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Showing posts with label Tokina 300mm f2.8 images. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tokina 300mm f2.8 images. Show all posts

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

NOTE, An apparent size of the Moon is marked as a scale at bottom of the picture frame. This is a large object! There are very few images out of this dim and diffused supernova remnant around. Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen. 

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

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



www.tips-fb.com Posted by J-P Metsavainio at 10:24 AM 1 comments
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Sunday, November 22, 2020

G65.3+5.7 , large supernova remnant in Cygnus, project continues

A large piece of an older mosaic image added, now the panorama covers sky from the Cresscent and Tulip Nebula all to wat to this large supernova remnant. 

Previous version was with six frames and it can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/11/g65357-large-supernova-remnant-in.html

Here is a first single frame version of this SNR, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/11/a-supernova-remnant-in-cygnus-g65357-snr.html

This is a rarely imaged target, this is also one of the most difficult targets, I have ever shot. Due to a very dense star field, large angular dimension and a very diffused structure this is much more difficult target, than a Simeis 147 supernova remnant in Taurus but just little easier than an other dim SNR in a same area of sky, the Cygnus Shell, W63.  

Total exposure time of 60h was needed to have this image. The imaging system is very fast since it's undersampled and that's good when I want capture a very large, dim and diffused targets like this one. My current imaging system, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-frankenstein-monster-my-current.html

G65.3+5.7 SNR has a large angular dimensions, than brighter and more famous supernova remnant in Cygnus, the Veil Nebula.  The angular dimensions are about 3x4 degrees. This is a very difficult target, it has a very low surface brightness and the starfield is extremely dense in this part of the Milky Way.


NOTE, the "noise" in the photos is not a noise at all, it's glow from countless stars,
it can be seen best in full size photo! 


From a black hole to the supernova remnant!
Please, click for a large image, it's worth it!

NOTE, An apparent size of the Moon is marked as a scale at bottom of the picture frame. This is a large object! There are very few images out of this dim and diffused supernova remnant around. Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen. 

Next to the Tulip Nebula (A bright yellowish dot a left side of  the image) lays the micro quasar 
Cygnus X-1, a black hole candidate! 

Cygnus X-1 is marked at the image. The black hole it self can not be seen but we can see the disc of gas twirling in the balck hole. The speed of gas is so high that it turns to radiation. This star like object emits radiation in full spectrum from gamma radiation to radio frequencies and everything between.



G65.3+5.7 SNR as a single frame
Please, click for a large image, it's worth it!

What a starfield!

In visual colors
click for a large image

An ionized hydrogen emits deep red light, blue/green hues are form an ionized oxygen


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

Total exposure time for 12 frames

H-alpha, 24 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 28 h
O-III, 24 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 18 h
S-II, 12 x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 14 h




www.tips-fb.com Posted by J-P Metsavainio at 8:04 PM 1 comments
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Monday, November 16, 2020

G65.3+5.7 , large supernova remnant in Cygnus, project continues

Five new frames added, project will continue soon since I'm soon able to joint this new mosaic image to a much large mosaic of the area! Here is a previous single frame version of this SNR, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/11/a-supernova-remnant-in-cygnus-g65357-snr.html

This is a rarely imaged target, this is also one of the most difficult targets, I have ever shot. Due to a very dense star field, large angular dimension and a very diffused structure this is much more difficult target, than a Simeis 147 supernova remnant in Taurus. Total exposure time of 20h was needed to have this image. The imaging system is very fast since it's undersampled and that's good when I want capture a very large, dim and diffused targets like this one. My current imaging system, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-frankenstein-monster-my-current.html

G65.3+5.7 SNR has a large angular dimensions, than brighter and more famous supernova remnant in Cygnus, the Veil Nebula.  The angular dimensions are about 3x4 degrees. This is a very difficult target, it has a very low surface brightness and the starfield is extremely dense in this part of the Milky Way.


NOTE, the "noise" in the photos is not a noise at all, it's glow from countless stars,
it can be seen best in full size photo! 


