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claudio

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https://www.wondersofthesky.com

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Mars (2022-12-05)

A night with Mars I won’t forget

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A night with Mars I won’t forget

Less than 1 minute Minutes

Due to the weather conditions in my area, yesterday night I wasn’t sure whether to image or not to image Mars. At last, I decided to go out and give a try (who knows when we will experience another clear night here in the GTHA) … And what a view of Mars on my telescope!

The night wasn’t too cold (-2°C) but the wind settled. There were some high clouds that dissipated during my imaging session. Seeing was average but I had a few moments with perfect conditions and no atmospheric turbulence.

Yesterday the distance of Mars was 81.6 million km, its magnitude was -1.92, the altitude was 62°50’, and its diameter was 17.15 arcseconds. Mars opposition will occur in just 2 days (on December 7-8), while Mars reached its minimum distance from the Earth on November 30.

I am so glad that I went out, set up my gear and shot some fantastic images of Mars! Definitely a night I won’t forget!

Date: 2022-12-05
Time: 03:49 UT
Location: my driveway in Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Celestron C8 SCT
Mount: Celestron AVX
Camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR-Cut filter, TeleVue PowerMate 2.5x
Software: FireCapture, Autostakkert, Registax, GIMP

I obtained the final image (to the right) by processing the best 30% frames from a 60 seconds video.
 
Several features are visible in the final processed image. From left to right: the triangular shape of Syrtis Major and Syrtis Minor, the bright Hellas (below Syrtis Major), the Mare Cimmerium, and the white North Polar hoods (yes, clouds!).
Mars (2022-12-05)
Rosette Nebula in Narrowband (2022-11-26)

The Rosette Nebula in narrowband

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The Rosette Nebula in narrowband

Less than 1 minute Minutes

A few nights ago I imaged the Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237) from my driveway, with only 30 minutes total image integration.

My original plan was to going out with my Celestron 8 SCT and imaging Mars, but unfortunately the seeing was very bad for planetary imaging.

I did not give up, but I decided instead to switch to my small refractor and collect some narrowband images of deep sky objects. My main target for the night was the Rosette Nebula (also known as NGC 2237).

I used the brand new SpectrophotometricColorCalibration (SPCC) tool in PixInsight for the very first time (for those who might be interested, the link is here).

Gaia Data Release 3 currently represents the state of the art in terms of stellar astrometry and photometry, and is based on measurements made from space.

Guiding during the imaging session was a bit bumpy and I had some headache because I had to slightly change my processing routine and PixInsight configuration. I have to confess that the color of the stars is more accurate with this new process and I like the final result.

As usual, you can see the final processed image with stars and its starless version.

Setup
Date: 2022-11-26
Location: my driveway in Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Explore Scientific ED80 CF
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10 °C)
Filters: Optolong L-eXtreme 2″
Mount: Celestron AVX
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope:Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: NINA, PixInsight, NoiseXTerminator, Pixel Math (for star reduction), Starnet (for the starless version of the nebula), GIMP
Total integration time: 30 minutes (6×300 seconds).
Calibration frames: 1 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
Size: 1.35 x 1.35 deg
Radius: 0.956 deg
Pixel scale: 4.06 arcsec/pixel

Note: Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237) and its starless version. You can also open the image of the Rosette Nebula in its original resolution.

Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the Rosette Nebula and its starless versionScroll the slider to switch between the images of the Rosette Nebula and its starless version
Total Lunar Eclipse (2022-11-08)

I photographed the total lunar eclipse

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I photographed the total lunar eclipse on November 08, 2022

Less than 1 minute Minutes
On November 08, 2022 a total lunar eclipse was visible in the early morning from my location. Although the Moon was low on the horizon, I decided to give a try and to observe the totality. 
 
The next total lunar eclipse won’t happen until March 14, 2025.
 
The night before the sky was crystal clear and the view of the Moon from my telescope looked promising. 
 
I observed the totality from my driveway and captured a few images with my DSLR camera (a Nikon D5300) and a 55-200 telephoto zoom lens. I am happy to share an image of the totality and a short YouTube video of the eclipse. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
 
You can subscribe to my YouTube channel, here: https://www.youtube.com/@wondersofthesky
 
Until next time, clear skies!
 
