UHC & OMB Filter Test With M18 & M17

I did not plan on doing this test it happened because I wanted to image M18 and thought I would redo M17 while I was at it since I never imaged it with the Astronomik UHC (Ultra High Contrast). Previously I did it with the Astronomik CLS (link to image).  Unfortunately I put the Astronomik OWB (Original White Balance) filter in my camera (modified Canon T3i/600D) and the UHC filter.  So I had to go back on another night to do what I wanted to do in the first place. 

Results:

Figure 1 shows the the enter image using the OWB filter used for turning a modified camera back factory white balance. 

Figure 2 is the same image using the UHC filter.  The UHC allows for more Ha light to pass with less light pollution, thus more contrast and more of the nebula.  The UHC filter allows the transmission of nearly 100% of the radiation from both O-III and the H beta lines. UHC filters are mainly used for emission nebula and not recommended for star clusters and such as it blocks some of their light. Notice the smaller size of the stars.  I like how the OWB has a better star field.

Figures 3 and 4 are a combined image of both the UHC and OWB images.  I wanted increase the star field but keep the increased nebulosity.  I used different blending methods to achieve this.

Figure 5 is the open cluster, M18. 

Figure 1 - M17 - OWB

Figure 2 - M17 - UHC

Figure 3 - Combined 55% UHC - 45% OWB Normal Blend 

Figure 4 - Combined 55% UHC - 45% OWB Luminosity Blend

Figure 5- M18 - OWB

Image Details:

OWB
M17 - M18
Location: Happy Frog Observatory, Monroe, CT
Date: 6-24-17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR, Astronomik OWB
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 18 x 180s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 20 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/

UHC
M17 - M18
Location: Happy Frog Observatory, Monroe, CT
Date: 7-16-17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR, Astronomik UHC
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 22 x 180s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 20 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/

Four M's in One Night!

I had a very productive night last week and managed to get four more Messier Objects all globular clusters for my catalog of Messier Objects.  I only have eight left after working on it for over two years now.  It did not start off very well as clouds soon moved in and blocked Polaris so I could not polar align.  I thought it would clear up but it got worse even though it was supposed to be clear.  After an hour I was ready to pack it it in but then it started to clear - I am glad I stayed.

M28 is at a distance of about 17,900 light-years from Earth and is 60 light-years across. It has a combined 551,000 times the mass of the Sun and is 12 billion years old and near the star Kaus Borealis. M62 is at a distance of about 22,500 light-years from Earth and measures some 100 light-years across. M69 is at a distance of about 29,700 light-years away from Earth and has a spatial radius of 42 light-years. M70 is at a distance of about 29,300 light years away from Earth and close to the Galactic Center. It is roughly the same size and luminosity as its neighbour in space, M69 (source: wikipedia).

M28

M28

Location: St. John's Cemetery, Monroe, CT
Date: 7-19-17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro EQ/AZ Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 27 x 60s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 22 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/

M62

M62

Location: St. John's Cemetery, Monroe, CT
Date: 7-19-17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro EQ/AZ Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 25 x 60s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 22 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/

M69

M69

Location: St. John's Cemetery, Monroe, CT
Date: 7-19-17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro EQ/AZ Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 24 x 60s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 22 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/

M70 - crop

M70 - wide field

M70
Location: St. John's Cemetery, Monroe, CT
Date: 7-19-17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro EQ/AZ Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 23 x 30s, 11 x 60s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 22 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/

Round Two - The Eclipse

My plan has evolved to since the first beta I did a couple of weeks ago (Beta test).

After trying several different mounts, including Celestron's Heavy Duty Tripod, I have settled on a mount that I already have, the Explore Scientific Twilight I.  I was trying to use a lighter duty mount as I am flying to the location but I could not find one that has the fine adjustment that this one has.  It breaks down to about 29.5 inches which is only 4 inches longer than my camera tripod.

Main EquipmentBackyard EOS (BYE)
Orion ST80 80mm Refractor
Canon T3i/600D
Explore Scientific Twilight I
Mylar Solar Filter
Adapter - T-adapter for Canon cameras to telescopes
Computer - HP Envy
Computer Shade - LapDome

Test
I also tested the time it took to complete a six frame capture plan and a four frame capture plan with my equipment.

