COPYRIGHT, PLEASE NOTE

All the material on this website is copyrighted to J-P Metsavainio, if not otherwise stated. Any content on this website may not be reproduced without the author’s permission.

BUY A MUSEUM QUALITY POSTER

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.

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

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



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


Friday, September 25, 2020

Cosmic Clouds 3D is published now!


Cosmic Clouds 3D
Where Stars Are Born

At September 23. we had a live broadcast with Brian May, David J Eicher and me.
It was hosted by Alison Boyle from the Science Museum of London, many thanks!


From top left, Science Museum Keeper of Science Collections Alison Boyle, Artist and astrophotographer J-P Metsavainio, Astronomy Magazine editor David J. Eicher and the legendary Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May.

You can see a recording from the live broadcast from here,

You can buy the book from the London Stereoscopic company,
https://shop.londonstereo.com/cosmic-clouds-3-d.html







 

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

A press relase, lehdistötiedote

 

Cosmic Clouds 3D
Where stars are born

A press release About the book  is out

You can download it from HERE (In English)

Lehdistötiedote kirjasta on julkaistu.

Voit ladata sen TÄÄLTÄ (suomeksi)


A book by Brian May, David J Eicher and J-P Metsavainio







Monday, September 14, 2020

Astronomical Nature photographs, exhibition in Helsinki, Finland

 




Exhibition in Helsinki

Gallery A2, Annankatu 12 Helsinki, welcome!

Exhibition will end at September 20. 2020

https://www.galleria-a2.fi/














astro Anarchy get published

 


Book project finalized!
Cosmic Clouds 3D

By
Brian May (Yes, the legendary Queen guitarist and astrophysicist)
David J Eicher
and
J-P Metsavainio

This unique Book shows the cosmic wonders in 3D


More info about this book, please visit in official site of QUEEN
http://www.queenonline.com/news/pre-order-cosmic-clouds-3-d-by-brian-may






Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Grayscale Wonders part IV

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 IV of Grayscale Wonders, part one, two and three 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
Part three, https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/04/grayscale-wonders-part-iii.html


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



Cederblad 214, the Cosmic Question Mark




Sh2-216 & Sh2-221 Supernova remnant and a planetary nebula



From the Bubble to Cave Nebula






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 Nebulahttps://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 Nebulahttps://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/deep-in-to-my-heart-ic-1805-in-mapped.html
  11. C 1396, the Elephant's Trunk Nebulahttps://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/01/ic-1396-wide-field-reprocessed.html
  12. The Grande Mosaic of Aurigahttps://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 Aurigahttps://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-grande-mosaic-of-auriga.html