The Tulip Nebula
© Peter JenkinsTaken over two nights using an Officina Stellare Hiper APO 115 mm with an Atik 383L+ mono camera and Astrodon Ha, OIII and SII filters all on a Skywatcher EQ8 mount.There are approx 16 x 10 minute exposures through each filter (50 frames used) Integration of 8.5 hours in total. Darks, Flats and Bias frames were used during processing.
The California Nebula
© Peter JenkinsThe photograph was taken from Kirkby-in-Ashfield using an Officina Stellare Hiper Apo 115mm refractor on an Skywatcher EQ8 mount. Guided using an Altair mini-guide scope with QHY5II camera and PHD2 guiding. The image was captured using an Atik 383L+ with an Atik EW2 filter wheel and Astrodon HA, OIII and SII filters.There are 16 x 10 minute exposures through each of the three filters i.e. 48 exposures with total exposure time of 8 hours. Bias, Darks and Flats were used as calibration frames.
Wizard Nebula
© Peter Jenkins44 x 10 minutes exposures = 7.5 hoursOfficina Stellare Hiper Apo 115mm with Atik 383L+ Camera and Ha, OIII and SII filters.
Captured using Sequence Generator Pro and processed using Pixinsight and Photosop CC.
This open cluster is in Cepheus, 7200 light years away and was discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1787.
Bubble Nebula
© Peter JenkinsNGC7635 The Bubble Nebula an emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia some 7100 light years distant. Also in the photo (lower right) is M52 an open cluster and NGC7538 (Dreyer's Object) lower left which is 9100 light years distant.The photo was taken over two weeks with only short spells of clear sky and is over 12 hours of exposures in total 16 x 15 minutes each through Ha, OIII and SII. Photo using the Hubble Palette.
M3
© Peter JenkinsMessier 3, photographed 6th June 2016, is a globular cluster of stars in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici. This cluster is one of the largest and brightest, and is made up of around 500,000 stars. It is estimated to be 8 billion years old.It is located at a distance of about 33,900 light-years away from Earth.
Field of view of the final image is 1.74° x 1.24° approximately (as it’s cropped slightly).
Pickering's Triangle
© Peter JenkinsThis triangle is the central portion of the veil nebula complex in Cygnus.This is 12 exposures each through Ha, OIII and SII filters i.e. 36 x 5mins = 3 hours.
Processed in the Hubble Palette (Ha mapped to Green, OIII mapped to blue and SII mapped to Red). Taken with my Officina Stellare 115mm scope and Atik 383L+ mono camera.
Processed in Pixinsight.
The Eastern Veil
© Peter JenkinsThe Eastern Veil Nebula, NGC6992 by Peter Jenkins.A cloud of heated and ionised gas and dust in the constellation Cygnus, which has evolved from a supernova which exploded some 5,000 to 8,000 years ago. The distance to the nebula is about 1,470 light-years.
This is a Bi-Colour image was taken using 12 x 5mins Ha and 12 x 5min OIII filters on 6th & 7th September 2015.
The Elephants Trunk Nebula
© Peter JenkinsIC 1396A, the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula by Peter Jenkins.An absorbtion (or dark) nebula, part of the larger IC 1396 emission nebula, about 2400 light years away, in the constellation of Cepheus.
Processed in Hubble Palette, there are 20 x 5min Ha, 15 x 10 min OIII and 12 x 10 min SII - total of over 6 hours exposures.
Taken with Officina Stellare 115 Apo, Atik 383l+ mono and Baader Ha, OIII and SII filters.
The Heart Nubula
© Peter JenkinsIC1805 The Heart Nebula.William Optics FLT110 guided using William Optics ZS71, Camera Atik 383L+ mono with filter wheel.
20 exposures each 5 minutes long though Ha, OIII and SII filters i.e. 60 exposures x 5 minutes = total 5 hours.
Processed using Nebulosity and Photoshop.
