The Lagoon and more...

Finally a clear night. We don't get many here in southern Connecticut. The following images were taken on Thursday 7/16/15 from my favorite location very close to my house. Also this was a beta test for the my autoguider setup. It is basically the Orion Awesome AutoGuider Refractor Telescope Package only the Orion StarShootAutoguider Camera is replaced with the Orion StarShoot G3 Deep Sky Imaging Camera. I purchased the G3 camera at the start of this hobby but switched to a DSLR as they are easier to manage and more versatile. So the G3 finally has an important job.



M8 - Lagoon Nebula (mag +6.0)
Location: Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 7/16/15 23:45 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i, Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Autoguiding: Orion Short Tube 80mm, Orion StarShoot G3
Focal Length: 600mm (lens)
f/7.5
Exposure: 5-60s (5 min total)
ISO: 800
Post Processing: DSS, Photoshop (Darken, Contrast), Picasa3 (crop)

Note:
The Lagoon Nebula is located in Sagittarius between 4000-6000 light years from Earth. The full dimensions are 110 by 50 light years. For perspective the distance to Proxima Centauri, nearest star to our sun is only 4.24 light years.



M8 - Lagoon Nebula (mag +6.0)
Location: Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 7/16/15 23:45 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i, Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Autoguiding: Orion Short Tube 80mm, Orion StarShoot G3
Focal Length: 600mm (lens)
f/7.5
Exposure: 5-60s (5 min total)
ISO: 800
Post Processing: DSS, Photoshop (Darken, Contrast)



Antares and M4 (mag +1.09 and 5.9)
Location: Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 7/16/15 23:23 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i, Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Autoguiding: Orion Short Tube 80mm, Orion StarShoot G3
Focal Length: 600mm (lens)
f/7.5
Exposure: 3-100s (5 min total)
ISO: 800
Post Processing: DSS, Photoshop (Darken, Contrast)

Note:
The Antares is the bright star in Scorpius and is a red supergiant larger than the orbit of Mars approximately 550 light years from Earth. M4 is a globular cluster approximately 7200 light years from Earth and estimated to be 12.2 by old.



Antares and M4 (mag +1.09 and 5.9)
Location: Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 7/16/15 22:49 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i, Backyard EOS
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Autoguiding: Orion Short Tube 80mm, Orion StarShoot G3
Focal Length: 600mm (lens)
f/7.5
Exposure: 3-300s (15 min total)
ISO: 800
Post Processing: DSS, Photoshop (Darken, Contrast), Picasa3 (Label)

Longer Exposure, Better Image

The following images are of the Ring Nebula.  The first is from 6-22-15 and the other two are from 6-19-15.  I wanted to see how increasing the exposure time affected the images.   They had a profound affect, at least to me.  The one problem is there is an increase in the noise.  Perhaps even more stacked images would fix that problem. That will be another night...

M57 - Ring Nebula (mag +8.8)

Location: Front yard, Monroe, CT

Date/Time: 6/19/15 23:48 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i, Backyard EOS

Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope

Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 600mm (lens)

f/7.5

Exposure: 1-20s, 2-60s (2min 20s total)
ISO: 1600

Post Processing: DSS, Photoshop (Darken), Picasa3 (crop)

M57 - Ring Nebula (mag +8.8)

Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT

Date/Time: 6/19/15 22:18 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope

Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 600mm (lens)

f/7.5

Exposure: 3-6s
ISO: 1600

Post Processing: DSS, Photoshop (Darken, Rotate), Picasa3 (crop)

 

M57 - Ring Nebula (mag +8.8)

Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT

Date/Time: 6/19/15 22:18 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope

Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 600mm (lens)

f/7.5

Exposure: 3-6s
ISO: 1600

Post Processing: DSS, Photoshop, (Darken), Picasa3 (crop, labeling)

M57 - Ring Nebula (mag +8.8)

Location: Front yard, Monroe, CT

Date/Time: 6/19/15 23:48 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i, Backyard EOS

Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope

Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 600mm (lens)

f/7.5

Exposure: 1-20s, 2-60s (2min 20s total)
ISO: 1600

Post Processing: DSS, Photoshop (Darken, Crop)

