Photos of Nebulae

Click on picture to enlarge



First trial with the Mallincam Universe camera with attached focal reducer. Looking forward to
some great fun with this in the coming months. There should be some opportunity to try with and
without a SkyGlow filter.

Image by: Rodger Forsyth

Date: March 5, 2018
The Trifid Nebula (catalogued as Messier 20 or M20 and as NGC 6514)	is an H II region
located in Sagittarius. It was discovered by Charles Messier on June 5, 1764. Its name
means 'divided into three lobes'.

Taken by: Dixie shilling - Aug. 24, 2019

Flame Nebula

Camera : MallinCam DS10C TEC

Details :
Flame Nebula
LHDR 7, 10, 15,_20sec DB2 Gain 41.7 Gamma1 Modified

Taken By : Brett Hardy

Horsehead Nebula

Camera : MallinCam DS10C TEC

Details :
Horsehead Nebula
LHDR 7 10 15_20sec DB2 Gamma0 9 Gain 41 7 Modified

Taken By : Brett Hardy

M1 - Crab Nebula

Camera : MallinCam DS10C TEC

Details :
M1 - Crab Nebula
LHDR 7, 10, 15,_20sec DB2 Gain 41.7  Gamma 1 Sharp 50% Modified

Taken By : Brett Hardy

M42 - Orion Nebula

Camera : MallinCam DS10C TEC

Details :
M42 - Orion Nebula
LHDR 0.5-5sec DB2 Gamma 0.7 Gain 16.3 Mod

Taken By : Brett Hardy
Below is a screen capture of M27 the Dumbbell Nebula.  This is a screen
capture without any post processing.  Exposure was 7 seconds (image
stacking was engaged within the camera control software).  Taken with the
Mallincam DS10cTEC with an 84% illuminated moon and significant haze
due to the high moisture in the atmosphere.

Taken by: Brett Hardy - Sept 11, 2019

2020-Dec. 19 - Brett Hardy - NGC2024 Flame Nebula

NGC2024 Flame Nebula, NGC2023 far left, Alnitak bottom (left most belt star in Orion)

2020-Dec. 2 - James Lee - Veil Nebula

I’m switching gears, and I just received redcat 51 and l-extreme filter and got to shoot its first
light!
Unfortunately it came with a minor defect in the dew shield but I don’t know if they will replace it
for that... (anti-reflection black paper inside the dew shield is coming off) So sad.

Anyway I went out on Tuesday night around Richardson’s lookout and targeted the veil nebula. Even
with the bright moon and light-polluted western sky, the l-extreme filter worked quite well through
them.

Redcat does provide quite flat-field image across the aps-c sensor (although still not perfect),
which my old refractor could not give. I guess that’s why it’s so expensive for such small optics...

Now I’m debating if I should add more data for this one on Saturday night, or shoot something else
before the moonrise.

Redcat 51
Nikon d5300
L-eXtreme
AVX

10 min x 11 (1 hr 50 min)
@ iso 200

Processed in pixinsight

2020-Dec. 7 - James Lee - Heart and Soul Nebula

I wanted to wait until I get around 10 hours of data, but I got impatient, like always. Maybe next
time…
Here are the Heart and the Soul nebula I took last night.

Redcat 51
Nikon d5300
L-eXtreme
AVX

10min x 18 (3hr total)
ISO 200

Processed in Pixinsight

Rosette Nebula (NGC2244)

Telescope: astro-tech at80edt
Camera: nikon d5300 full-spectrum
Mount: celestron avx

RGB: 5 min x 26
Ha: 10 min x 11

Processed in Pixinsight

Taken by : James Lee

2020-July 23 - B. Hardy - M8 Lagoon Nebula

This is a shot of M8 the Lagoon Nebula.  The Lagoon is about
4,300 light years away and 110 x 50 light years in extent in the
Sagittarius-Carina spiral arm of our galaxy.

