the image is a rarely seen dim and large supernova remnant, the ring structure is seen only in light of an ionized oxygen (O-III)
I haven't seen any photos focusing to this area beside my older shots of it. This new composition is reprocessed and more data is added, specially in O-III channel. This image is a part of new unpublished mosaic image, it'll cover the whole Cygnus complex.
Image is shot with several instruments between 2010 and 2020, Original frames from 2010-2013 are shot with canon EF 200mm f1.8 camera lens and QHY9 astro camera with Baader narrowband filter set. Additional wilde filed frames are shot with Tokina AT-x 300mm f2.8 camera lens and Apogee Alta U16 astro camera and Astrodon narrowband filters. Many details in the image are sot with Celestron Edge 11" telescope and an old Meade LX 200 GPS 12". total exposure time is around 150 hours. I gave the name "Cirrus of Cygnus" since this gas formation remains me about Cirrus clouds.
Cirrus of Cygnus
You should click the image to see it in full resolution, it's worth it! (3000 x 1250 pixels)
A mapped color image from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulfur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen. Note, there is a size of the moon marked in lower left corner as a scale.
Orientation
click the image to see it in full resolution
It does look like a Cirrus cloud
An older long focal length photo of the supernova remnant
G82.2+5.3 W63 the "Cygnus shell"
click the image to see it in full resolution
Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen. This mosaic image of twelve individual panels covers about four degrees of sky vertically.
More info about this photo here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2018/10/a-very-rare-photo-cygnus-shell.html
Friday, December 4, 2020
Cassiopeia mosaic gets larger, now up to Cepheus
I started this imaging project at Spring season 2020m now I have shot more frames for this active region of the sky. At center of the photo lays the Bubble and cave nebula At lower left locates the Cederblad 214 and just few degrees to right from it lays the supernova remnant CTB1, it can be seen as a thin ring like formation. The Wizard nebula can be seen at upper right corner of the image. Note. there is a moon as a scale at a lower left corner of the image. This is a large area of space and I I have now join this mosaic image to a large one from 2012. I will continue this mosaic soon!
There is an interesting looking dim and large circular formation at center left, there is a bright star at almost center of it. Could this be an uncataloged supernova remnant?
Total exposure time is now around 150 hours, if older exposures are included. with my current wide field imaging system build around the Tokina AT-x 300 mm f2.8 camera optics. Astro Don 50x50 mm square narrowband filters, 5nm H-alpha, 3nm O-III and 3nm S-II. Camera is a massive Apogee Alta U16.
This mosaic has now twenty individual frame stitched seamlessly together,
From cassiopeia to cepheus
Click for a much large image, it's worth it! (1400 x 2200 pixels)
Click for a much large image, it's worth it! (1400 x 2200 pixels)
Image is in mapped colors from a light from the ionized elements, hydrogen = green, sulfur = red and oxygen = blue. NOTE, there is an image of the Moon at the same scale in lower left corner.
Orientation
Click for a much large image
Previous version of the mosaic
Click for a much large image
More previous version can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/11/cassiopeia-mosaic-gets-larger.html
Start of this imaging project at this year
Click for a large image
Image info, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/from-bubble-to-cave-nebula-area.html
Sunday, November 29, 2020
Cassiopeia mosaic gets larger
I started this imaging project at Spring season 2020m now I have shot more frames for this active region of the sky. At center of the photo lays the Bubble and cave nebula At lower left locates the Cederblad 214 and just few degrees to right from it lays the supernova remnant CTB1, it can be seen as a thin ring like formation. The Wizard nebula can be seen at upper right corner of the image. Note. there is a moon as a scale at a lower left corner of the image. This is a large area of space and I will join this mosaic image to a large one, I have shot it back in 2012.
There is an interesting looking dim circular formation at upper left, there is a bright star at almost center of it. Could this be an uncataloged supernova remnant?
Total exposure time is now around 50 hours with my current wide field imaging system build around the Tokina AT-x 300 mm f2.8 camera optics. Astro Don 50x50 mm square narrowband filters, 5nm H-alpha, 3nm O-III and 3nm S-II. Camera is a massive Apogee Alta U16. This mosaic has now ten frames.
Clouds of Cassiopeia
Click for a much large image, it's worth it!
Previous version of the mosaic
Click for a large image
Click for a large image
More info about this image here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/from-cassiopeia-to-cepheus.html
Start of the imaging project
Click for a large image
Image info, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/from-bubble-to-cave-nebula-area.html
Monday, November 23, 2020
A new photo of Sharpless 132 (Sh2-132)
I have shot this beautiful target in Cepheus several times with a different focal length instruments. This time I have shot it with my current setup build around Tokina AT-x 300mm f2.8 https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-frankenstein-monster-my-current.html
Sharpless 132 in Cepheus
Click for a large image
A closeup
Click for a large image
Older shots with a large instrument
Click for a large image
Image is shot at 2019 and it's a four panel mosaic, more info in this blog post, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2019/02/sharpless-132-sh2-132.html
Image is shot at 2014 and it's a four panel mosaic, more info in this blog post, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-furious-cosmic-horse-gets-blinded-by.html
Technical details
Processing workflow
Image acquisition, MaxiDL v5.07.
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 33 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS CS3
Levels and curves in PS CS3.
Imaging optics
Tokina AT-x f2.8 camera lens
Mount
10-micron 1000
Cameras and filters
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U16 and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x 2 and an old spotting scope of Meade LX200
Astrodon filters,
5nm H-alpha 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III
5nm H-alpha 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III
Total exposure time
H-alpha, 6 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 2 h
O-III, 3 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 1 h
S-II, 3 x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 1 h
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