G65.3+5.7 SNR as a six frame mosaic
Please, click for a large image, it's worth it!

NOTE, An apparent size of the Moon is marked as a scale at bottom of the picture frame. This is a large object!
There are very few images out of this dim and diffused supernova remnant around. Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen. 

An experimental starless version

An apparent size of the Moon is marked as a scale at bottom of the picture frame.


A closeup
click for a large image

This is a full resolution close up from the photo to show, how dense the star field really is!


Orientation in Cygnus
click for a large image

This super nova remnant can be seen at bottom of the image above. It's partly overlapping with my large mosaic image of Cygnus nebula complex. I have some plans to shoot more frames to the mosaic to it to fully cover both supernova remnants visible in image. 

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

Total exposure time

H-alpha, 24 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 8 h
O-III, 24 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 8 h
S-II, 12 x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 4 h





www.tips-fb.com Posted by J-P Metsavainio at 3:37 PM 0 comments
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Sunday, November 1, 2020

A supernova remnant in Cygnus, G65.3+5.7 SNR

 This is a rarely imaged target, this is also one of the most difficult targets, I have ever shot. Due to a very dense star field, large angular dimension and a very diffused structure this is even more difficult target, than a Simeis 147 supernova remnant in Taurus. Total exposure time of 10h was needed to have this image. The imaging system is very fast since it's undersampled and that's good when I want capture a very large, dim and diffused targets like this one. My current imaging system, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-frankenstein-monster-my-current.html


G65.3+5.7 SNR has about the same angular dimensions, than brighter and more famous remnant in Cygnus, the Veil Nebula.  The angular dimensions are about 3x4 degrees. This is a very difficult target it has a very low surface brightness and the starfield is extremely dense in this part of the Milky Way.


NOTE, the "noise" in the photos is not a noise at all, it's glow from countless stars,
it can be seen best in full size photo!

G65.3+5.7 SNR
Please, click for a large image, it's worth it!

There are very few images out of this dim and diffused supernova remnant around. Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen. 
Note! An apparent size of the Moon in a same scale can be seen at lower left corner.


A closeup
click for a large image

This is a full resolution close up from the photo to show, how dense the star field really is!


O-III light alone
click for a large image


H-alpha and S-II light Only
click for a large image



Orientation in Cygnus
click for a large image

This super nova remnant can be seen at bottom of the image above. It's partly overlapping with my large mosaic image of Cygnus nebula complex. I have some plans to shoot more frames to the mosaic to it to fully cover both supernova remnants visible in image. 

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

Total exposure time

H-alpha, 12 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 4 h
O-III, 12 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 4 h
S-II, 6 x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 2 h






www.tips-fb.com Posted by J-P Metsavainio at 3:35 PM 0 comments
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Friday, October 9, 2020

New photo, Sharpless 126 in lacerta

 


I haven't seen many pictures about this large and diffused nebula before. 
This is a very good target for my photon hungry wider field setup, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-frankenstein-monster-my-current.html

'

Sharpless 126, Sh2-126
Click for a large image

A bicolor image from the light from ionized elements hydrogen (H-alpha) and oxygen (O-III)


INFO

Sharpless 126 (Sh2-126) is a large emission nebula in Lacerta. The source of its ionization is the ultraviolet radiation from the star 10 Lacertae.

This region with its weak nebulous filaments is part of a huge star forming region, 1200 light years away from earth.

H-alpha alone
Click for a large image



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 300 mm 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

Total exposure time

H-alpha, 9 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 3 h
O-III, 1 x 1200 s, binned 1x1= 20 min.

www.tips-fb.com Posted by J-P Metsavainio at 11:24 AM 0 comments
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Wednesday, October 7, 2020

The Tulip nebula area in cygnus, Sh2-101, in natural colors

 


In my previous blog post this image can be seen in mapped colors, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-tulip-nebula-in-cygnus-sh2-101.html

Photo is taken with my temporary imaging system, at the moment I'm out of the actual telescope : (
Mor info about this tool set can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-frankenstein-monster-my-current.html

