M57 - Ring Nebula (2019)

The Ring Nebula (M57) is a planetary nebula formed when a sun-like star ejected the outer layers of ionized gas. This nebula is approximately 2000 light-years away in the constellation Lyra. Like all planetary nebula, M57 is also a type of emission nebula. In this image blue color in the center portion represents helium, the light blue color of the inner ring is hydrogen and oxygen, and the reddish and magenta color of the outer ring is from nitrogen and sulfur. Also, the blue dot in the center of the nebula is the core of the star - now a white dwarf.

The last time I imaged this was three years ago and have waited until I felt I could do better. The nebula and star field are much superior in this image than in my previous image due in part to better equipment and improved processing skills.

This was the first image since getting the electronic automatic focuser, ZWO EAF, and I love it. I have been able focus with this better and quicker than I ever was able to by hand. It was easy to install and works with APT really well. Although there is an automatic focus aid with APT, I find I get better focus with the Bahtinov mask. I will have to update my equipment profile soon as I have added a few behind the scenes tools.

Processing this was a bit tricky as the Ring seemed overexposed so I had to tone it down in Photoshop in order bring out the fine detail.  I normally don't crop my images this much but the Ring is very small and also I wanted to highlight the small barred spiral galaxy IC 1296 just left of M57. I did not even know about this until I processed the image but it turned out to be a nice surprise.

Cropped

Wide Field

M57 - The Ring Nebula
Location: Home Monroe, CT
Date: 6-21-19, 6-22-19, 6-23-19
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm
f/7
Focal Reducer: Astro-Tech 0.8x Focal Reducer/Field Flattener for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Sirius
Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 8x 1.25"
Filter: ZWO L, R, G, B
Focuser: ZWO EAF

Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: L 38 x 90s, R 39 x 90s, G 28 x 60s, B 32 x 60s

Gain: 139
Offset 21
Temp: 8 C
Post Processing: PixInsight, Photoshop, Lightroom
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/
http://astroquest1.blogspot.com/

Imaging with the SkyGuider Pro and a 200mm Lens

I have had a chance to use the iOptron SkyGuider Pro with a Canon T3i/600D modified camera and 200mm lens on few occasions now and feel comfortable with the setup now.  One of the reasons I wanted a portable setup like this is for traveling and another reason is for imaging objects larger than my telescope field of view (FOV).  I am happy to say this works really well and satisfies both reasons for getting this setup.

There are several really good videos by people more knowledgeable on using the SkyGuider Pro than I am and have included links to a few of them:

Peter Zelinka:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jssf2ffHYbc

AstroBackyard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFnTm30bzBw&t=159s

Universal Observations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM377PW7fV8

However, I wanted focus in on the use of a 200mm lens.  What makes using the 200mm difficult it is right on the fence of the weight limit iOptron recommends for the mount without using the counterweight.  iOptron recommends 1.5 kg or 3.3 lbs for the weight limit and that is what the camera and lens together weigh.  If the ball head is added the weight becomes 1.8 kg or 4.0 lbs.  

After contacting Peter Zelinka with regard to this who suggested the counterweight may not be needed, I imaged the Seagull Nebula taking one minute exposures without the counterweight.

Seagull Nebula (IC 2177) and Thor's Helmet (NGC 2359)
Location: Home Monroe, CT
Date: 4-1-19
Camera: Canon T3i/600D modified
Lens: Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM
Focal Length: 200mm
f/3.5
Mount: iOptron SkyGuider Pro on a Manfrotto Tripod
Filter: Astronomik UHF Clip-in
Autoguiding: none
Exposure: 25 x 60s
ISO: 1600
Processing: DSS, PixInsight, Photoshop, Lightroom

The image came out fine, however, some stars appear oblong close up. 

I also imaged the Sadr Region taking one minute exposures using the counterweight using the counterweight this time.