Notice the open cluster, stars born from this expansive region of
gas and dust.  The red emission hydrogen gas is being excited
by massive O-type stars, the largest, hottest stars, causing this
gas to fluoresce.  One of these stars is 9 Sagittaurii.  It produces
44 times more high energy ultraviolet light compared to its visual
light.  In the visual spectrum this star is 23,000 times brighter than
our Sun.

There is also extensive gas that is in the foreground causing dark
nebulae that obscures the ionized hydrogen gas in the background.
The largest of these gives this nebula its nickname - the Lagoon
Nebula, causing a dark rift dividing the nebula.

This image is a screen capture of what I saw on my monitor - no
post processing of any kind was applied.  It is a stack of 50 images
ranging from 5 to 15 seconds.  An Optolong L-eNhance dual
narrowband filter was attached to the MallinCam DS10cTEC camera
on my TMB 175mm f/8 refractor.

Gain 40 LHDR 5, 10,_15 s 16-10-26 Gamma 1

Taken by: Brett Hardy

2020-July 24 - J. Lee - IC 1396 (Elephant Trunk Nebula)

I was able to capture IC 1396 last night, which is also called
the elephant’s trunk nebula. Lots of structures, lots of stars, and
I love absolutely love it. I had to pack up early due to the humidity,
but I’m happy with the result.

Taken by: James Lee

2020-July 8 - R. Forsyth - Dumbbell

Out last night with Rod trying different things with the Mallincam Xterminator
camera. Same setup as with previous image except I used the digital zoom
capability of the camera.  iOptron 8” RC optical tube on an EQ6 PRO mount,
Mallincam Xterminator with MFR5 focal reducer, 20 Sec. exposure..

Minor exposure and contrast adjustment.

Taken by : Rodger Forsyth
Date : July 8, 2020

2020-June 13 - B. Hardy - M16 Eagle Nebula

Mallincam DS10CTEC camera, Gain 50 DB2 14s 86 frames Gamma 0.90 DFC_LeNh

175mm TMB refractor using a narrow band Optolong L-eNhance filter.  No post processing
was used.  Images are screen captures only.

M16, The Eagle Nebula in Serpens Cauda.  This is a giant emission nebula with open cluster
NGC 6611 having formed from its gas and dust as well as dark nebulae interspersed.  The
central dark nebula forms the iconic eagle shape.  Located 7,000 light years away, the gas is
being ionized by massive young O6 stars - the hottest high-energy stars, causing the gas to
glow and emit light.

Taken by : Brett Hardy
Date : June 13, 2020

2020-June 13 - B. Hardy - Western Veil Nebula

Mallincam DS10CTEC camera, Gain 80 25s 30 frames Gamma 0.90 DFC LeNh

175mm TMB refractor using a narrow band Optolong L-eNhance filter.
No post processing was used.  Images are screen captures only.

Western Veil Nebula - 30 stacked frames @ 25 seconds.   NGC 6960, the Western Veil Nebula
in Cygnus, is a portion of a supernova remnant that occurred 5,000 to 8,000 years ago.
Discovered by William Herschel in 1784, this object is 2,600 light years distant.

Taken by : Brett Hardy
Date : June 13, 2020

2020-June 14 - M. McCarthy - Bubble  Nebula and M52

This past week it has been extremely kind to us stargazers. Thanks to Brett for setting up
our Zoom  Virtual Star Parties .

This is the  Bubble  Nebula and M52 June 14 11:07 pm. A stack of 21x  18 sec exposures
Gain 10 Gamma at 1.3 using Idas LPS D2 filter with Dark Field Correction and histogram
adjustments in the MallincamSky program only. No further processing used but feel free to
manipulate in your favorite photo editing software.


Taken by: Mike McCarthy
Date : June 14, 2020

2020-June 14 - M. McCarthy - North American Nebula

This is the  North American Nebula June 14 11:42 pm. A stack of 16x  30 sec
exposures  Gain 10 Gamma at 1.3 using Idas LPS D2 filter with Dark Field
Correction and histogram adjustments in the MallincamSky program only. No
further processing used but feel free to manipulate in your favorite photo editing
software.