Results are as follows:

6 frames download to the computer
- exposure 1/2000, 1/200, 1/20, 1/8, 1/4, 1
- 46 sec to complete the circuit and download to the computer

6 frames download to the camera
- exposure 1/2000, 1/200, 1/20, 1/8, 1/4, 1
- 28 sec to complete the circuit

4 frames download to the camera
- exposure 1/2000, 1/200, 1/20, 1/2
- 18 sec to complete the circuit

Discussion/Conclusion
Based on the results, I will use the four frame capture plan and download to the camera only since it is the faster than downloading to the computer.  It is possible to get much faster frame capture (up to 3 frames per second) using a serial cable in addition to the USB cable with certain eclipse capture software as described by Jerry Lodriguss (Catching the Light).  I actually purchased one of these cables from Hap Griffin (Imaginginfinity), however, I don't want to pay for and learn a new program at this point and my computer does not have a serial port anyway (although I probably could use an adapter).

Using BYE I will set the 4-frame exposure plan to loop (repeat) a couple of minutes prior to totality and continue until after totality.  Since I am using a fixed frame, I decided to cut out the 1 second exposure which would have been affected most by Earth's rotation.  If I were using a lower focal length lens/telescope the rotation problem would be less.

We are going to Bowling Green, KY or Nashville, TN to witness this event so we will have at least 1 minute of totality.  Using my capture plan I will have a minimum of 5 frames per exposure during totality.  I hope some the just before and just after frames pick up something cool.  Also, it is very important to have a quick release filter for your lens or telescope.

Also, Fred Espenak, aka Mr. Eclipse, has great advice on how to take pictures of the eclipse, How to Photograph an Eclipse.

Most Important
I plan to watch the eclipse which is why I am doing all this to automate the imaging.  It is going to either work or not.  I will set all this all up press the button to start the sequence, check finder scope once or twice to make sure the sun is in the center of the FOV, and that is it.  If a don't get anything, oh well, if I do, it is icing on the cake!

M8 - Lagoon Nebula

M8 - The Lagoon Nebula (NGC 6523) is a giant interstellar cloud in the constellation Sagittarius. It is between 4,000-6,000 light-years from the Earth and is 110 ly across by 50 light years wide. Although this is a Messier object it does not change my current status as I have already imaged this two years ago.  However, it was only 5 minutes total exposure taken when I was just learning.  In that image you really could not see the outline. This is far from perfect but it is a huge improvement over the image from 2015.

M8 - Lagoon Nebula
Location: St. John's Cemetery, Monroe, CT
Date: 7-15-17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro EQ/AZ Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR, Astronomik UHC clip
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 21 x 180s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 20 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/

Decent Night with some difficulties to start (NGC 6569 & NGC 6558, M19)

So why am I shooting these two obscure globular clusters (NGC 6569 & 6558) when I could be imaging the final Messier Objects in my catalog?  I was having go-to problems with my go-to mount during the beginning of the evening, my polar alignment app on my cellphone was not behaving properly and I though I fixed it but I don't think I did which is why my alignment was off.  Once I located an object it tracked perfectly.  I was looking for M69 in fact I originally thought this was it. Oh well.  I did better with M19.

NGC 6558 is a globular cluster, located about 24,000 light years away in the constellation Sagittarius NGC 6569, also a globular cluster located approximately 35,000 light years in the constellation Sagittarius (source: wikipedia)

Messier 19 (NGC 6273) is a globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. It is about about 28.700 ly from Earth and is near to the Galactic Center (source: wikipedia).

NGC 6569 & 6558 Wide Field

NGC 6569 & 6558 Crop

NGC 6569 & NGC 6558
Location: St. John's Cemetery, Monroe, CT
Date: 7-15-17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro EQ/AZ Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 22 x 60s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 20 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/

M19 Wide Field

M19 Crop

M19

Location: St. John's Cemetery, Monroe, CT
Date: 7-15-17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro EQ/AZ Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 24 x 60s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 20 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/

IC 4665

Addendum
I was not planning to re-image this, again this was in the right location and I did not want to image a nebula as the moon was up.  I actually forgot I already imaged it until after I did it. Oh well.  Oddly enough additional data seems to have taken away some of the smaller stars.  The sub frames were not as dark as the first set perhaps because the moon was out the second time or it may not have been as clear as I thought.  However, the noise was diminished with the additional sub-frames. 

IC 4665 is one of the brighter Milky Way clusters missing not only in the Messier Catalog, but also in the NGC, because it is so loose and coarse. This cluster, located in Ophiuchus, is a good object for binoculars or wide-field telescopes such as the ED80. The cluster is estimated to be 36 million years and at a distance of 1,400 light years. Also, IC 4665 is heading towards us at 12 km/sec (source: messier.seds).