Sadr Region (IC 1318) and Other Friends
Location: Home Monroe, CT
Date: 6-11-19, 6-14-19, 6-22-19
Camera: Canon T3i/600D modified
Lens: Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM
Focal Length: 200mm
Ha f/2.8, RGB f/3.2
Mount: iOptron SkyGuider Pro on a Manfrotto Tripod
Filter: Astronomik Ha 12nm Clip-in
Autoguiding: none
Exposure: Ha 130 x 60s, RGB 171 x 30s
ISO: 1600
Processing: DSS, PixInsight, Photoshop, Lightroom

Results

The stars are more rounded in this image for the most part but the image without the counterweight is acceptable.

The results suggest the decent images can be taken using the 200mm lens without the counterweight but the counterweight does produce slightly better results.  The counterweight also has the advantage of doing a polar alignment with the camera already attached and checking on it periodically during imaging.

For my own purposes, I will use the counterweight when I am home or traveling by car.  If I am traveling where space and weight are a factor, I may leave the counterweight behind.

Sadr Region with 200mm Lens - HaRGB

I was able to finish sooner than expected as we had some clear weather and was able to add RGB data without the moon. 

See link for Ha image: 

Sadr Region in Ha with 200mm Lens 

(http://astroquest1.blogspot.com/2019/06/sadr-region-in-ha-with-200mm-lens.html)

The region around Sadr (γ Cygni), center star in the cross Cygnus, is filled with gas and dust making it a prime location for emission nebulae and camera lenses. Sadr is the bright star in the lower left central portion of the image. The Sadr Region (a.k.a. the Butterfly Nebula or the Gamma Cygni Nebula, or IC 1318) is the diffuse emission nebula surrounding Sadr and is approximately 4900 light-years away. From what I gather it includes the Butterfly but also the surrounding area above Sadr. Other objects in this image include the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888) - bright nebula off to the right, M29 (NGC 6913 a.k.a. Cooling Tower) - open cluster on the lower central portion of the image, IC 1311 - open cluster with lots of nebulosity in the upper central portion, NGC 6910 - open cluster just left of Sadr. NGC 4996 - an open star cluster below the Crescent Nebula, and NGC 6914 - an Ha region on the left portion of the image. Numerous other Lynds Dark Nebula (LDN) and Bright Nebula (LBN) are scattered throughout this region.

The RGB was obtained on one night while I was also capturing M57 with the main imaging rig.

Focusing was a bit easier since I was not using any filters and was able us live view for focusing.  I still had to take 5-second exposures in order match up the framing and got it close enough to the Ha image. 

I used DSS for stacking since I did not take any flats and I haven't figured out how to have PI stack without flats yet - I read somewhere you have to make synthetic ones.  I did bring it into PI to do the normal processing and align the Ha and RGB images.  Also, the preliminary combining was done in PI.  The color image was separated into individual RGB channels and then used to make the HaRGB image,

The final HaRGB image was made with the following recipe:

Enhanced Red = Ha 70% + R 30% (PixelMath)

New RGB = Enhanced Red + G + B (PixelMath)

HaRGB = Ha 50% Luminosity + RGB (Photoshop)

The was one odd problem that occurred when making the New RGB image.  I was doing a series of of trials to determine the optimal combination and joining them with the RGB Combination tool, it worked for one iteration but then when using it again it never recognized the Enhanced Red.  Fortunately PixelMath recognized it so I used it.  I tried to use the LRGB combination for the final image but this time the Ha image was not recognized so I did the final joining in PS.  It is probably some button I pressed that caused this but I worked around it. 

I sometimes find these HaRGB combinations difficult trying get the right mix of detail and color.  I spent a lot of time adjusting the color/hue similar to the original RGB image yet not over-saturating it.