Taken by: Mike McCarthy
Date : June 14, 2020

2020-June 16 - M. McCarthy - Elephant Trunk Nebula

This is the  Elephant Trunk Nebula June 16 11:59 pm. A stack of 25x  30 sec
exposures White point 25 Gain 10 Gamma at 1.3 using Idas LPS D2 filter with
Dark Field Correction and histogram adjustments in the MallincamSky program
only. No further processing used but feel free to manipulate in your favorite photo
editing software.


Taken by: Mike McCarthy
Date : June 16, 2020

2020-June 16 - M. McCarthy - Pelican Nebula

This past week it has been extremely kind to us stargazers. Thanks to Brett for
setting up our Zoom  Virtual Star Parties.  This is the  Pelican Nebula June 16
11:12 pm. A stack of 15x  30 sec exposures  white point 34 Gain 10
Gamma at 1.3 using Idas LPS D2 filter with Dark Field Correction and histogram
adjustments in the MallincamSky program only. No further processing used but
feel free to manipulate in your favorite photo editing software.


Taken by: Mike McCarthy
Date : June 16, 2020

2020-June 26 - R. Forsyth - M27 Dumbbell nebula

Camera: Mallincam Xterminator

I was out last night trying a few things with the Mallincam Xterminator and got M27
the Dumbbell nebula and M57 the Ring nebula. These are one shot, no stacking
about 22 seconds with minor contrast tweak.

I did a Go To to the Western Veil but the clouds decided I wasn't going to capture it.


Taken by: Rodger Forsyth
Date: June 26, 2020

2020-June 26 - R. Forsyth - M57 Ring nebula

Camera: Mallincam Xterminator

I was out last night trying a few things with the Mallincam Xterminator and got M27
the Dumbbell nebula and M57 the Ring nebula. These are one shot, no stacking
about 22 seconds with minor contrast tweak.

I did a Go To to the Western Veil but the clouds decided I wasn't going to capture it.


Taken by: Rodger Forsyth
Date: June 26, 2020

2020-Mar-15 - B. Hardy - Medusa Nebula (Abell 21)

This is the Medusa Nebula (Abell 21), a planetary nebula in Gemini.  A planetary nebula represents
the death of a low mass star.  What you see is the outer shells of the star blown off into space by
the central star.  You can see the central star in the image.  It has a slight blue hue.  Zoom in to
see it more clearly as well as the outer shells of gas.

The Medusa Nebula was discovered in 1955 and until the early 1980's was thought to be a supernova
remnant.

This object is 12.4 x 8.5 arcminutes in size; magnitude + 10.91 and 1,500 light years away.  Because
of its large size, it has a very low surface rightness (SkySafari 6 Plus says between + 16 and + 25
magnitude).

The image was captured with a MallinCam DS10C TEC camera.  It is a stack of 30 images (10 @ 17
seconds, 10 @ 22 seconds and 10 @ 27 seconds) all done within the capture software - I don't have
the patience for post processing.  No filters were used.


Taken by : Brett Hardy

2020-May 1 - J. Lee -Tulip nebula and its surroundings

Last night, after the moon set, I went out to shoot Tulip nebula (sh2-101). Its was only for a short
amount of time but I'm surprised how much it revealed.

Telescope: Astro-tech AT80edt
Camera: Nikon D5300
Mount: Celestron AVX

Acquisition: 3 min x 26, iso 200
Processed in Pixinsight

Taken by : James Lee
Date : May 1, 2020

2020-November 14 - James Lee - IC 405 and IC 410

Last night, I made it to Richardson’s Lookout and shot for the first time in a while. It was great,
but there were dogs in nearby (but yet distant) houses barking at me from time to time. I was fine
with it but I just felt sorry to distract the neighbour...

Clouds soon came with moisture, but luckily the Flaming Nebula (IC 405) and the Tadpole Nebula (IC
410) are bright enough to be captured well with details within relatively short time.

2021-March 21 - James Lee - Sadr Region

Just wanted to share my last night’s Sadr region. Around Sadr, there is a fiery butterfly and an icy
crescent.  I’m addicted to narrowband imaging.