M57 - Ring Nebula (mag +8.8)

Location: Front yard, Monroe, CT

Date/Time: 6/19/15 23:48 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i, Backyard EOS

Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope

Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 600mm (lens)

f/7.5

Exposure: 1-20s, 2-60s (2min 20s total)
ISO: 1600

Post Processing: DSS, Photoshop (Darken, Crop, Noise Reduction)

A Good Night Part Two

For the end of the observing session (Part Two) with Boothe Memorial Astronomy Society on Friday (6/19/15) evening we observed the Ring Nebula (M57 or NGC 6720) in the constellation of Lyra and the Great Cluster in Hercules (M13 or NGC 6205) in the constellation of Hercules. Special thanks to Elliott Severn for pointing these objects out.

The Ring Nebula is a very small object which makes it hard to image. A higher resolution camera, a larger aperture telescope, or longer exposure image would improve the image quality. For these images I used an 80mm Orion ED80 refractor, a Canon Rebel T3i, and the total exposure was less than a minute. In the future I will try this again with a longer exposure. If that doesn't work I will try with my 8 inch Orion SkyView Pro reflector, although it is not as easy to set up as the ED80.

M57 - Ring Nebula (mag +8.8)
Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT
Date/Time: 6/19/15 22:18 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Autoguiding: None
Focal Length: 600mm (lens)
f/7.5
Exposure: 3-6s
ISO: 1600
Post Processing: DSS, Photoshop, (Darken)

M57 - Ring Nebula (mag +8.8)
Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT
Date/Time: 6/19/15 22:18 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Autoguiding: None
Focal Length: 600mm (lens)
f/7.5
Exposure: 3-6s
ISO: 1600
Post Processing: DSS, Photoshop, (Darken), Picasa3 (labeling)

M57 - Ring Nebula (mag +8.8)
Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT

Date/Time: 6/19/15 22:18 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Autoguiding: None
Focal Length: 600mm (lens)
f/7.5
Exposure: 3-6s
ISO: 1600
Post Processing: DSS, Photoshop, (Darken), Picasa3 (crop)

M57 - Ring Nebula (mag +8.8)
Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT
Date/Time: 6/19/15 22:18 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Autoguiding: None
Focal Length: 600mm (lens)
f/7.5
Exposure: 3-6s
ISO: 1600
Post Processing: DSS, Photoshop, (Darken), Picasa3 (crop, labeling)

M13 - Great Globular Cluster in Hercules (mag +5.8)
Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT
Date/Time: 6/19/15 22:39 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Autoguiding: None
Focal Length: 600mm (lens)
f/7.5
Exposure: 3-10s, 3-20s
ISO: 1600
Post Processing: DSS

M13 - Great Globular Cluster in Hercules (mag +5.8)
Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT
Date/Time: 6/19/15 22:39 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Autoguiding: None
Focal Length: 600mm (lens)
f/7.5
Exposure: 3-10s, 3-20s
ISO: 1600
Post Processing: DSS, Picasa3 (labeling)

M13 - Great Globular Cluster in Hercules (mag +5.8)
Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT
Date/Time: 6/19/15 22:39 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount
Autoguiding: None
Focal Length: 600mm (lens)
f/7.5
Exposure: 3-10s, 3-20s
ISO: 1600
Post Processing: DSS, Picasa3 (crop)

Good Night After All

The start of the observing session (Part One) with Boothe Memorial Astronomy Society on Friday (6/19/15) evening.  The crescent moon is not completely dark because of the phenomena of earthshine, light reflected from earth on to the moon.