Sadr Region (IC 1318) and Other Friends
Location: Home Monroe, CT
Date: 6-11-19, 6-14-19, 6-22-19
Camera: Canon T3i/600D modified
Lens: Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM
Focal Length: 200mm
Ha f/2.8, RGB f/3.2
Mount: iOptron SkyGuider Pro on a Manfrotto Tripod
Filter: Astronomik Ha 12nm Clip-in
Autoguiding: none
Exposure: Ha 130 x 60s, RGB 171 x 30s
ISO: 1600
Processing: DSS, PixInsight, Photoshop, Lightroom
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/
http://astroquest1.blogspot.com/

M13 - Hercules Globular Cluster (2019)

This is my latest version of M13.  Like all globular clusters, M13 or the Hercules Globular Cluster (NGC 6205), does not reside in the galactic plane but rather outside surrounding the central bulge. The cluster contains several hundred thousand stars, a  diameter of 145 light-years and is 22,000 light years away. The cluster, like most clusters, contains very old stars on the order of 12 to 13 billion years old, however, this cluster is of particular interest because it produces young blue stragglers - large blue giant stars formed as result of colliding old stars.

I find globular clusters particularly difficult to process for some reason.  Possibly because the data is never as good as it could be because I am always imaging these under less than ideal circumstances like when the moon is out - this image is no exception.  Also, the green layer was fine this time around as opposed to having those magenta splotches plaguing my last image.  I was prepared to stack everything in DSS, however, PI worked fine this time (astro-gremlins?). 

I did manage to get more color than my previous images which was very happy with.  I rotated the image 90 degrees and cropped it in such a way to maximize the small ~12th magnitude spiral galaxy on the lower left of the image.  Despite being 46 million light-years away there is a small amount of structure. 

M13 - The Hercules Globular Cluster
Location: Home Monroe, CT
Date: 6-11-19, 6-14-19
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm
f/7
Focal Reducer: Astro-Tech 0.8x Focal Reducer/Field Flattener for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Sirius
Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 8x 1.25"
Filter: ZWO R, G, B
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: R 60 x 60s, G 49 x 60s, B 57 x 60s
Gain: 139
Offset 21
Temp: 8 C
Post Processing: PixInsight, Photoshop, Lightroom
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/
http://astroquest1.blogspot.com/

Sadr Region in Ha with 200mm Lens

The region around Sadr (γ Cygni), center star in the cross Cygnus, is filled with gas and dust making it a prime location for emission nebulae and camera lenses. Sadr is the bright star in the lower left central portion of the image.  The Sadr Region (a.k.a. the Butterfly Nebula or the Gamma Cygni Nebula, or IC 1318) is the diffuse emission nebula surrounding Sadr and is approximately 4900 light-years away.  From what I gather it includes the Butterfly but also the surrounding area above Sadr.  Other objects in this image include the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888) - bright nebula off to the right, M29 (NGC 6913 a.k.a. Cooling Tower) - open cluster on the lower central portion of the image, IC 1311 - open cluster with lots of nebulosity in the upper central portion, NGC 6910 - open cluster just left of Sadr.  NGC 4996 - an ope star cluster below the Crescent Nebula, and NGC 6914 - an Ha region on the left portion of the image.  Numerous other Lynds Dark Nebula (LDN) and Bright Nebula (LBN) are scattered throughout this region.  I really like the lower portion in the Butterfly area where the gas and dust swirl around as well as the region near the crescent.

This image was taken over two evenings using the Canon T3i/600D and 200mm lens with the Astronomic Ha-Clip filter mounted on the iOptron SkyGuider Pro.  This is my travel set up so I can easily take it on an airplane or set it up while I am imaging something else with my telescope.  The next best thing to creating a mosaic with a telescope.  Shooting normal color images with thie set up is easy because you can use live view for find and focusing.  However, using the Ha filter was tough as you have to turn all the settings up and do a minimum of 5-second exposures to find anything and then focus.  I plan to add color if we get a clear night without the moon as this was taken when the moon was high up.

Sadr Region (IC 1318) and Other Friends
Location: Home Monroe, CT
Date: 6-11-19, 6-14-19
Camera: Canon T3i/600D modified
Lens: Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM
Focal Length: 200mm
f/2.8
Mount: iOptron SkyGuider Pro on a Manfrotto Tripod
Filter: Astronomik Ha 12nm Clip-in
Autoguiding: none
Exposure: 130 x 60s
ISO: 1600
Processing: DSS, PixInsight, Photoshop, Lightroom
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/
http://astroquest1.blogspot.com/

M5 - RB & Fake G (2019)

This is only my second image of M5, a globular star cluster residing in the galactic halo (area above and below the main disk).  Globular clusters are very old and M5 is certainly that at 13 billion years old.  At 25,000 light-years away in the constellation Serpens and approximately 165 light-years in diameter it contains more than 100,000 stars.