M42 The Orion Nebula
© Peter JenkinsTaken on 5th December 2014 I using a William Optics FLT110 attached to a pier mounted NEQ6 with a William Optics ZS71 as a guide scope.The photo consists of 12 x 180second frames each through Ha, OIII and SII narrowband filters (i.e.36 x 3 minute frames) for the outer regions and the same number of frames but 60 seconds long for detail in the central region.
Elephant's Trunk Nebula
© Peter JenkinsIC1396 Elephant's Trunk Nebula - 16 useable frames of 20 taken each 5 minutes long on 18th and over into early morning of 19th June 2014.William Optics FLT110 refractor with 0.8x reducer/flattener on a pier mounted NEQ6.
Camera used was an QHY8L one shot colour camera (6.5 megapixels) with a Astronomik CLS (light pollution) filter.
Guided using a William Optics ZS71 refractor with a QHY5 camera using PHD2 guiding software.
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy
© Peter JenkinsM51 - 5 useable frames (8 taken) each 5 minutes long on 2nd May 2014. William Optics FLT110 refractor with 0.8x reducer/flattener on a pier mounted NEQ6.Camera used was an QHY8L one shot colour camera (6.5 megapixels) with a Astronomik CLS filter (filters out light pollution). Guided using a William Optics ZS71 refractor with a
QHY5 camera using PHD2 guiding software (sends corrections to the mount during exposure).
Horsehead Nebula
© Peter JenkinsHorsehead (IC434) and the Flame Nebula (NGC2024)Taken with QHY8L camera through a William Optics FLT110 DDG refractor with 0.8x reducer/flattener guided using a QHY5II on a William Optics ZS71 all on a pier mounted NEQ6.
18 x 5 minute exposures with Flats, Darks and Bias frames.
Captured using Nebulosity 3.0, guided with PHD2, processed using Nebulosity and Photoshop CC.
Rosette Nebula
© Peter JenkinsNGC2238 or the Rosette Nebula.20 x 5 minutes exposures with QHY8L on 9th January 2014.
Taken using William Optics ZS71 Doublet refractor. Scope is 420mm F5.9 but with WO 0.8 flattener/reducer this becomes F4.8
This was guided using a William Optics 50mm guide scope and a QHY5 II guide camera using PHD Guiding on a Windows 7 laptop to control a pier mounted NEQ6 mount
Aug '13 Dumbell Nebula
© P. JenkinsThis image of M27, the Dumbell Nebula was taken by society member Peter Jenkins using an Altair Astro Ritchey Chrieten 8 inch telescope on an HEQ5 mount.A total of 13 3-minute exposures were taken, and then stacked and adjusted using the Nebulosity V3.1.0 application.
Dec'11 M45
© MSASImage of Messier 45 taken in December 2011, and submitted to the members photographic competition.The image was taken using a modified Canon 500D camera using a skywatcher ED-80 pro with focal reducer on an EQ-6 mount. It consists of 20 2 min exposures (unguided) processed in deepsky stacker and Photoshop CS4.
Jan'10 Horsehead Nebula
© MSASThis image of NGC2244 - The Horse Head Nebular, was submitted to the January 2001 members photographic competition, and was taken during the week of Christmas 2009, using a Canon D450 digital camera.The image was taken at an ambient temperature of -7 degrees celsius, and consisted of 5x light frames at ISO 800, each of which was exposed for a total of 5 minutes, and 3 Dark frames, taken through an 80mm refractor.
Jul'09 Eagle Nebula
© MSASThe image below was taken in Cyprus in June 2009 with a Canon 450D, IR modified. 5 x 5 minute exposures were taken and 2 x 5min dark frames were subtracted at 400 ISO, RAW, at F6.25 on a 500mm Refractor.The image was stacked in Deep sky stacker and processed in Photoshop CS2.
Oct'08 M32
© C. RadfordThis picture of Messier 32 (The Andromeda Galaxy) was taken by Chris Radford from Alfreton in Nottinghamshire.It consists of 6 exposures, each of which was 2 minutes in duration, taken using a Canon EOS-400D with a 200mm lens fitted with an Orion light pollution filter.