Moon, Venus, and Jupiter

Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT
Date/Time: 6/19/15 21:22 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: 18-55 mm IS II

Mount: Fixed Tripod

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 47.0 mm

f/5.6

Exposure: 2s
ISO: 200

Post Processing: None

Moon, Venus, and Jupiter

Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT
Date/Time: 6/19/15 21:22 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: 18-55 mm IS II

Mount: Fixed Tripod

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 47.0 mm

f/5.6

Exposure: 2s
ISO: 200

Post Processing: Picasa3 - labelling

Moon, Venus, and Jupiter

Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT
Date/Time: 6/19/15 21:35 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: 18-55 mm IS II

Mount: Fixed Tripod

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 40.0 mm

f/5.6

Exposure: 10s
ISO: 200

Post Processing: None

Moon, Venus, and Jupiter

Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT
Date/Time: 6/19/15 21:35 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: 18-55 mm IS II

Mount: Fixed Tripod

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 40.0 mm

f/5.6

Exposure: 10s
ISO: 200

Post Processing: Picasa3 - labelling

Moon, Venus, and Jupiter

Location: Boothe Memorial Observatory, Stratford, CT
Date/Time: 6/19/15 21:51 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: 18-55 mm IS II

Mount: Fixed Tripod

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 34.0 mm

f/5.6

Exposure: 6s
ISO: 200

Post Processing: None

Venus and Jupiter Coming in Close

Finally some clearing.  Interesting shots of Venus and Jupiter through the trees.  The red cast on some of the images is from my head light.

Venus and Jupiter

Location: Home, Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 6/16/15 21:21 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: 18-55 mm IS II

Mount: Fixed Tripod

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 55.0 mm

f/8.0

Exposure: 13s
ISO: 200

Post Processing: None

Venus and Jupiter

Location: Home, Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 6/16/15 21:19 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: 18-55 mm IS II

Mount: Fixed Tripod

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 45.0 mm

f/8.0

Exposure: 6s
ISO: 200

Post Processing: None

Venus and Jupiter

Location: Home, Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 6/16/15 21:18 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: 18-55 mm IS II

Mount: Fixed Tripod

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 55.0 mm

f/8.0

Exposure: 6s
ISO: 200

Post Processing: None

Venus and Jupiter

Location: Home, Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 6/16/15 21:18 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: 18-55 mm IS II

Mount: Fixed Tripod

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 55.0 mm

f/6.3

Exposure: 13s
ISO: 200

Post Processing: None

Venus and Jupiter

Location: Home, Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 6/16/15 21:25 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: 18-55 mm IS II

Mount: Fixed Tripod

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 55.0 mm

f/5.6

Exposure: 15s
ISO: 200

Post Processing: None

Venus and Jupiter

Location: Home, Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 6/16/15 21:24 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: 18-55 mm IS II

Mount: Fixed Tripod

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 55.0 mm

f/5.6

Exposure: 15s
ISO: 200

Post Processing: None

Saturday Night with the Stars

Went stargazing with the Boothe Memorial Astronomy Society open observation on Friday and saw some great views of Venus and Jupiter.  Unfortunately we were invaded by some clouds.  I went out again on Saturday alone with a more cooperative sky.

Venus, Jupiter, and Regulus in alignment 

Location: Open Field, Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 6/6/15 21:38 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: 18-55 mm IS II

Mount: Fixed Tripod

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 18.0 mm

f/7.1

Exposure: 20s
ISO: 1600

Post Processing: Photoshop (Crop Image, Set Black Point)

Venus, Jupiter, and Regulus in alignment 

Location: Open Field, Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 6/6/15 21:38 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: 18-55 mm IS II

Mount: Fixed Tripod

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length: 18.0 mm

f/7.1

Exposure: 20s
ISO: 1600

Post Processing: Photoshop (Crop Image, Set Black Point), Photo Editor App

Waning Gibbous Moon 

Location: Open Field, Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 6/7/15 12:51 AM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope

Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length:  600mm (Scope)

f/7.5 (Scope)

Exposure: 1/40s
ISO: 100

Post Processing: Photoshop (Crop Image)

Saturn 

Location: Open Field, Monroe, CT
Date/Time: 6/6/15 23:27 PM
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Telescope/Lens: ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope

Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G GoTo Telescope Mount

Autoguiding: None

Focal Length:  600mm (Scope)

f/7.5 (Scope)

Exposure: 1/8s
ISO: 400

Post Processing: Photoshop (Crop Image, Adjust Contrast/Brightness)