What do I mean by Fake G?  When I combined the RGB in PI in noticed a magenta splotch in many of the stars.  Upon further analysis I discovered they were only in the green channel.  I tried doing things in PI and PS with no success so I made a synthetic (fake) green channel by combining the Red and Blue using the PixelMath function in PI.  It worked as the splotches are gone.  

I am guessing the image would be better with a real green channel but it is orders of magnitude better than my embarrassing image from three years ago (https://astroquest1.blogspot.com/search?q=M5).  I will try to adjust the real green channel to improve the overall image after getting some suggestions from AB user Michael Feigenbaum.  I cropped the image a bit but wanted to keep the large star 5-Serpentis in the image and I prefer wider field images anyway.

Wide Field

Crop

M5 - Rose Cluster

Location: Home Monroe, CT

Date: 5-31-19, 6-3-19
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm
f/7
Focal Reducer: Astro-Tech 0.8x Focal Reducer/Field Flattener for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Sirius
Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 8x 1.25"
Filter: ZWO R, G, B
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: R 58 x 60, G 53 x 60, B 60 x 60
Gain: 139
Offset 21
Temp: 8 C
Post Processing: PixInsight, Photoshop, Lightroom
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/
http://astroquest1.blogspot.com/

Cable Management With The Pegasus Pocket Power Box - Best Thing Since Sliced Bread!

Best thing since sliced bread, Really? Well maybe a sight exaggeration.

YouTube Video:

INTRODUCTION:

I First heard of the Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox (PPB) last year from Trevor Jones of Astrobackyard.  It looked cool and I sort of understood what it did but was unclear why I should get one since what I had was working fine. It wasn't until I watched a video by Roswell Astronomy where he described how his setup is now all run on DC.  Although you may be home and your power source is AC, each piece of equipment needs to be converted to DC with a converter.

Suddenly the Powerbox makes Sense!

Since all of the electronic equipment runs on DC anyway, the PPB gets rid of each individual piece. All of equipment plugs into it and only one power cord is needed. Prior to the PPB , the method was splicing Power Poles into the power wires and then connecting to a Rig Runner. This is not exactly cheap nor was the thought of cutting very expensive power cords appealing.

All of these power cables and inverters in the image below go away!

ATTACHING THE PPB:
To connect the PPB, I modified the set up described by Danjc on StarGazers Lounge.  I purchased a 1/4 Inch (6 mm) 6061-T651 aluminum plate, 12 x 12 inch sheet on Amazon then cut it down to 7 inches by 8 inches (17.8 cm x 20.3 cm). I then drilled hole to mount the plate to the top of the cradle rings. The bolts which go into the cradle are 6 mm rather than the 1/4 inch #20 which most other ring dovetail attachment threads are.

 

Velcro was used to attach the PPB on the right side of the aluminum plate.  The autoguider was attached to the center of the of the plate and the USB Hub was attached to the left side of the plate.  In addition the finder scope was also attached to the lower left side of the plate. 

I was concerned when using aluminum plate with the Sirius mount as it did add approximately 24 ounces (680 g), however, the mount handled the added weigh no problem.

CONNECTIONS/CABLE MANAGEMENT:

Getting rid of a bunch of cables allows me to change my cable management system for the third time in two years.  In this 3rd rendition, everything is back on top of the scope rather than the wiring harness method I used previously. The old system worked well and if all I ever did was shoot from my observatory it would be fine. However, I have to move to different locations from time to time so being able to easily remove and then reconnect everything efficiently is paramount.