So I imaged IC 4665 from the Happy Frog while waiting for M24 to appear from behind some trees. I think selecting objects to image will be much easier once I am done with the Messier catalog as I just have to point to whatever object happens to be visible at the time I am outside. That is pretty much what I did for IC 4665, I was not planning imaging it, I just had the time and it was in the right location for me to observe it.

Original (6/27)

Updated with color adjustment (6/27)

Updated with more data (6/27 and 9/9)

IC 4665
Location: Happy Frog Observatory, Monroe, CT
Date: 6-27-17, 9/9/17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 15 x 90s, 16 x 90
ISO: 1600
Temp: 20 C, 15 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/

M24 - Sagittarius Star Cloud

I think M24 is the only Messier object that is considered a star cloud.  It is referred to as the Sagittarius Star Cloud and is in the constellation of Sagittarius. It is sometimes known as the Small Sagittarius Star Cloud to distinguish it from the Great Sagittarius Star Cloud located to the north of Gamma Sagittarii, however, at 600 light years wide it does not seem small.

It is comprised of stars, clusters and other objects which are part of the Sagittarius arms of the Milky Way galaxy.  M24 fills a space of significant volume to a depth of 10,000 to 16,000 light-years. This is the most dense concentration of individual stars visible using binoculars, with around 1,000 stars visible within a single field of view (source: wikipedia).

This is the 97th Messier object I have obtained for my catalog, only 13 more to go...

https://sites.google.com/site/messierobjectsed80/

M24
Location: Happy Frog Observatory, Monroe, CT
Date: 6-27-17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 24 x 90s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 20 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.

https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/

M22

Messier 22 (a.k.a. NGC 6656) is a globular cluster in the constellation Sagittarius and is one of the brightest globulars that is visible in the night sky. It is relatively close to Earth at a distance of about 10,600 light-years away and is has a diameter of about 100 light-years (source: wikipedia).

This is the first globular cluster I have imaged in 2017 and the first time I have ever taken a photo of this object.  It is very low in the horizon and not even visible from my yard which is why I never imaged it before.  I am quite happy with how it turned out being so low. 

I seem to have picked up a UFO while imaging M22 (see the cropped photo with the red circle). It could be the Vulcans wanting to make first contact but then deciding against it after seeing the state of affairs.  Maybe someone in Astrobin-land has an idea of what it is.  The actual date and time is:  6/27/17 at 00:49-01:28 EST or 05:49-06:28 GMT.  At first I thought it was bad tracking when I looked at the subframes before stacking them.  The object moves slightly relative to other stars in each subframe.  If you look closely you can see the overall movement.

Wide Field

Crop

Crop UFO

M22
Location: St. John's Cemetery, Monroe, CT
Date: 6-26-17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro EQ/AZ Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 33 x 60s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 20 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/

M7- Ptolemy Cluster

M7 (a.k.a. Ptolomy Cluster or NGC 6475) is an open cluster in the constellation of Scorpius.  I am really liking these summer open clusters as there is a tremendous amount of gas and dust associated with them since they are in the direction of the center of the galaxy.  The cluster is estimated at a distance of 980 light-years and is 25 light years across.  M7 is detectable with the naked eye and I was actually able to see it along with M6.  Also visible in this image is a small globular cluster, NGC 6453, located to the right of M6 (source: wikipedia). 

I am definitely seeing the end of the light as I have only 15 more objects Messier objects left to image for my own complete catalog.  

M7 - Ptolemy Cluster
Location: St. John's Cemetery, Monroe, CT
Date: 6-26-17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro EQ/AZ Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 29 x 60s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 20 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/

M6 - The Butterfly Cluster

The Butterfly Cluster (M6 or NGC 6405) is an open cluster of stars in the constellation of Scorpius gets its name from a vague resemblance to a butterfly.  I don't see it though.  The cluster is around 1,600 light-years from Earth and is approximately 12 light years across (source: wikipedia).

This was  getting pretty low and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to image it at my location.  It came through pretty well with hints of nebulosity near the upper portion of the image.  I think getting the nebulosity is due to the modification of the T3i that Hap Griffin performed on it last year. 

Messier image 94, only 16 more to go...

M6 - Wide Field

M6 - The Butterfly Cluster
Location: St. John's Cemetery, Monroe, CT
Date: 6-26-17
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro EQ/AZ Mount
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 31 x 60s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 20 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Lightroom, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/