The camera/lens assembly was mounted on a motorised HEQ5 Pro astronomical tripod.
Images were stacked using Deep Sky Stacker, and then further processed using Photoshop CS3 with Noel's tools.
Jul'08 NGC7000
© C. RadfordNGC 7000 North American Nebulaby Chris RadfordThis picture of NGC 7000 was taken by society member Chris Radford from Alfreton in Derbyshire, using a modified Canon 350D camera coupled to a Williams Optics ZS66 APO reflecting telescope, fitted with a 0.8 reducer/flattener.
The image consists of 18 45-second exposures, each at ISO 400, stacked with Deep Sky Stacker, and the processed with Photoshop CS3 and Noel's tools.
Jun'08 M81/M82
© C. RadfordThis image of M81 (Bode's Galaxy) and M82 (the Cigar Galaxy) was taken by society member Chris Radford, and submitted to the June 2008 picture of the month contest.The image was taken from Chris' back garden in Derbyshire, and consisted of 6 x 2 minute unguided exposures, taken with a Canon 400d digital camera, stacked using DeepSky Stacker, and then post-processed using Photoshop.
Apr'08 M-51
© G. JenkinsonMessier 51 by G. Jenkinson.The image was taken on the 24th March 2008 using my 12 inch F6 telescope and Canon D350 camera. The exposure details are: 106 frames + 11 dark frames all exposed for 30 seconds each at 800 asa (total exposure time=55.5 minutes) then they were stacked and processed using deep sky stacker 3.1.0 further processing was done using Photoshop.
Mar'08 M-63
© G. Jenkinson'Messier 63' by Mr G. Jenkinson.Mr Jenkinson writes:
'I took this photograph of Messier 63 during the early hours on the 4th March 2008. The exposure details are 71 frames +11 dark frames all at 30 seconds each at 800 asa stacked and processed using deep sky stacker 3.1.0. Further processing was done using photoshop.'
This galaxy is about 14,500,000 light years away from us and shines at about magnitude 8.5.
Feb'08 M-3
© G. JenkinsonM3 Globular cluster in Canes Venatici by G. JenkinsonThe picture was taken on the 10th Feburary 2008 using my 12 inch F6 telescope at the prime focus and cannon D350 camera.
The image consists of 14 frames+8 dark frames all exposed for 30 seconds each at 800asa then stacked and processed useing deep sky stacker 3.1.0. Further processihg was done using photoshop.
Oct'08 NGC-7331
© G. JenkinsonThis picture of NGC-7331 by Graham Jenkinson consists of 196 frames at ISO800, stacked with Deep Sky Stacker, but unlike Graham's processed version of the image submitted to the image of the month competition, this version hasn't had any additional processing beyond stacking.
Feb'08 NGC 3628
© G. jenkinsonNGC 3628 by G. JenkinsonThe exposure details are 65 frames+11 dark frames all exposed for 30 seconds each at 800 asa then stacked and processed using deep sky stacker 3.1.0 further processing was done useing photoshop.
The photograph was taken on the 24th February 2008 using a 12 inchF6 telescope at the prime focus and cannon D350 camera.
Feb'08 NGC-1977
© G. JenkinsonThe running man nebula in orion NGC 1977 by G. Jenkinson.The picture was taken on the 11th Feburary 2008 using a 12 inch F6 telescope at the prime focus and Canon D 350 camera.
The details are: 42 frames+8 dark frames all exposed for 30 seconds each at 800asa then processed and stacked using deep sky stacker 3.1.0.further processing was done using photoshop.
Jan'10 Messier 61
© MSASThis image of Messier 61 in Virgo - a magnitude 10 spiral galaxy, was submitted to the January 2010 members photography competition.The photo shows its small bright nucleus and the north-south 'pseudo bar' through the nucleus. Its a total of 66 frames stacked with deep sky stacker total exposure time 33 minutes at 800 asa using a 12 inch telescope. Further processing was done with photoshop.
