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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IC 1396a - Elephant's Trunk Nebula (2025)

This spectacular object is my latest version of the Elephant's Trunk Nebula or IC 1396a. It is a dark, dense globule of dust with a bright rim of highly ionized gas that extends over 20 light-years. It is part of a very large region of ionized gas, IC 1396, located approximately 2,400 ly away in the constellation Cepheus. Winds from two young stars in the center of the end of the trunk have carved out a cavity in the globule. Just left of these stars is vdB 142, a small blue reflection nebula surrounding bright star HD239710.

I have imaged the entire nebula, IC 1396, with smaller focal length faster setups (small f-ratio) in the past, however, I used the EdgeHD8 with a focal length of 2032mm and f/10 focal ratio. Since the focal ratio was large, i.e. slow, a longer total exposure is necessary. I have been using this setup for small galaxies and smaller bright objects but figured I would give it a shot on a larger emission nebula to pick more detail. I am very happy how it turned out and one added benefit of this target was that it was far from the moon. This was especially helpful when limited clear nights were available.

In addition to the three dimensional look, there are two small dark spots next to small yellow and blue stars on the upper left region. At first I thought they might be dust spots or dead pixels, however, I checked many other images and saw these same spots - not sure what they are. Lasty, I was very selective on the exposures and deleted many frames including all of the natural luminosity data as I was not centered correctly.

Dates: 4-27, 4-28, 4-30, 5-26

Higher Quality:
https://www.astrobin.com/isj36n/?nc=collection&nce=712

IC 1396a - Elephant's Trunk Nebula (2025)
Dates: 6-2-25, 6-4, 6-20, 6-23, 6-24
Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro
Telescope: Celestron EdgeHD 800
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 2032mm (native)
F/10 (native)
Focal Reducer: None
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro
Filter Adaptor: ZWO Filter Drawer
Filter: IDAS NBZ
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: Askar M54 OAG/ZWO ASI174 mini
Exposure: NBZ 200 x 300 (16h 40m)
Gain: 139
Offset 0
Temp: 0 C
Processing: Asiair app, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXT, NoiseXT, StarX, Bill's Color Masks, Bill's Stretching, GraXpert

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NGC 4559 (2025)

This is my version of the well-detailed spiral galaxy NGC 4559 located 30 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices. Also known as Caldwell 36, this galaxy is about 100,000 ly across making roughly the same size as our own Milky Way galaxy. The galaxy has very large dark dust lanes along with several HII regions and star clusters scattered throughout the spiral arms. Most of these HII regions and star clusters are distinct enough to have their own IC designations. One of my favorites is IC 3564 located on the bottom portion of the galaxy. Interestingly, the yellow star just below the dense blue knot (IC 3550) at the end of the right side spiral arm was given a designation of IC 3554.

The weather has been particularly wacky lately which explains the four days spread over a month.

Dates: 4-27, 4-28, 4-30, 5-26

Higher Quality:
https://www.astrobin.com/ner5te/?nc=collection&nce=712

NGC 4559 (2025)
Dates: 4-27-25, 4-28, 4-30, 5-26
Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro
Telescope: Celestron EdgeHD 800
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 2032mm (native)
F/10 (native)
Focal Reducer: None
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro
Filter Adaptor: ZWO Filter Drawer
Filter: Optolong Luminosity (2-inch)
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: Askar M54 OAG/ZWO ASI174 mini
Exposure: Lum 254 x 90 (6h 21m)
Gain: 139
Offset 0
Temp: -10 C
Processing: Asiair app, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXT, NoiseXT, StarX, Bill's Color Masks, Bill's Stretching, GraXpert, Topaz Denoise

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http://youtube.com/AstroQuest1

Messier 94 (2025)

This is my latest version of the gorgeous face-on spiral ring galaxy Messier 94 approximately 15 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. Seyfert galaxies are a class of active galaxies with lots of star formation and also known as starburst galaxies. M94, also known as NGC 4736, is about 35,000 LY across, however, the bright nucleus, inner dust lanes, and inner ring is much smaller. It has been suggested that the outer ring formed as a result of a M94 incorporating a companion galaxy into it. The dust lanes are much more prominent on the bottom side possibly because that side is closer to us.  

This version shows much better detail than my other version from 2017. It is quite interesting how the core starts off as a brilliant yellow and then transitions to a bright blue  moving towards the inner ring. The faint outer ring as a slight blue cast to it indicated possible star formation. I did not do much star reduction as I really enjoy the colorful starfield. In addition, the numerous small odd-shaped blips in the field of view are galaxies much further away.  

