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The Rosette Nebula (2024-02-12)

The Rosette Nebula: a celestial gift for Valentine’s Day

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The Rosette Nebula: a celestial gift for Valentine’s Day

2 Minutes

I recently read an article on the Weather Network website that Toronto recorded one of the cloudiest January in over a decade and as soon as I had a chance to set up my astroimaging gear I did it.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day I decided to image the Rosette Nebula in constellation Monoceros (the Unicorn). Also known as SH2-275 in the Sharpless catalog, or Caldwell 49, it hosts the open cluster NGC2244.

Its distance is 5,000 light-years and its size is approximately 130 light-years.

The position of the nebula can be easily identified, thanks to the presence of some of the brightest stars in the sky: Betelgeuse and Procyon. By connecting these two bright stars with an imaginary line, the Rosette Nebula can be found at about a third of the distance and moving about a degree and a half in a southerly direction.

It is believed that the stellar wind from the young O and B stars in NGC2244 exerts pressure on the interstellar cloud, causing compression, followed by the formation of stars. In fact, many Bok globules, considered to be sites of star formation, are visible inside the Rosette Nebula.

Armed with my trusty narrowband setup – the Explore Scientific ED80 CF APO refractor, my OSC camera (ZWO ASI533MC PRO), and the Optolong L-eXtreme narrowband filter, this time I added a Starfield 1.0x flattener to my optical train.

I spent a good amount of time to achieve an accurate polar alignment (1 arcminute), adequate mount balance and I captured a total of 69 minutes (23×180 seconds). The final result did not disappoint me!

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I will walk you through my image processing workflow.

P.S.: Happy Valentine’s Day! May the beauty of the cosmos fill your heart with wonder and joy on this special day.

Setup

Date: 2024-02-12
Location: My backyard in Richmond Hill, ON
Scope: Explore Scientific ED80 CF, Starfield 1.0x Flattener
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: ASIAIR Plus, PixInsight, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: 69 minutes (23×180 secs.)
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
The Rosette Nebula (2024-02-12)
Created with GIMP

My Best Astroimages of 2023

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My Best Astroimages of 2023

Less than 1 minute

Join me as I take a look back at the most exciting moments of my astroimaging journey in 2023. Some highlights below:

  • I imaged a bright comet
  • I took my first images of solar prominences with a solar telescope!
  • I saw the Northern Lights from my own backyard!
  • I imaged the brightest supernova in the last 10 years
  • I took stunning images of deep sky objects from a dark sky location and from my backyard
  • I imaged 6 planets and our own Moon
  • I captured a partial solar eclipse in between clouds

Get ready for another orbit around the Sun and, as always, remember to keep looking up at the stars!

The Helix Nebula from the CAO (2023-07-23)

It finally happened: I photographed the Helix Nebula!

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It finally happened: I photographed the Helix Nebula!

Less than 1 minute Minutes

I had been waiting to photograph the Helix Nebula for years… Well, on the night of July 22-23, 2023 it finally happened!

The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), also known as the “Eye of God” or “The Eye of Sauron,” is a planetary nebula located 650 light-years away in the constellation of Aquarius.

NGC 7293 has a strong emission in Ha and OIII, but due to its low position in the sky it reaches a maximum of 25 degrees high at our latitudes. This makes it a challenging target for astrophotography.

Using my Explore Scientific ED80 CF APO refractor, OSC camera (ZWO ASI533MC PRO), and a narrowband filter (Optolong L-eXtreme), I captured a total of 30 minutes (10×180 seconds) of this elusive nebula. The final processed image is presented below for your enjoyment. 

Setup

Date: 2023-07-23
Location: Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO), 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, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: 30 minutes (10×180 secs.)
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
The Helix Nebula from the CAO (2023-07-23)
The Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius (2023-07-23)

Celestial hiccups and fantastic results: imaging the Trifid Nebula

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Celestial hiccups and fantastic results: imaging the Trifid Nebula

Less than 1 minute Minutes

As a member of the RASC, Toronto Centre, in July 2023 I spent a weekend under a dark sky with some friends at the E.C. Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO).