Nov'06 NGC884 & NGC869
© S. ShetliffeThis picture by Steve Shetliffe shows h & chi Persei, also known as NGC884 and NGC869, The Double Cluster in the constellation of Perseus.NGC-884 is approximately 7,600 light years away from the Earth, and around 3.2 million years old, while NGC-869 is approximately 6,800 light years away and is believed to be around 5.6 million years old.
Both clusters exhibit a blueshift, indicating that both are approaching the Earth at speeds of between 21 and 22 km/s.
The image was taken through a Televue Pronto 70mm ED refractor on an EQ2 equatorial mount. The image was captured at prime focus using a Canon 350D DSLR camera. The exposure was 9 seconds at ISO 800. The focal length was 480mm.
The image was taken from a dark site at Kelling Heath, North Norfolk on 18/11/06.
Mar'08 Messier-94
© G. Jenkinson'Messier 94' by Mr G. Jenkinson.Mr Jenkinson Writes:
'This galaxy is about 14,500,000 light years away from us and shines at about magnitude 7.5. The exposure details are 91 frames+11 dark frames all exposed for 30 seconds at 800 asa, total exposure time 35.5 minutes. The photograph was stacked and processed using deep sky stacker 3.1.0. Further processing was done using photoshop. The photograph was taken on the 4th March 2008.'
Mar'08 Messier-81
© G. jenkinson'Messier 81' by Mr G. Jenkinson.Mr Jenkinson Writes:
'I took this photograph of Messier 81 on the 1st March 2008 and the exposure details are 104 frames at 800asa +11 dark frames all exposed for 30 seconds each total exposure time 52 minutes then stacked and processed using deep sky stacker 3.1.0.Further processing was done using photoshop.' Messier 81, also known as Bode's Galaxy or NGC 3031 is a conspicuous spiral galaxy of the Hubble Sb classification, originally discovered by Johann Elert Bode in 1774.
It was independently discovered by Johann Gottfried Koehler 1772-1778, and then independently rediscovered by Pierre Méchain in August 1779, and included in Messier's catalogue on the 9th February 1781.
Feb'08 M66 in Leo
© G. JenkinsonM66 in Leo by G. Jenkinson.This picture is of a type Sb galaxy Messier 66 in leo and its magnitude is 9 and it is about 35 million light years away from us.
The exposure details are: 72 frames+11 dark frames all exposed for 30 seconds each at 800 asa total exposure time 36 minutes.then the images were stacked and processed using deep sky stacker 3.1.0 further processing was done using photoshop.
The picture was taken using a 12 inch F6 telescope at the prime focus and cannon D350 camera on the 22nd Feburary 2008.
Feb'08 M65 in Leo
© G. JenkinsonThis picture of Messier 65, a type Sa magnitude 9 galaxy in Leo was taken by society member G. Jenkinson using a 12 inch F6 telescope at the prime focus and cannon D350 camera.The exposure details are: 72 frames + 11 dark frames all exposed for 30 seconds each at 800 asa then stacked and processed using deep sky stacker 3.1.0 further processing was then done using photoshop.
The photograph was taken on February 22nd 2008.
Jun'08 M57
© C. RadfordThis photograph of M57 (The Ring Nebula) was submitted for the June 2008 picture of the month competition by member Mr Chris Rafdord.The image was taken with a Canon 350D camera, through a Celestron C8 SCT Telescope with a f6.3 focal reducer, and consists of 30 - 40 second exposures, Stacked in deep sky stacker and then lightly processed in adobe photo shop CS3.
Dec '07 M31
© G. JenkinsonThis picture of the Andromeda Galaxy was submitted by Mr G. Jenkinson.It was taken using a Canon 350D digital SLR camera, mated to an F5 6 inch telescope at prime focus.
The image consists of 20 frames and 3 dark frames, all taken at 1-minute exposure and ISO 1600, then stacked and processed using the Deep Sky Stacker software.