Date: 2022-11-08
Location: Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Explore Scientific ED80CF for the Full Moon
Mount: Celestron CG-5
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO, Nikon D5300 + 55-200 telephoto zoom lens
Software: FireCapture (best 30% of 10 seconds videos), AutoStakkert!3 (AS!3), Registax, GIMP.
The night before the sky was crystal clear and the view of the Moon from my telescope looked really promising. 
Stacked image of the Full Moon (2022-11-07)
I took this image of the total lunar eclipse at its maximum from my driveway.
Total Lunar Eclipse (2022-11-08)
The Elephant's Trunk Nebula (IC 1396) - starless

My first image of the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula

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My first image of the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula

Less than 1 minute Minutes
The Elephant’s Trunk Nebula (IC 1396) from my “remote” observatory at home, under less than ideal weather conditions. The air was hazy and humidity was very high, but I was able to capture approximately 1 hour of light frames, before the fog rolled in.
 
The Elephant’s Trunk Nebula was a first for me and I was surprised to see so many details with such a short total integration time.
 
From Wikipedia: The Elephant’s Trunk Nebula is a concentration of interstellar gas and dust within the much larger ionized gas region IC 1396 located in the constellation Cepheus about 2,400 light years away from Earth. It is commonly called the Elephant’s Trunk nebula because of its appearance at visible light wavelengths, where there is a dark patch with a bright, sinuous rim. The bright rim is the surface of the dense cloud that is being illuminated and ionized by a very bright, massive star (HD 206267) that is just to the east of IC 1396A.
The Elephant’s Trunk Nebula is now thought to be a site of star formation, containing several very young (less than 100,000 yr) stars that were discovered in infrared images in 2003. Two older (but still young, a couple of million years, by the standards of stars, which live for billions of years) stars are present in a small, circular cavity in the head of the globule. Winds from these young stars may have emptied the cavity.
 
Setup

Date: 2022-10-29
Scope: Rokinon 135mm lens
Mount: Celestron CG-5 mount
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI533 MC PRO (cooled at -10°C)
Filters: Optolong L-Extreme 2″
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: NINA, PixInsight, NoiseXTerminator, Pixel Math (for star reduction), Starnet (for the starless version of the nebula), GIMP
Total Integration Time: 60 minutes (20×180 seconds)
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 20 flat, 100 bias
Size: 5.01 x 5.01 degrees
Radius: 3.545 degrees
Pixel scale: 12 arcsec/pixel

Note: Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula (IC 1396) and its starless version. You can also open the image of the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula in its original resolution.

Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the Elephant's Trunk Nebula and its starless versionScroll the slider to switch between the images of the Elephant's Trunk Nebula and its starless version

The Elephant’s Trunk Nebula as shown on my N.I.N.A. screen. Guiding for the night was 0.93 RMS.

The Elephant's Trunk Nebula preview on my N.I.N.A. screen

If you want to learn how I connect my equipment to NINA, select a target, slew the telescope to the target, and set up a simple imaging sequence, I published this video on YouTube.

To learn more about how I automated my telescope with N.I.N.A., you can watch this video I posted on YouTube.

IC1805 (the Heart Nebula)

The Heart Nebula on a moonless night

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The Heart Nebula on a moonless night

Less than 1 minute Minutes
With a clear and moonless night I had an epic imaging session with the Heart Nebula (IC 1805).
 
From Wikipedia: the Heart Nebula is 7,500 light years away from Earth and is located in the Perseus Arm of the Galaxy, in the constellation Cassiopeia. It was discovered by William Herschel on 3 November 1787. It is an emission nebula showing glowing ionized hydrogen gas and darker dust lanes. The brightest part of the nebula (a knot at its western edge) is separately classified as NGC 896, because it was the first part of the nebula to be discovered. The nebula’s intense red output and its morphology are driven by the radiation emanating from a small group of stars near the nebula’s center.
 
I was able to capture a total of 90 minutes of good light frames (30 x 180 seconds).
 