The second target for the night of July 22-23 was the Trifid Nebula (M 20) in Sagittarius.

While imaging the Trifid Nebula I encountered my share of celestial challenges and technical hiccups. At our latitudes, M 20 is crazy low to the southern horizon, so it is hard to capture a decent amount of photons if you are located in a light polluted area.

Next, for some reason the meridian flip didn’t unfold as expected, leading to a manual intervention and a loss of precious imaging time. Additionally, despite the dew heater operating at maximum power, dew condensed on my guide camera, posing yet another challenge. Post-processing presented its own set of obstacles too, with persistent halos around the brightest stars proving to be a formidable adversary.

Unveiling the Trifid Nebula’s Splendor

The Trifid Nebula, located approximately 5,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius, is a breathtaking combination of emission and reflection nebulae. Its three-lobed appearance, from which it derives its name, showcases a remarkable color palette ranging from blue to deep red and purple, offering a visual feast for astrophotographers and casual observers. 

Below you can see the final processed image. Until next time, clear skies!

Setup

Date: 2023-07-23
Location: Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO), 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, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: 48 minutes (16×180 secs.)
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
The Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius (2023-07-23)
The Lagoon Nebula (M8) from the CAO

Unveiling the Lagoon Nebula in a dark sky location

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Unveiling the Lagoon Nebula in a dark sky location

Less than 1 minute Minutes

In July 2023 I spent a great weekend at the E.C. Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO), where I met a group of fellow astroimagers. The sky was crystal clear and despite some dew I had a very productive imaging session: I stayed up until 3am in the morning and I captured 4 targets in one night. We were literally under a blanket of stars and the bright arch of the Milky Way. While I was imaging, I even counted 4 bright meteors!

This is the first of a series of targets I imaged on the night of July 22nd: the Lagoon Nebula (M 8) in Sagittarius, with a total integration time of just 18 minutes.
This immense emission nebula, made of star-forming cloud of interstellar gas, has been discovered in 1654 by the Italian astronomer Giovanni Battista Hodierna.
Tons of fine details are visible in the final image … What a difference a dark sky location can make!

Setup

Date: 2023-07-23
Location: Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO), 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, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: just 18 minutes (6×180 secs.)!
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
The Lagoon Nebula (M8) from the CAO
M16 (2023-07-07)

The Pillars of the Creation from my backyard

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The Pillars of Creation from my backyard

Less than 1 minute Minutes

The Eagle Nebula (M 16) is located in the constellation Serpens and its distance is approximately 7,000 light-years away from Earth. Within this nebula lies a breathtaking feature known as the “Pillars of the Creation”. In this article I will share my personal experience of imaging this beautiful summer deep sky object from the comfort of my own backyard.

I checked the weather forecast and I noticed a combination of a clear sky and above-average transparency in my local area. Knowing that such conditions are a rarity, I quickly seized the opportunity and prepared my equipment for a night of astrophotography.

The Pillars of the Creation, immortalized in a famous Hubble Space Telescope image, are immense columns of interstellar gas and dust. These pillars are home to ongoing star formation processes, with new stars being born within their colossal structure. The breathtaking beauty of this celestial marvel has inspired countless astrophotographers.

As with any endeavor, unexpected challenges can arise. In the midst of my imaging session, my computer decided to launch a Windows update, causing a momentary disruption. Note to self: disable Windows updates during nighttime astrophotography sessions! However, I persevered and managed to capture nearly an hour’s worth of data despite the hiccups along the way.

The Final Image

After meticulously processing the captured data, the moment of truth arrived. The culmination of my efforts revealed a stunning image of the Pillars of the Creation. Considering the limitations imposed by our latitudes, where the Eagle Nebula is not typically high in the sky, the final result exceeded my expectations.

Clear skies!

Setup

Date: 2023-07-07
Location: my backyard in Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: C8 SCT
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, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: 51 minutes (17×180 seconds).
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
M16 (2023-07-07)
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
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
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