NGC 7789 - Caroline's Rose (2025)

This is NGC 7789, one of the richest open star clusters in the Milky Way and goes by Caroline’s Rose cluster named after its discoverer, Caroline Herschel in 1783 (sister of William Herschel). Under dark skies the loops of stars and dark lanes resemble the swirling pattern when looking down on rose petals. It also goes by Caroline’s Haystack and the White Rose Cluster.

The plus 1000 star cluster is located in the constellation of Cassiopeia approximately 6200 light-years away with an estimated diameter of 50 light-years. Interestingly, most open star clusters are relatively young (less than 100 million years), however, NGC 7789 is about 1.5 billion years old making it one of the oldest open clusters but not quite as old as most globular clusters which can be several billion years old.

The overall field is quite impressive, filled with many colorful stars. The cluster is very close to popular nebulae such as NGC 7635, the Bubble Nebula, and there is some very faint hydrogen in this region but I really wanted to focus in on the starfield. I love colorful stars and this field has a good dynamic range.

Higher Quality:
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NGC 7789 - Caroline's Rose (2025)
Dates: 10-27-25, 10-29
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm (644mm w/ FR)
f/7 (f/5.6)
Focal Reducer: 0.8x AstroTech Field Flatterner/Focal Reducer
Mount: Orion Sirius
Filter Wheel: ZWO
EFW 8 x 1.25"
Filter: ZWO R, G, B, L
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: ASI120 Mini attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope/ZWO 60mm Guidescope
Exposure: L 100 x 90, R 88 x 90, G 82 x 90, B 84 x 90 (8h 51m)
Gain: 139
Offset 20
Sensor Temp: -10 C
Processing: NINA, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXTerminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GraXpert, Bill Blanshan Color Masks, Bill Blanshan Stretching.

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LBN400 - A Portion of Sh2-119

This is my version of Lynds Bright Nebula 400 located 2,200 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. LBN 400 is a mere portion of the large emission nebula Sh2-119, often called the Clamshell Nebula due to its resemblance to an open shell. Other Lynds Catalogue of Bright Nebula and Dark Nebula objects are visible in this image. Both Lynds Catalogues were compiled by Astrophysicist Beverly Lynds in the 1960s. I especially like the dark nebulae located on the top right of the image.

After examining the narrowband data, I found there was a ton of detail in the Ha and SII channels but OIII was very limited. I experimented with even combinations which produced less detailed and not so natural looking images, therefore, I did a typical S-curve stretch on the OIII where I reduced the faint background highlighting the areas that did show some detail and then did a normal SHO blend. The overall blend was more natural looking so I went with it as it also preserved the flowing detail.

Higher Quality:
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LBN400 - A Portion of Sh2-119  
Dates: 9-14-25, 9-21, 9-22, 9-28, 10-1, 10-3, 10-8, 10-9
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm (644mm w/ FR)
f/7 (f/5.6)
Focal Reducer: 0.8x AstroTech Field Flatterner/Focal Reducer
Mount: Orion Sirius
Filter Wheel: ZWO
EFW 8 x 1.25"
Filter: Antlia Ha, OIII, SII; ZWO R, G, B
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: ASI120 Mini attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope/ZWO 60mm Guidescope
Exposure: Ha 53 x 300, OIII 50 x 300, SII 58 x 300 R 47 x 90, G 47 x 90, B 45 x 90 (16h 54m)
Gain: 139
Offset 20
Sensor Temp: 0 C
Processing: NINA, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXTerminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GraXpert, Bill Blanshan Star Reduction, Bill Blanshan Color Masks, Bill Blanshan Stretching, Topaz Denoise.

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Sh2-157 (2025)

This is my latest image of the bright emission nebula, Sh2-157. It is located 8000 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia and very large at over 200 light-years across. Many nebulae have idiodic nicknames and I avoid using them but this one does bear some resemblance to a Lobster Claw which is what it is also known as. Several smaller portions on this large complex have their own designation. The small, bright, dense portion in the center is known as Sh2-157a. Other nebular regions within this cloud are LBN 533, LBN 536, LBN 537, LBN 540, and LBN 544. The open cluster NGC 7510 is located on the upper left side of my image while another open cluster, Markarian 50, is found in the lower left portion of the image just above a blue oxygen rich strand. I did do some star reduction on this object but not too much as I like rich colorful starfields. 

Higher Quality:
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Sh2-157 (2025)
Dates: 8-21-25, 8-22, 8-23, 8-25, 8-27, 9-3
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm (644mm w/ FR)
f/7 (f/5.6)
Focal Reducer: 0.8x AstroTech Field Flatterner/Focal Reducer
Mount: Orion Sirius
Filter Wheel: ZWO
EFW 8 x 1.25"
Filter: Antlia Ha, OIII, SII; ZWO R, G, B
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: ASI120 Mini attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope/ZWO 60mm Guidescope
Exposure: Ha 114 x 300, OIII 112 x 300, SII 114 x 300 R 45 x 90, G 52 x 90, B 51 x 90 (32h 02m)
Gain: 139
Offset 20
Sensor Temp: 0 C
Processing: NINA, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXTerminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GraXpert, Bill Blanshan Star Reduction, Bill Blanshan Color Masks, Bill Blanshan Stretching, Topaz Denoise.

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Waning Crescent Moon & Venus & Regulus

The Waning Crescent Moon, 5.6% illumination, looked awesome rising over the beach between Wildwood and Cape May, New Jersey. Making it look even better was Venus and Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo!