The tulip Nebula area 
Please, click for a large image, it's worth it!¨

Image is in Natural color palette from the emission of ionized elements, R=Hydrogen + Sulphur, G=Oxygen and B=Oxygen + 10% Hydrogen to compensate the missing H-beta emission


An experimental starless view
click for a large image


Info

I have shot the actual Tulip Nebula with a large 11" telescope, images and info about the Tulip nebula can be seen HERE. An other interesting detail, a blue crescent like shape at center left. It's a Wolf Rayet shell around a star WR 134. I have shot this also with a large telescope, more info and images can be found HERE  

A closeup photo of the Wolf Rayet Shell around the star WR 134

This feature can be found from the new wide field photo at center left.



Nebula in light of an ionized hydrogen alone (H-alpha)
click for a large image

Nine twenty minute 5 nm H-alpha exposures are calibrated with bias corrected flats and stacked to this cumulative three hour exposure. 


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

Total exposure time

H-alpha, 9 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 3 h
O-III, from my older photo of the area
S-II, from my older photo of the area
Older photo can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2011/12/cygnus-mosaic-18-panels-and-22-x-14.html
www.tips-fb.com Posted by J-P Metsavainio at 2:23 PM 0 comments
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Tuesday, October 6, 2020

The Tulip nebula in cygnus, Sh2-101

 


This is my second light photo for the cloudy Autumn season 2020. The area next to well known Tulip Nebula is very beautiful and less imaged  due to its large size and relatively low surface brightness. My current toolset is very suitable for this kind of objects, since its kind of heavily undersampled and that's good when I need to capture very dim and large objects.


The tulip Nebula area 
Please, click for a large image, it's worth it!

Image is in mapped colours, from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulphur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen. 


A starless view
click for a large image

An experimental starless version shows the actual nebula complex better.

Info

I have shot the actual Tulip Nebula with a large 11" telescope, images and info about the Tulip nebula can be seen HERE. An other interesting detail, a blue crescent like shape at center left. It's a Wolf Rayet shell around a star WR 134. I have shot this also with a large telescope, more info and images can be found HERE  

A closeup photo of the Wolf Rayet Shell around the star WR 134

This feature can be found from the new wide field photo at center left.

Nebula in light of an ionized hydrogen alone (H-alpha)
click for a large image

Nine twenty minute 5 nm H-alpha exposures are calibrated with bias corrected flats and stacked to this cumulative three hour exposure. 

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

Total exposure time

H-alpha, 9 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 3 h
O-III, from my older photo of the area
S-II, from my older photo of the area
Older photo can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2011/12/cygnus-mosaic-18-panels-and-22-x-14.html



www.tips-fb.com Posted by J-P Metsavainio at 11:16 AM 2 comments
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Sunday, September 27, 2020

First light for the Autumn season 2020

 


First light for the season is always a big thing for me personally. I have had really bad troubles to have a imaging telescope. Lots of promises but nothing  happens so i'm out of real tools. I do have a kind of working imaging platform built around an old Tokina AT-x 300mm f2.8 camera lens, here is some info about this toolset, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-frankenstein-monster-my-current.html

I have an imaging plan but for the first light I selected something more "easy" to test my system after a six months pause due to nightless nights up here near to polar circle. A supernova remnant Veil Nebula in constellation cygnus is a beautiful and large target with some really dim parts and background nebulae.
I have shot the Veil nebula many times during the years with a different optical configurations and it's always shows something new and different, what a fascinating target!


Veil Nebula
Please, click for a large image, it's worth it

Image is in natural colors combined from the narrowband channels. H-alpha = Red, O-III = Green and O-III + 20% H-alpha = Blue.



A closeup
click for a large image

A full resolution closeup, the camera lens draws beautifully when well collimated and focused.
lots of stars there, star colors are combined from narrowband channels H-alpha and O-III.


An experimental starless image
click for a large image

The starless version of Veil Nebula makes easier to see very faint details in nebulae otherwise buried under the dense starfield of the Milky Way. 