Oct'07 M57
© G. JenkinsonThis Ring Nebula (M57) photo was taken by society member Mr Graham Jenkinson, and submitted for the October 2007 members picture contest.The image was taken on the 4th of October 2007 using a Canon D350 camera set to 800 ASA, and Graham's 12 inch F6 telescope. The exposure times were in total 6 minutes and 53 seconds. A total of 6 frames were stacked using deep sky stacker.
M57 Ring Nebula
© G. JenkinsonThis is a photograph of the ring nebula M57 in Lyra, taken on the 22nd August 2006.The telescope used was a home built 12 inch F6 newtonian reflector and this photograph was taken at the prime focus using a 15 minute exposure on kodak professional elite-chrome 400asa film with a pracktica B 100 camera body.
The telescope was hand guided with a homemade 6 inch F6 that is attached to the side of the 12 inch telescope.
M57 in Lyra
© P. DingleyThis image is a single 60-second exposure taken from the Sherwood Observatory in Nottingham England, using Canon D60 Digital SLR camera, and the Observatory's 61cm f4 Newtonian Reflector, and is a cropped enlargement (full original size) of the previous M57 image. Very little post-processing has been performed other than difference layering the original image with a heavily gaussian-blurred copy of the same image to remove some of the background light pollution.
M57 in Lyra
© P. DingleyThis image is a single 60-second exposure taken from the Sherwood Observatory in Nottingham England, using Canon D60 Digital SLR camera, and the Observatory's 61cm f4 Newtonian Reflector.Very little post-processing has been performed other than difference layering the original image with a heavily gaussian-blurred copy of the same image to remove some of the background light pollution.
M45 The Pleiades
© P. DingleyPicture of M45 - The Pleiades or Seven Sisters in the constellation of Taurus, taken on 4th October 2002 using a Canon G-2 digital camera and an Orion Optics 250mm Newtonian reflector. This image was taken on the 4th October 2002 at approximately 4:00 GMT from my backyard in Nottingham England, using a Canon Powershot G-2 digital camera, and an Orion Optics 10 inch Europa Newtonian Reflector telescope.The camera was mated to a ScopeTronix Maxview 40 using a Scopetronix Digi-T adapter. The exposure was at 400ASA and f2.8 for 5 seconds.
The text was added in Adobe Photoshop 7.0 and the levels and contrast were altered slightly.
The Pleiades acts as a good pointer towards Taurus and the orange giant Aldebaran.
A line extended from Alcyone, towards Atlas points through the V of the Hyades, and on towards the red giant Aldebaran - the brightest star in Taurus and 60 light years away. The Arabic name of Aldebaran means 'the follower' (of the Pleiades).
D60 image of M42
© P. DingleyThe Orion Nebula is the brightest diffuse nebula visible in the sky, and with a magnitude of 4 it is one of the few nebulous objects visible to the naked eye (from a good observing site). Despite this fact, the nebula was not catalogued before the invention of the telescope, even though some of the stars within it were catalogued by Ptolemy as early as 130 AD.It is also suprising that M42 made it into the list of objects compiled by Charles Messier, because even a cursory view of the nebula is sufficient to clearly identify it as a non cometary object, and with the exception of M44 (Praesepe). Messier generally only catalogued objects that were of a much lower magnitude, and which could be confused with feint comets. However it is possible that Messier only included M42 and M44 in order for his new catalogue to contain more objects than the earlier catalogue of Southern objects compiled by Lacaille which contained a total of 41 objects.
M42 was the first object observed by William Herschel in 1774 with his new 6-foot focal length telescope, and it rightly remains a favourite for amateur observers. This image is a stacked composite of fourteen pictures all taken from the Sherwood Observatory in Nottingham England, using both a Canon G-2 digital camera, and a Canon D60 digital SLR camera.
They were then processed using NeatImage (PC) to further reduce the presence of any extraneous noise, before being re-loaded back into Photoshop (Mac).
The images were then layered, and manually aligned to ensure that the selected guide-stars lined up. The resulting images were then stacked in ImagesPlus before being resaved again.
Finally the resulting stacked image was reloaded into Photoshop (Mac) to have the levels and curves fine-tuned a little.
