Recent
NGC4631 (w/NGC4627) - The Whale in Canes Venatici LUM - edge on spiral.
Orientation: North is RIGHT - Distance: ~25-30 million light years
Image Size: ~27x20 arc minutes - Image Scale: ~2.12
DATE: 06/17/2009
Conditions: Seeing Good . Transparency Good. Stable skies. Temp ~40-45 degrees F (very cold for June!). Serious dewing problems on guidescope resulted in somewhat ovoid stars due to bad tracking.
This is a PRELIMIARY image. I plan to obtain more data, potentially reshooting this object in better conditions due to the guiding errors. Eventually this will be an LRGB full color image as I obtain more data.
Processing:
MaximDL 5.x -Calibrate, Align, SigmaMask Combine, DDP Stretch, levels, simple unsharp mask. Bias, and Darks were used. No flats.
Comment:
Imaged through 10" Shmidt Cassegrain reflector (with Starlight Xpress MX716), guided through SV80ED refractor (with Deep Space Imager Pro)
Astronomik Luminance Clear filter used.
Total Exposures: Lum 56 min Binning 1x1
This is my first image with the new dual-camera-scope set up. Camera sensitivity is greatly increased (two fold), and the horrid amp glow on the left side of the image is effectively gone.
M63 - Sunflower in Canes Venatici LUM
Orientation: North is RIGHT - Distance: ~37 million light years
Image Size: ~27x20 arc minutes - Image Scale: ~2.12
DATE: 05/31/2009
Conditions: Seeing Good . Transparency Good. Stable skies. Temp ~45 degrees F. Some moon glow. causing gradient.
Processing:
MaximDL 5.x -Calibrate, Align, SigmaMask Combine, DDP Stretch, curves, local adaptive, stretch, hotpix, levels. Bias, and Darks were used. No flats.
Comment:
Star2000 self guided.
Total Exposures: 112 minutes.
Lum 112 min Bin 1x1
M94 - The Cat's Eye in Canes Venatici LUM
Orientation: North is RIGHT - Distance: ~16 million light years
Image Size: ~27x20 arc minutes - Image Scale: ~2.12
DATE: 06/01/2009
Conditions: Seeing Good. Transparency Good. Somewhat stable skies. Temp ~40 degrees F. Some moon glow. causing gradient.
Processing:
MaximDL 5.x -Calibrate, Align, SigmaMask Combine, DDP Stretch, curves, local adaptive, stretch, hotpix, levels. Bias, and Darks were used. No flats.
Comment:
Star2000 self guided.
Total Exposures: 112 minutes.
Lum 112 min Bin 1x1
M100 - Spiral in Coma Berenices - LUM
Orientation: North is RIGHT - Distance: ~52 million light years
Image Size: ~27x20 arc minutes - Image Scale: ~2.12
DATE: 05/22/2009
Conditions: Seeing Good. Transparency Good. Stable skies. Temp ~50 degrees F.
Processing:
MaximDL 5.x -Calibrate, Align, SigmaMask Combine, DDP Stretch, curves, local adaptive, stretch, hotpix, levels. Bias, and Darks were used. No flats.
Comment:
Star2000 self guided. A lot more exposure on this would be nice, plus a vast number of small background galaxies! Virgo region, lots and lost of galaxies here.
Total Exposures: 92 minutes.
Lum 92 min Bin 1x1
NGC4567-4568 - Siamese Twins in Virgo - LUM
Orientation: North is RIGHT - Distance: ~ 52 million light years
Image Size: ~27x20 arc minutes - Image Scale: ~2.12
DATE: 05/25/2009
Conditions: Seeing Good . Transparency Good. Stable skies. Temp ~45 degrees F.
Processing:
MaximDL 5.x -Calibrate, Align, SigmaMask Combine, DDP Stretch, curves, local adaptive, stretch, hotpix, levels. Bias, and Darks were used. No flats.
Comment:
Star2000 self guided. Virgo region, lots and lost of galaxies here.
Total Exposures: 104 minutes.
Lum 104 min Bin 1x1