Veil nebula in a light from an ionized hydrogen, H-alpha
click for a large image


INFO

Veil Nebula locates in a constellation Cygnus at distance of about 2400 ly. It's a cloud of ionized gas and dust, leftovers from an exploded star. The star went off some 5000-8000 years ago at distance of about 1470 light years. This, relatively faint target, is difficult to image due to the large angular diameter, about three degrees, and a dense star field. I have shot this target so many times over the years and i never get tired to it, ther is always something new to find in it, Here is a collection my photos from this fascinating target, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/search?q=Veil+nebula
Just click "Next  Post" at end of the page to see more!


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 300mm f2.8 camera lens

Mount
10-micron 1000

Cameras, filters and guiding
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

Total exposure time
H-alpha, 12 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 4 h
O-III, 6 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 2 h
S-II, 3 x 1200s, binned 1x1 = 1h


www.tips-fb.com Posted by J-P Metsavainio at 12:19 PM 0 comments
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Friday, April 24, 2020

All my photos from the Winter season 2020 in visual colors

I have published this image poster in mapped colors at April 15. 2020
It can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/04/all-my-photos-from-winter-season-2020.html We have lost the astronomical darkness for about six months, up here 65 North.
Next time I'm going to be able to do the deep sky imaging will be at mid September 2020.

This time I'm publishing the same image set in visual colors.  Colors are combined from narrowband channels emission from an ionized hydrogen, sulfur and oxygen (H-alpha, S-II and O-III) are combined by following method;
Hydrogen and sulfur are both in red channel, oxygen has split between green and blue channel.

I was able to have my imaging system up and running very late, at first week of January 2020. I build my imaging system around an old Tokina AT-x 300mm f2.8 camera lens by mating the Apogee Alta U16 camera with it. Not an easy task due to very large CCD in Apogee camera and lack of back focus distance in Tokina lens.
I even used an angle grinder to shorten up the lens!
Some info and images about my imaging tools can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-frankenstein-monster-my-current.html

I made a poster format presentation about all of my new photos from the Winter season 2020.
There are some very rare images from this imaging season. Photo 2 in poster might be the first three band image of this nebula pair. Photo 12 might be the first color image ever showing this area in sky. Boths targets are dim to extreme and lots of exposure time was needed even though I was using very fast optical configuration  (Under sampled optics, ~6 arcseconds/pixel)


Winter season 2020
A very large image, 3300 x 4800 pixels and 17 MB

All of the photos in this poster has been taken with the Tokina AT-x 300mm f2.8 camera lanes, Apogee Alta U16 astronomical camera and the Astrodon narrowband filter set. (5nm H-alpha, 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III) All photos have been shot from my down town observatory. Location is very light polluted, the sky quality is  Bortle scale eight!

IMAGE INFO
  1. Cederblad 214 and Sh2-170, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/02/new-photo-of-cederblad-214-cosmic.html
  2. Supernova remnant and a planetary nebula in a same field of view, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/04/two-ways-to-go-in-same-field-of-view.html
  3. From Bubble to Cave Nebula, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/from-bubble-to-cave-round-ii.html
  4. Supernova remnant CTB1, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/02/ctb1-supernova-remnant-in-cassiopeia.html
  5. Supernova remnant IC 443, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/supernova-remnant-ic-443-wide-field.html
  6. NGC 1499, the California Nebula, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-deep-view-to-california-nebula-in.html
  7. IC 405 & IC 410, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/new-photo-deep-in-to-darkness.html¨
  8. IC 63 & NGC 281, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/ic-63-and-ngc-281.html
  9. Simeis 147, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/02/simeis-147-sh2-240-large-supernova.html
  10. Heart Nebula, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/deep-in-to-my-heart-ic-1805-in-mapped.html
  11. C 1396, the Elephant's Trunk Nebula, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/ic-1396-wide-field-reprocessed.html
  12. The Grande Mosaic of Auriga, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-grande-mosaic-of-auriga.html
  13. Sharpless 205, NGC 1491 and  Lynds Bright Nebula 696, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-two-frame-mosaic-photo-of-sharpless.html
  14. The Grande Mosaic of Auriga, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-grande-mosaic-of-auriga.html


www.tips-fb.com Posted by J-P Metsavainio at 9:11 AM 0 comments
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Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Grayscale Wonders part III