This time I used my remote setup with Windows Remote Desktop, a mini dedicated astro PC with Windows 10 (a Beelink T34) and NINA advanced sequencer with a plugin (Ground Station) that was sending me email notifications during the session, while I was sitting on my couch.
 
Setup

Date: 2022-10-22
Scope: Rokinon 135mm lens
Mount: Celestron CG-5 mount
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI533 MC PRO (cooled at -10°C)
Filters: Optolong L-Extreme 2″
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: NINA, PixInsight, NoiseXTerminator, Pixel Math (for star reduction), Starnet (for the starless version of the nebula), GIMP
Total Integration Time: 90 minutes (30×180 seconds)
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 20 flat, 100 bias
Size: 5.01 x 5.01 degrees
Radius: 3.545 degrees
Pixel scale: 12 arcsec/pixel

On the top-right of the image you can see part of the Soul Nebula (IC 1848), which will be one of my next targets.

Note: Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the Heart Nebula and its starless version. You can also open the image of the Heart Nebula in its original resolution.

Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the Heart Nebula and its starless versionScroll the slider to switch between the images of the Heart Nebula and its starless version
NGC 7000 with Rokinon 135mm, ZWO ASI533MC PRO and Optolong L-eXtreme 2"

First light with the Rokinon 135mm lens

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My first narrowband images with the Rokinon 135mm lens: the North America and Pelican Nebula

Less than 1 minute Minutes

The night of October 4, 2022 I used the Rokinon135mm for some deep sky imaging in narrowband for the very first time.

I decided to image the North America Nebula (NGC 7000) and the Pelican Nebula (IC 507) from my driveway.
The Rokinon 135mm lens + ZWO ASI533MC PRO combination is delivering astonishing results with only a few minutes of total integration time.

Can’t wait to image some broadband objects (such as Andromeda Galaxy and the Pleiades) on a moonless night!

Setup

Scope: Rokinon 135mm lens
Mount: Celestron CG-5 mount
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI533 MC PRO (cooled at -10°C)
Filters: Optolong L-Extreme
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224 MC with a IR Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: NINA, PixInsight, NoiseXTerminator, Starnet (for the starless version of the nebula), GIMP
Total Integration Time: 21 minutes (7×180 seconds), dark, flat, bias
Size: 5.01 x 5.01 degrees
Radius: 3.545 degrees
Pixel scale: 12 arcsec/pixel

In the image you can see my very first attempt of narrowband imaging with the Rokinon 135mm lens. I captured the North America Nebula and the Pelican Nebula in just 21 minutes of total integration time

Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the North America and Pelican Nebula and the starless version of the same imageScroll the slider to switch between the images of the North America and Pelican Nebula and the starless version of the same image
Jupiter processed image (2022-09-08)

A night with Jupiter

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A night with Jupiter

Less than 1 minute Minutes
The night of September 08, 2022 I imaged Jupiter with a 8 inch telescope and a planetary camera from my driveway. Plenty of atmospheric details are visible in the final image: dark-colored belts, light-colored zones and finally the North and South polar regions.
 
Over the course of the night I also imaged the Great Red Spot (GRS) emerging from the lower edge of Jupiter’s disc and two Galileian moons: Io and Europa.
 
On September 26, the giant planet will be at opposition and will be visible all night long. The night before (September 25) Jupiter will make its closest approach to Earth since October 1951. Its distance will be 590 million km and it won’t be this close again for the next 107 years, until the year 2129!
 
I made a short YouTube video of Jupiter, too. Scroll to the end of this page to watch it. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
 
Date: 2022-09-08
Location: Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Celestron 8 SCT, Tele Vue PowerMate 2.5x
Mount: Celestron AVX
Camera: ZWO ASI224MC
Filter: ZWO IR Cut filter
Finder Scope: Explore Scientific 8×50 Non-Illuminated Finder Scope
Focuser: Celestron Focus Motor
Software: FireCapture (best 30% of 60 seconds videos), AutoStakkert!3 (AS!3), Registax, Topaz DeNoise AI, GIMP.
The final processed image of Jupiter. Plenty of atmospheric details are visible:
 
  • dark-colored belts (North Tropical Belt, North Equatorial Belt, South Equatorial Belt);
  • light-colored zones (North Temperate Zone, North Tropical Zone, Equatorial Zone, South Tropical Zone, South Temperate Zone);
  • and finally the North Polar Region and the South Polar Region.
Jupiter processed image (2022-09-08)

A combination of wind speed, wind direction, atmospheric jets, and cloud composition causes Jupiter’s banded appearance.