Equipment:

Redcat 51
AVX
Nikon D5300
L-eXtreme

Acquisition:

10 min x 12 (2 hrs total)
ISO 200

Processed in Pixinsight
This is the Bubble Nebula NGC 7635. The nebula is near a giant molecular cloud which
contains the expansion of the bubble nebula while itself being excited by the hot
central star, causing it to glow.

Taken from the Nutwood Observatory, and availble as always in 32 bit, but for emailing
purposes in 8bit (much degraded).

Data -32 hrs of taken over seveal nights to receive this image in L+Ha+(HaRGB).
Processing roughtly a week.

Cone Nebula.

Ceravolo f9 Astrograph
Astrodon 3mm filters
ME

16 hrs at LHaRGB (6-4-2-2-2) hrs respectively

12 hrs using PS-Cs5x and maxIm DL
March 26-28-2011
Brian McGaffney at Nutwood Observatory
The Cone Nebula is a famous nebula in the Orion Arm surrounding the NGC 2264 star cluster.
The 'cone' is a triangular dark nebula near the bottom of the nebula. Resembling a
nightmarish beast rearing its head from a crimson sea, this monstrous object is actually a
pillar of gas and dust. Called the Cone Nebula because of its conical shape in ground-based
images, this giant pillar resides in a turbulent star-forming region. The entire nebula is
7 light years in length. The Cone Nebula resides 2,500 light-years away in the constellation
Monoceros.

This image is an 8 bit jpeg, but the original is a 32 bittiff with much greater detail
obviously. This 32 bit version is available for seperate downloads.
The Crescent Nebula (also known as NGC 6888, Caldwell 27, Sharpless 105) is an emission
nebula in the constellation Cygnus, about 5000 light years away. It is formed by the fast
stellar wind from the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136 (HD 192163) colliding with and energizing
the slower moving wind ejected by the star when it became a red giant around 400,000 years
ago. The result of the collision is a shell and two shock waves, one moving outward and
one moving inward. The inward moving shock wave heats the stellar wind to X-ray-emitting
temperatures. This object is about 25  light years wide.

Details: (2 images included, 1 wide, and one close-up)
CCD image taken from the Nutwood observatpory Dec 9th/10. This object is fading from view
into the western sky, but managed to get fair results. CCD camera an Apogee U16M, with a
300mm Ceravol Astrograph on an ME mount using Astrodon Filters. This image is a composite
of Luminance, Ha (substituted  for red by 80%)BG, hence LHa+HaGB.

VDB 152

Described as a "dusty curtain" or "ghostly apparition", mysterious reflection nebula vdB 152
really is very faint. It lies about 1400 light-years away, along the northern Milky Way in
the royal constellation Cepheus. Near the edge of a large molecular cloud, pockets of cosmic
dust in the region block the light from background stars or scatter light from the embedded
bright star (top) giving parts of the nebula a characteristic blue color. Ultraviolet light
from the star is also thought to cause a dim reddish luminescence in the nebular dust. Though
stars do form in molecular clouds, this star seems to have only accidentally wandered into
the area, as its measured velocity through interstellar space is very different from the
cloud's velocity .

In this close-up it can be seen that the wandering star (blue nebulosity) actually is
displaying a giant bubble around it. Look closely to see it. Most probably because to the
defraction on the light through the dust.

This image taken from the Nutwood Observatory, Dec 11th. Total exposure 10 hrs. as a LLRGB.
Using a Cerovolo astrograph.
Elephant's Trunk Nebula (IC1362) - Close up

Equipment:
Astro-Tech at80edt (80mm triplet refractor)
Astro-Tech x0.8 flattener/reducer
Celestron AVX
Nikon d5300 full-spectrum

SVBONY 60mm guide scope
QHY5-ii-m guide camera

IDAS lps d1 48mm (light pollution filter for RGB)
Baader 2" 7nm Ha filter
Baader 2" 8.5nm Oiii filter