All the photos, I have published, are taken with a grayscale astronomical camera. Each color channel is shot separately and then combined to RGB color image. Since I'm doing only narrowband imaging due the extensive light pollution color channels are are emission line images. Most of the time I'm capturing three emission lines hydrogen, sulfur and oxygen. (H-alpha, S-II and O-III)

Usually most of the details are in hydrogen alpha emission line. Gray scale images can be really beautiful and many times I personally like them best. I will publish now some of my images from this winter season as a grayscale compositions. This is a part III of Grayscale Wonders, part one and two can be seen here: Part one, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/04/greyscale-wonders.html
Part two, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/04/grayscale-wonders-part-ii.html


Please, open the full size photo by clicking the image, it's really worth it!
NGC 1491

www.tips-fb.com Posted by J-P Metsavainio at 12:53 PM 0 comments
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020

All my photos from the Winter season 2020


We have lost the astronomical darkness for about six months, up here 65 North.
Next time I'm going to be able to do the deep sky imaging will be at mid September 2020.

This imaging season was different than before. I was able to have my imaging system up and running very late, at first week of January 2020. I build my imaging system around an old Tokina AT-x 300mm f2.8 camera lens by mating the Apogee Alta U16 camera with it. Not an easy task due to very large CCD in Apogee camera and lack of back focus distance in Tokina lens.
I even used an angle grinder to shorten up the lens!
Some info and images about my imaging tools can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-frankenstein-monster-my-current.html

I made a poster format presentation about all of my new photos from the Winter season 2020.
There are some very rare images from this imaging season. Photo 2 in poster might be the first three band image of this nebula pair. Photo 12 might be the first color image ever showing this area in sky. Boths targets are dim to extreme and lots of exposure time was needed even though I was using very fast optical configuration  (Under sampled optics, ~6 arcseconds/pixel)



Winter season 2020
A very large image, 3300 x 4800 pixels and 17 MB

All of the photos in this poster has been taken with the Tokina AT-x 300mm f2.8 camera lanes, Apogee Alta U16 astronomical camera and the Astrodon narrowband filter set. (5nm H-alpha, 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III) All photos have been shot from my down town observatory. Location is very light polluted, the sky quality is  Bortle scale eight!


INFO
  1. Cederblad 214 and Sh2-170, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/02/new-photo-of-cederblad-214-cosmic.html
  2. Supernova remnant and a planetary nebula in a same field of view, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/04/two-ways-to-go-in-same-field-of-view.html
  3. From Bubble to Cave Nebula, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/from-bubble-to-cave-round-ii.html
  4. Supernova remnant CTB1, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/02/ctb1-supernova-remnant-in-cassiopeia.html
  5. Supernova remnant IC 443, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/supernova-remnant-ic-443-wide-field.html
  6. NGC 1499, the California Nebula, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-deep-view-to-california-nebula-in.html
  7. IC 405 & IC 410, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/new-photo-deep-in-to-darkness.html¨
  8. IC 63 & NGC 281, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/ic-63-and-ngc-281.html
  9. Heart Nebula, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/deep-in-to-my-heart-ic-1805-in-mapped.html
  10. IC 1396, the Elephant's Trunk Nebula, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/ic-1396-wide-field-reprocessed.html
  11. The Grande Mosaic of Auriga, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-grande-mosaic-of-auriga.html
  12. Sharpless 205, NGC 1491 and  Lynds Bright Nebula 696, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-two-frame-mosaic-photo-of-sharpless.html
  13. Great Mosaic of Cepheus, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/great-mosaic-of-cepheus.html
  14. Simeis 147, The Birth of Venus, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-birth-of-venus.html



www.tips-fb.com Posted by J-P Metsavainio at 7:29 AM 0 comments
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Sunday, April 5, 2020

Supernova remnant IC 443 in visual spectrum



I have published this image in mapped colors at March 2, this time I have combined the narrowband emission channels so, that the result is very close to a visual colors.