Credits: https://astronomy.com/magazine/ask-astro/2012/10/color-code and NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

Jupiter's clouds features
Saturn (2022-08-13)

I imaged Saturn and its moons at opposition!

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I imaged Saturn and its moons at opposition!

Less than 1 minute Minutes
I took advantage of a few clear nights to image Saturn with my Celestron 8 SCT telescope, a PowerMate 2.5x and a dedicated planetary camera (ZWO ASI224MC).
Seeing was below average, but I collected enough data and I stacked Saturn images into the final image visible below. The image shows the yellow disc of the planet, the rings with the Cassini division and even three moons: Rhea to the top, Tethys to the left and Titan with its yellow atmosphere (made mostly of nitrogen and methane) to the bottom. If you scroll between the two images I added the label with Saturn’s moons.
 
For a few days around the time of the opposition, Saturn’s rings suddenly intensify their apparent brightness due to the “opposition surge”, also known as Seeliger effect.
 
I made a short YouTube video of Saturn. Scroll to the end of this page to watch it. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
 
Date: 2022-08-13 04:28UT
Location: Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Celestron 8 SCT, Tele Vue PowerMate 2.5x
Mount: Celestron AVX
Camera: ZWO ASI224MC
Filter: ZWO IR Cut filter
Finder Scope: Explore Scientific 8×50 Non-Illuminated Finder Scope
Focuser: Celestron Focus Motor
Software: FireCapture (best 25% of 60 seconds videos), AutoStakkert!3 (AS!3), Registax, Topaz DeNoise AI, GIMP.
Saturn just one day before the opposition.
Saturn (2022-08-13)Saturn (2022-08-13) with labels
I also switched filter and captured Saturn with an Astronomik IR642BP IR-pass filter.
 
Date: 2022-08-13 03:41UT
Saturn (2022-08-13) - Astronomik IR642 BP IR-pass filter
The Tulip Nebula in Cygnus (Sh2-101)

I photographed the Tulip Nebula and a black hole!

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I photographed the Tulip Nebula and a black hole (well, kind of)!

Less than 1 minute Minutes

August 2nd, 2022: another amazing stargazing night with the Tulip Nebula in Cygnus. 

Its distance is approximately 6,000 light years and the apparent magnitude is 9.0. The apparent size in the sky is 16×9 arcminutes (its diameter is estimated to be about 70 light years). The emission from the Tulip Nebula is powered by ultraviolet radiation of a hot young star named HD227018, visible near the nebula’s center (see also the annotated image to locate the star).

Curious fact: in my image I also captured the first confirmed black hole candidate: Cygnus X-1 … well kind of! Let me explain.

In the field of view of the image there is a supergiant star named HD226868 (or V1357 Cygni). This hot supergiant star is located about 7,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus and is revolving about an massive unseen companion.

In 1964 astronomers at the U.S. Naval Research Lab discovered a X-ray source in this area of the sky and they called it Cygnus X-1. In 1971 the Uhuru X-ray satellite was launched and examined several X-ray sources, including Cygnus X-1. This object emitted X-rays that flickered in intensity every millisecond, but when astronomers went to observe it, they discovered that it was not visible.

Then an American astronomer called Tom Bolton came to Canada from the States to do his postdoc at the University of Toronto. He spent a lot of his time at the  David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill to analyze the spectrum of the closest object, HD226868 (our supergiant star), and noted that it had an orbit which would indicate that it was a part of a binary system with a period of 5.6 days (source: http://spacing.ca/toronto/2013/06/25/how-the-first-black-hole-ever-discovered-was-discovered-at-the-university-of-toronto/).