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

Messier 94 (2025)
Dates: 4-27-25, 4-28, 4-30
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: ZWO R, G, B, L
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: ASI120 Mini attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope/ZWO 60mm Guidescope
Exposure: L 269 x 90, R 62 x 90, G 57 x 90, B 62 x 90 (11h 43m)
Gain: 139
Offset 20
Sensor Temp: -10 C
Processing: NINA, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXTerminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GraXpert, Bill Blanshan Stretching, Topaz Denoise.

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NGC 3344 (2025)

This is my first image of NGC 3344, a breathtaking face-on spiral galaxy approximately 25 million light-years away in the constellation Leo Minor (just above Leo). This galaxy is surrounded by a plethora of other odd shaped galaxies much further away and is a member of the Virgo Supercluster.

NGC 3344 has an outer ring showing impressive structure and star forming regions radiating outward from a slightly elongated inner ring or bar in the center. The central region of the galaxy is filled with young hot stars due to active star formation.

Dates: 4-1-25, 4-13, 4-15, 4-20, 4-23, 4-24 

Higher Quality:

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

NGC 3344 (2025)
Dates: 4-1-25, 4-13, 4-15, 4-20, 4-23, 4-24 
Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro
Telescope: Celestron EdgeHD 800
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 2032mm (native)
F/10 (native)
Focal Reducer: None
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro
Filter Adaptor: ZWO Filter Drawer
Filter: Optolong Luminosity (2-inch)
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: Askar M54 OAG/ZWO ASI174 mini
Exposure: Lum 274 x 90 (6h 51m)
Gain: 139
Offset 0
Temp: -10 C
Processing: Asiair app, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXT, NoiseXT, StarX, Bill's Color Masks, Bill's Stretching, GraXpert, Topaz Denoise

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

NGC 2841 (2025)

This is my version of NGC 2841, a flocculent spiral galaxy located about 50 million light years away in the constellation of Ursa Major. Flocculent refers to a type of spiral galaxy whose arms are puffy and discontinuous. The diameter has been estimated to be between 100,000 and 150,000 light-years in the constellation of Ursa Major making it larger than our own Milky Way. I like how it turned out, especially the dust lanes and flocculent nature of NGC 2841. Another surprise was the rich field full of other galaxies much further away.

Higher Quality:

https://www.astrobin.com/zax9ti/?nc=collection&nce=712

NGC 2841 (2025)

Dates: 3-27-25, 4-1, 4-9, 4-13, 4-15, 4-20, 4-23, 4-24
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: ZWO R, G, B, L
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: ASI120 Mini attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope/ZWO 60mm Guidescope
Exposure: L 158 x 90, R 85 x 90, G 79 x 90, B 81 x 90 (10h 4')
Gain: 139
Offset 20
Sensor Temp: -10 C
Processing: NINA, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXTerminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GraXpert, Bill Blanshan Stretching, Topaz Denoise.

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http://youtube.com/AstroQuest1

NGC 3359 (2025)

This is my version of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 3359, located approximately 59 million light-years (LY) away in the constellation Ursa Major. The galaxy is slightly smaller than our own Milky Way at 108,500 LY across and has two prominent spiral arms with several dense star forming regions. I would have liked to get more than 2.3 hrs of data but if you read my post of my previous image, I was in the process activating my EdgeHD800 and having a humorous time with the stars. This image was after the collimation was adjusted and the focal reducer removed and although the stars do look better, they are not anything to write home about - they looked as if they were pinched somehow.

Originally, I thought it was because the dew heater ring was too tight on the corrector plate, however, a couple of people responded to a youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VY7m67G9S8&t=6s) I made about this issue with the suggestion that I was basically heating it too much. I used the AstroZap Dew Heater controller and had it set at 50% power but turned it down to 20% power and the problem went away. After fixing the issue over the next few days I moved on to another project.

Since only 2.3 hrs of data was collected for this image, it was quite noisy, however, the new noise reduction and other processing techniques we have available now do a great job at reducing the noise.

Higher Quality:

https://www.astrobin.com/llm27n/?nc=collection&nce=712

NGC 3359 (2025)
Dates: 3-27-25
Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro
Telescope: Celestron EdgeHD 800
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 2032mm (native)
F/10 (native)
Focal Reducer: None
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro
Filter Adaptor: ZWO Filter Drawer
Filter: Optolong Luminosity (2-inch)
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Autoguiding: ASI120 Mini attached to an Orion ST80
Exposure: Lum 93 x 90
Gain: 139
Offset 0
Temp: -10 C
Processing: Asiair app, PixInsight, Photoshop, BlurXT, NoiseXT, StarX, Bill's Color Masks, Bill's Stretching, GraXpert, Topaz Denoise

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