IC 443, NGC 2175 & Messier 35
Click for a large image, it's worth it!

The red glow from an ionized hydrogen (H-alpha) is dominating the view, bluish hues are from an ionized oxygen (O-III)
H-alpha alone
Click for a large image

3h of light emitted by an ionized hydrogen, H-alpha.



INFO

IC 443

IC 443 (also known as the Jellyfish Nebula and Sharpless 248 (Sh2-248)) is a Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) in the constellation Gemini. It locates visually near the star Eta Geminorum at distance of about 5000 light years.
IC 443 may be the remains of a supernova that occurred 3,000 - 30,000 years ago. The same supernova event likely created the neutron star CXOU J061705.3+222127, the collapsed remnant of the stellar core. IC 443 is one of the best-studied cases of supernova remnants interacting with surrounding molecular clouds

NGC 2175

One of the reasons i took this image is the "Monkey head nebula", NGC 2175, at lower right corner.
I have shot this area with a much longer focal length back in 2015. At my image there is a very faint extended shape visible in my photo. I wanted to see, if I'm able to catch it with my current imaging system as well. This very dim feature is strongly visible in my new photo too! (Monkey head nebula is rotated 180 degrees in large image below.)



Older long focal length photo of NGC 2175 from Spring season 2015, more info here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2015/03/ngc-2174-monkey-head-nebula-project.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

Total exposure time 
H-alpha, 9 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 3 h
O-III, 3 x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 1 h
S-II, 3 x 1200 s. binned 2x2 = 1 h


www.tips-fb.com Posted by J-P Metsavainio at 10:34 AM 0 comments
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Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Two ways to go in a same field of view, planetary nebula Sh2-216 & supernova remnant Sh2-221


I have reprocessed this photo from March 1 2020, now the composition is more dynamic and colors are more vivid. Original photo can be seen here, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/two-ways-to-die-sh2-216-sh2-221.html

This must be one of the dimmest targets I have shot. The supernova remnant Simeis 147 is large and dim but this nebula pair in Auriga is much dimmer. There are very few images about this target around. Photo is taken with Tokina AT-x 300mm f2.8 camera lens and Apogee Alta U16 astro camera.

Supernova remnant and a planetary nebula in the same field of view
Click for a large photo, it's worth it!

Mapped colors from the emission of ionized elements, R=Sulfur, G=Hydrogen and B=Oxygen.
Image spans about six degrees vertically!


Photo in visual spectrum
Click for a large photo
The red glow from an ionized hydrogen (H-alpha) is dominating the view, bluish hues are from an ionized oxygen (O-III)

H-alpha image
Click for a large photo

This grayscale image shows only the light emitted by an ionized hydrogen.


INFO

Sh2-216, the closest planetary nebula to earth ever discovered.

Image spans about six degrees horizontally, at left lays the large and very dim planetary nebula Sharpless 216 (aka Simeis 288, Marsalkova 44, LBN 742, GN 04.41.3)
This planetary nebula is the closest known planetary nebula to Earth, about 390 light years, and also one of the oldest known. Due the old age, it's very diffused, dim and large, apparent diameter is about 1,6 degrees. (Full Moon is about 0,5 degrees wide)

Supernova remnant Sh2-221

At right side of the photo lays a dim nad diffused supernova remnant Sh2-221 (SNR G160.4+02.8, HB9) it locates in constellation Auriga, about one degree West from star Capella. (Doesn't show in my image) The distance from the Earth, 2600 light years, is determined recently at 2007. This object was recognized as a supernova remnant back at seventies.
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

Total exposure time 26h

H-alpha, 36 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 12 h
O-III, 33 x 1200 s, binned 2x2 = 11 h
S-II, 9 x 1200 s. binned 2x2 = 3 h



Orientation in Auriga



An experimental starless image
Click for a large photo


www.tips-fb.com Posted by J-P Metsavainio at 2:31 PM 0 comments
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