Analysis of the optical observations of HD226868 showed the mass of the ‘unseen’ companion star (the X-ray source) to lie in the range 6–15 solar masses, well above the limit allowed for a neutron star (≤ 3 solar masses) or white dwarf (≤ 1.4 solar masses). Therefore the hypothesis that Cygnus X-1 is a black hole is the rapid and irregular variability of the X-ray emission. This behaviour can be caused by the matter torn from the optical supergiant onto a black hole. So the Cygnus X-1 black hole candidate is not visible, but we know that it’s there and is part of the HD226868 binary system!

P.S.: a special thanks to my friend Chris Vaughan for inspiring me through his article “Canada in the stars” the July/August 2022 issue of SkyNews.

Setup

Scope: Explore Scientific ED80CF APO refractor
Mount: Celestron AVX mount
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI533 MC PRO (cooled at -10°C)
Filters: Optolong L-Extreme
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224 MC with a IR Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: NINA, CPWI, PixInsight, NoiseXTerminator for PixInsight
Total Integration Time: 1 hour (20x180s, dark, flat, bias)

The Tulip Nebula (Sh2-101) in Cygnus constellation is a beautiful emission nebula  located in constellation Cygnus.

Note: Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the Tulip Nebula and the annotated image that indicates where HD226868 and its companion, the first black hole candidate Cygnus X-1, are located. You can also open the annotated image of the Tulip Nebula in its original resolution.

Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the Tulip Nebula and the annotated image that indicates where HD226868 and its companion, the first black hole candidate Cygnus X-1, are locatedScroll the slider to switch between the images of the Tulip Nebula and the annotated image that indicates where HD226868 and its companion, the first black hole candidate Cygnus X-1, are located
Sadr Region (IC1318 or Gamma Cygni Nebula)

More narrowband: Dumbbell Nebula, Cocoon Nebula and Sadr Region

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More narrowband: Dumbbell Nebula, Cocoon Nebula and Sadr Region

Less than 1 minute Minutes
The last few days of July 2022 I had several consecutive clear nights, and I imaged multiple targets, including two emission nebulae (Cocoon Nebula and the Sadr Region) and one of my favorite planetary nebulae (the Dumbbell Nebula – M27).
 
I made some tweaks to enhance my imaging routine:
  • I added the Celestron PWI (CPWI) Telescope Control Software for the initial alignment of my equatorial mount and to connect the mount to the imaging software (NINA) and the guiding software (PHD2);
  • I installed NoiseXTerminator, a plugin for PixInsight that, thanks to AI technology, removes background noise from images without affecting stars or DSO. Considering that the total integration time for each image was less than 1 hour, I was quite impressed by the final results.
 
Date: 2022-07-28 and 29
Location: Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Explore Scientific 80ED CF APO refractor
Mount: Celestron AVX
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10°C)
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Filter: Optolong L-Extreme
Guide Scope: Orion 50mm mini + ZWO ASI224MC + PHD2
Software:

Total integration time: 15 to 30 minutes (5-10x180sec.), dark, flat, bias
The Dumbbell Nebula (M27) imaged on July 28, 2022. Total integration time: 30 minutes (10×180 sec.), dark, flat, bias.
I was able to capture the outermost layers of this beautiful planetary nebula.
M27 (2022-07-28)
The Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146, or also Caldwell 19, Sh 2-125, Barnard 168) is an emission / reflection nebula in constellation Cygnus. It’s a stellar nursery where hundreds stars are forming. Its distance is 3,260 light years.
 
Date: 2022-07-28
Total integration time: 15 minutes (5×180 sec.), dark, flat, bias.
Cocoon Nebula (IC1546)
The Sadr Region (IC 1318 or Gamma Cygni Nebula) is a diffuse emission nebula surrounding the star Gamma Cygni (Sadr), located in the heart of Cygnus’s cross and with a magnitude of 2.2. Sadr is approximately 1,800 light years distant, while the nebula is much further away, at 4,900 light years.
 
Date: 2022-07-29
Total integration time: 30 minutes (10×180 sec.), dark, flat, bias.
Sadr Region (IC1318 or Gamma Cygni Nebula)
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