Imagine the PPB is the heart and the powered USB Hub is the lungs of my set up.  I had to get a new USB Hub as the connections were not the same. Pegasus provides 4 x 2.1mm circular cables but the old Hub had a 2.5mm cable connection. I contacted Pegasus and Evans recommended the StarTech.com 7 Port USB 3.0 Hub. I highly recommend this Hub as it is very sturdy all metal construction and as an added bonus comes with a metal mounting bracket.

The items plugged into the USB Hub are the Mount (Sirius), Autoguider (QHY-5L-II-M), Camera (ZWO ASI1600), Electronic Filter Wheel (ZWO), and the PPB (Pegasus).  Plugging into the PPB are the Mount (Sirius), Camera (ZWO ASI1600), Dew Heaters, and the USB Hub (StarTech).  Only two wires are needed, one for the power and one USB cable going to the computer.  If one were to use an ASIair or similar device then only the power wire would by required. 

 

I use Velcro to secure the extra cables to either the telescope or the mounting bracket and I highly recommend labeling the cables as well as where they are to be attached as recommended by Sean Moloney.  Since this is my main imaging telescope, I leave the aluminium plate attached to the cradle rings.  To image from a different offsite location; I unplug the connections and Velcro, take the telescope out of the cradle and put it in the case, and remove the cradle/plate system.  Drive to a new location, set up the Atlas Mount, attach the cradle/plate system, secure the telescope, and reconnect the cables.  To image from a different onsite location; I setup the Atlas Mount, unplug the power and USB cables, remove the cradle plate system with the telescope still attached, walk it to the Atlas Mount, and attach the cradle/plate/telescope to the Atlas Mount.

OTHER:
The PPB also has two dew heater inputs as well as a temperature sensor.  You can run it with a computer in order to get more weather condition data and more control over the dew heaters or as a stand alone unit where the dew heaters are set at the previous setting if you use them.  I have done it both ways.  Galactic Hunter  has a good video on the features of the PPB.  

I give the Pegasus Pocket Powerbox two thumbs up!

NGC 4651 - The Umbrella Galaxy

In my quest to search for objects not often imaged I came across a giant umbrella in space (NGC 4651).  This is a relatively small object which may explain not many images of it exist on Astrobin.  It is a spiral galaxy 62 million light-years away located in constellation Coma Berenices.  The galaxy is about the same size as our own Milky Way with one addition - a 100 thousand light-year long stream of star-trails gravitationally stripped from a smaller satellite galaxy that resembles a giant umbrella.  Researchers using the Subaru and Keck telescopes have identified the remnant core of the satellite galaxy.  On my image the remnant core of the smaller galaxy is the blue dot located just before the 'T intersection' where the umbrella shaft meets the top.

Aside from being very busy lately, the weather has been horrible in April and most of May.  So I shot this between the clouds and trees over five nights.  I do have a new addition - the Pegasus Pocket Powerbox (PPB) which works really well - I constructed a holder for it, my autoguider, finder scope, and USB Hub out of a aluminum plate that I show at a later date - I just wanted to image something.

Processing was tough on this because I wanted to make sure I got the umbrella.  Not surprisingly, it showed up best with the luminosity exposures (much better). For this reason I would not recommend imaging this object with a DSLR or OSC camera.  Good thing I did not choose this to make a tutorial.  I went back and forth with PI and PS in order to get something I was satisfied with.  Anyway, it is my first image in over a month. 

Crop

Wide Field 

NGC 4651 - Umbrella GalaxyLocation: Home Monroe, CT
Date: 5-21-19, 5-22-19, 5-28-19, 6-1-19, 6-4-19
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm
f/7
Focal Reducer: Astro-Tech 0.8x Focal Reducer/Field Flattener for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Sirius
Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 8x 1.25"
Filter: ZWO R, G, B, L
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: R 49 x 90, G 49 x 90, B 41 x 90, L 137 x 90
Gain: 139
Offset 21
Temp: 8 C
Post Processing: PixInsight and Photoshop
https://kurtzeppetello.smugmug.com/
http://astroquest1.blogspot.com/