Acquisition:
Used AstroPhotography Tool to capture
ISO 200, focal length 384mm, f/4.8
Ha Filter : 10 min x 34 (5 hr 40 min)              May 7, 17, 2019
Oiii Filter : 15 min x 15 (3 hr 45 min)             May 26, 2019



Processing:
Mostly used Pixinsight, rarely used Photoshop

Taken By : James Lee - 2019

IC 5146 (Cocoon Nebula)









Nutwood Observatory

Lagoon Nebula
M1 (The Crab Nebula) was taken here at the Nutwood Observatory last
month (October 28th). This is a hi res. deep space image using the
following. A 300 mm astrograph telescope, an Apogee U16m CCD camera
and 50 mm Astrodon filters.  Aquistion was achieved by guided data
an WO 110 for approx 8 hrs.  Telescope was a carbon fibre Cervolo 300.
This image is an (Ha+L) (R+Ha) G B.

Brian McGaffney

M16







Combine Files Avg 2 copy 1.26mb 800x600 75dpi
8 second shot of M17, the Swan nebula. I did some further processing
with Astro Toaster.

Image by - Rodger Forsyth

M27







Stack crop web


M27 the Dumbbell

Taken Oct. 20, 2017
Mallincam Jr Pro camera
Vixen 8” Optical Tube
SkyWatcher EQ6 Pro mount

Image by Rodger Forsyth
M27, the Dumbbell, taken with Mallincam Jr Pro on SkyWatcher ED120 APO riding
the SkyWatcher EQ6 Pro mount.

Image by - Rodger Forsyth

M42 Orion Nebula







10 stacked 2.5min exposures at ISO 800

M42







LRGB

Nutwood Obseratory

M42
M57 - The Ring Nebula 2300 light years away

Shot with Mallincam Jr. Pro with MFR-5 focal reducer on a
Mallincam VRC-6 6” RC optical tube mounted on the
EQ6 Pro mount. M57 was a 20 second integration.

Short videos were captured then image created using RegiStax 6.

Taken by Rodger Forsyth
Just for fun I imaged M57 in Lyra on
a wide field set up. Sometimes it is
just fun to see what is around for
shooting wide field.

Brian McGaffney
North American Nebula (NGC 7000)

Equipment:
Astro-Tech at80edt (80mm triplet refractor)
Astro-Tech x0.8 flattener/reducer
Celestron AVX
Nikon d5300 full-spectrum

SVBONY 60mm guide scope
QHY5-ii-m guide camera

IDAS lps d1 48mm (light pollution filter for RGB)
Baader 2" 7nm Ha filter
Baader 2" 8.5nm Oiii filter

Acquisition:
Used AstroPhotography Tool to capture
ISO 200, focal length 384mm, f/4.8
Ha Filter: 10 min x 17 (2 hr 50 min)  --  May 5, 2019
Oiii Filter: 10 min x 30 (5 hr)            May 20, 21, 2019

Processing:
Mostly used Pixinsight, rarely used Photoshop

Taken By : James Lee - 2019
HaLRGB image of NGC 6888 the Cresent nebula
in the Constellation Cygnus of the Cygnus
Region. This is an emission nebula  about
5000 light years away. Discovered by William
Herschel.

The purpose of the image attempt was to acquire
a large  frame format, while capturing the
subtle detail of the nebula itself and include
the surrounding regions.

Equipment used was a 14 inch carbon fibre
astrograph telescope at f8 guided on an ME mount.
The camera was a an Apogee U16M.

Acquisition was 15, 6 minute guided frames L,
and  15, 4 minute subs RGB. The Ha subs
were 15 at 10 minutes guided.

Brian McGaffney

NGC7635 - Bubble Nebula

North American Nebula
Newly processed image of NGC 281 the PacMan
Nebula. Taken here last year at the observatory.

This is a composite format image using the
following spectrum files. Ha+((HaL)+HaR+GB).

This is a close up image using a 16 inch
astrograph and a large format CCD camera.

Brian McGaffney
Some fun with one of the DSLR cameras
the other day when I had time, and
took these nice images of M42.

Brian McGaffney