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:
https://www.astrobin.com/k51hb2/?nc=collection&nce=712

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:
https://www.astrobin.com/q7yr1r/?nc=collection&nce=712

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:
https://www.astrobin.com/21jd6d/?nc=collection&nce=712

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:
https://www.astrobin.com/37d57l/?nc=collection&nce=712

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:
https://www.astrobin.com/680c5k/?nc=collection&nce=712

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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LBN 575 (2025)

This is my version of LBN 575 and a portion of LBN 573 located in the constellation Cepheus. Both are faint reflection nebulae illuminated by scattered light from nearby stars. LBN 575, the lower region contains LDN 1259, LDN 1261 and LDN 1262. LDN 1262 is the darkest portion and reportedly houses a number of Herbig-Haro objects although none are visible in my image. LBN 573 is located in the upper portion of the image but not all of it was captured. There is a lot of dust and gas in the background as evidenced by the faint nebulosity. I also like the rich and colorful starfield that this molecular cloud rests in.

Higher Quality:
https://www.astrobin.com/5qr4cy/?nc=collection&nce=712

LBN 575 (2025)

Dates: 5-26-25, 6-3, 7-2, 7-21
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 333 x 90, R 66 x 90, G 76 x 90, B 74 x 90 (13h 43m)
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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Sh2-115 & Sh2-116 (2025)

The main object in this field is the emission nebula Sh2-115 located 7500 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus. Hot stars in a small star cluster designated as Berkeley 90 located within the nebula are ionizing the gases causing the nebula to glow. The small blue nebula on the left is Sh2-116, also known as Abell 71 or Pk 85+04.1, is a planetary nebula. It is unclear to me how far away Sh2-116 is from us as several sources suggest that it is part of the Sh2-115 complex making it 7500 light-years away, however, other sources suggest it is 2400 light-years away.

In addition to the main attractions I also like the swirling hydrogen bands in the region as well as the colorful starfield of this region.

Higher Quality:
https://www.astrobin.com/bfgqzb/?nc=collection&nce=712

Sh2-115 & Sh2-116 (2025)
Dates: 6-2-25, 6-4, 6-20, 6-23, 6-24, 6-29 
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm (644mm w/ FR)
f/7
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, UV
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: ASI120 Mini attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope/ZWO 60mm Guidescope
Exposure: Ha 100 x 300, OIII 77 x 300, SII 73 x 300, R 38 x 90, G 39 x 90, B 40 x 90 (23h 45')
Gain: 139
Offset 20
Sensor Temp: 0 C
Processing: NINA, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXTerminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GraXpert, Bill Blanshan Stretching, Bill's Star Reduction, Topaz Denoise.

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http://astroquest1.blogspot.com/
https://www.astrobin.com/users/kurtzepp/collections/
http://youtube.com/AstroQuest1