High Quality:
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Widefield - Moon & Venus  
Date: 9-19-25, 06:14

Camera: iPhone11
Telescope: iPhone 11 back dual wide camera 4.25mm
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 4.25mm
f/1.8 

ISO: 500
Focal Reducer: none
Mount: Tripod
Filter Wheel: none
EFW: none
Filter: none
Focuser: none
Autoguiding: none

Exposure: 1/30 sec
Gain: none
Offset none 
Processing: Photoshop

Moon & Venus & Regulus 
Date: 9-19-25, 06:05

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Telescope: Canon EF200mm f2.8L USM
Tele Extender: Canon 1.4x
Focal Length: 200mm (280mm with extender)
f/5.6 

ISO: 400
Focal Reducer: none
Mount: Tripod
Filter Wheel: none
EFW: none
Filter: none
Focuser: none
Autoguiding: none

Exposure: 2 sec
Gain: none
Offset none 
Processing: Photoshop

Moon & Venus  
Date: 9-19-25, 06:01

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Telescope: Canon EF200mm f2.8L USM
Tele Extender: Canon 1.4x
Focal Length: 200mm (280mm with extender)
f/5.6 

ISO: 400
Focal Reducer: none
Mount: Tripod
Filter Wheel: none
EFW: none
Filter: none
Focuser: none
Autoguiding: none

Exposure: 1/250 sec
Gain: none
Offset none 
Processing: Photoshop

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IC 1311 (2025)

This is my latest, it features an open cluster, IC 1311, in a sea of hydrogen gas. IC 1311 is an open cluster with hundreds of stars approximately 4000 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus. In addition to the emission nebula which it resides in, a dark nebula, LDN 885, and a planetary nebula, PN G077.6+04.3 (DSH J2009.6+4114) below and to the right of the cluster, are also found in this rich background. I really like the color and swirling structure of the emission nebula, especially in the upper portion of the image. I like to say I found this on my own, but credit goes to Robert Eder for showcasing this object a few months ago with a larger focal length setup. These clusters embedded in nebulae are becoming my favorite objects to image!

Higher Quality:
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IC 1311 (2025)
Dates: 8-3-25, 8-12, 8-14
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm (644mm w/ FR)
f/7 (f/5.6)
Focal Reducer: 0.8x AstroTech Field Flatterner/Focal Reducer
Mount: Orion Sirius
Filter Wheel: ZWO
EFW 8 x 1.25"
Filter: Antlia Ha; ZWO R, G, B
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: ASI120 Mini attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope/ZWO 60mm Guidescope
Exposure: Ha 76 x 300, R 59 x 90, G 54 x 90, B 55 x 90 (10h 32m)
Gain: 139
Offset 20
Sensor Temp: 0 C
Processing: NINA, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXTerminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GraXpert, Bill Blanshan Color Masks, Bill Blanshan Stretching, Topaz Denoise.

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Active Solar Regions 8-15-25

This was my first and maybe only Sun Image for this year - I am very busy. I had to remember how I set everything up from last year as well as how to process these which was the hard part. There were many relatively small spots on the surface but I zeroed in on this region because of the two interactive spots on the upper left and the prominences on the right. It felt good scanning the sun again with the Quark.

Higher Quality:
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Active Solar Regions 8-15-25 
Date: 8-15-25
Camera: ZWO ASI174MM-Pro
Telescope: Orion ED80
Barlow: DayStar Quark 4.2x
Focal Length: 600mm (2520mm w/Quark)
F/7.5 (F/31.5 w Quark)
Focal Reducer: none
Mount: ZWO AM3
Filter Adaptor: None
Filter: Baader UV-IR, Daystar Quark
Focuser: None
Autoguiding: None
Exposure: 9.35s (100 of 500)
Gain: 100
Offset 0
FPS: 64
Temp: 18 C
Processing: SharpCap, AutoStakkert, IMPPG, Topaz Denoise, Photoshop

Sh2-124 (2025)

This is my version of Sharpless 124 (Sh2-124) which is a dim emission nebula located in the constellation of Cygnus. It lies approximately 8500 light-years from us meaning the light began its journey when humans were shifting from hunting and gathering to agriculture. The nebula is composed mostly of hydrogen gas but there was a fair amount of oxygen and sulfur as well. Originally I planned on doing just hydrogen and oxygen but I have to thank astrophotographer Rodd Dryfus (image) who recommended including sulfur since it provided more depth than just the Ha and OIII (he had done it both ways).

There are a lot of dark nebulae in this region as well as unnamed dustlanes which I really like. There is a small Planetary Nebula, PN G094 +00.8, on the left central region of my image. I see a small round red blue splotch that looks like it could be a PN but charts indicate the PN is just above that. Not sure if the charts are off or if one of the tiny stars above is the PN. Lastly, this region sits in a heavy starfield and although I prefer not to do star reduction, sometimes it is necessary. The starfield is still quite colorful and rich.

Higher Quality:
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Sh2-124 (2025)
Dates: 7-4-25, 7-6, 7-15, 7-18, 7-21, 7-22, 7-28, 7-29, 8-3 
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm (644mm w/ FR)
f/7 (f/5.6)
Focal Reducer: 0.8x AstroTech Field Flatterner/Focal Reducer
Mount: Orion Sirius
Filter Wheel: ZWO
EFW 8 x 1.25"
Filter: Antlia Ha, OIII, SII; ZWO R, G, B
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: ASI120 Mini attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope/ZWO 60mm Guidescope
Exposure: Ha 138 x 300, OIII 127 x 300, SII 120 x 300 R 57 x 90, G 39 x 90, B 41 x 90 (35h 30m)
Gain: 139
Offset 20
Sensor Temp: 0 C
Processing: NINA, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXTerminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GraXpert, Bill Blanshan Star Reduction, Bill Blanshan Color Masks, Bill Blanshan Stretching, Topaz Denoise.

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