D60 image of M42
© P. DingleyFirst attempt at a stacked Picture of M42 taken using a new Canon D60 Digital SLR. The image was taken at prime-focus using the 61cm Newtonian Reflector at the Mansfield & Sutton Astronomical Society's Sherwood Observatory.Three images all at 200ASA for 15 seconds. Mirror locked up via custom-function. This image is a stacked composite of three pictures all taken on the 18th January 2003 at approximately 21:45 GMT. Although the D60 produces very little noise on long exposures, the images were still individually processed using Adobe Photoshop to remove a little noise by layering with a differenced dark-frame.
The three images were then layered, and manually aligned to ensure that the selected guide-stars lined up. The Image and Canvas sizes were then adjusted to ensure that each layer extended to the maximum canvas size, before each layer was individually re-saved at maximum quality.
The resulting three images were then stacked in ImagesPlus before being resaved again.
Finally the resulting stacked image was reloaded into Photoshop to have the levels and curves fine-tuned a little.
M42 - Stacked
© P. DingleyThis image is a stacked composite of three pictures all taken on the 3rd January 2003 at approximately 20:45 GMT from the Sherwood Observatory in Nottingham England, using a Canon Powershot G-2 digital camera, and the observatory's 61cm Newtonian Reflector.Stacking three images brings out considerably more detail and colour than is visible in either of the three original images.
The raw images were stacked in Photoshop to produce the final image seen above.
The camera was mated to a ScopeTronix Maxview 40 using a Scopetronix Digi-T adapter. The camera was zoomed almost to maximum to minimise vignetting.
The three exposures were at 400ASA and f2.5 for 15 seconds.
M42 in Orion
© P. DingleyPicture of M42 - The Great Orion Nebula taken on 3rd January 2003 using a Canon G-2 digital camera and the 61cm Newtonian Reflector at the Mansfield & Sutton Astronomical Society's Sherwood Observatory. This image was taken on the 3rd January 2003 at approximately 20:45 GMT from the Sherwood Observatory in Nottingham England, using a Canon Powershot G-2 digital camera.The camera was mated to a ScopeTronix Maxview 40 using a Scopetronix Digi-T adapter. The camera was zoomed almost to maximum to minimise vignetting.
Although this is a single-shot image, this image has undergone a little more processing in Photoshop, including dark-frame removal.
The exposure was at 400ASA and f2.5 for 10 seconds.
M42 in Orion
© P. DingleyThis image was taken on the 3rd January 2003 at approximately 20:45 GMT using a Canon Powershot G-2 digital camera, and the 61cm Newtonian Reflector located at the Sherwood Observatory in Nottinghamshire.The camera was mated to a ScopeTronix Maxview 40 using a Scopetronix Digi-T adapter. The camera was zoomed almost to maximum to minimise vignetting.
This is a single-shot image, which has undergone minimal processing in Adobe Photoshop.
The exposure was at 400ASA and f2.5 for 10 seconds.
M42 in Orion
© P. DingleyPicture of M42 - The Great Orion Nebula taken on 4th October 2002 using a Canon G-2 digital camera and an Orion Optics 250mm Newtonian Reflector. This image was taken on the 4th October 2002 at approximately 4:00 GMT from my backyard in Nottingham England, using a Canon Powershot G-2 digital camera, and an Orion Optics 10 inch Europa Newtonian Reflector telescope.The camera was mated to a ScopeTronix Maxview 40 using a Scopetronix Digi-T adapter. The camera was zoomed almost to maximum to minimise vignetting.
The exposure was at 400ASA and f4.0 for 10 seconds.
The text was added in Adobe Photoshop 7.0 and the levels and contrast were altered slightly.
Dec'07 Great Orion Nebula
© G. JenkinsonThis image of M42, The Great Orion Nebula was submitted by Mr G. Jenkinson.The image was taken on 11th November 2007 using a 12 inch telescope with a Canon 350D camera mounted at prime focus.
The image consists of 13 frame and 3 dark frames, each exposed for 30 seconds at ISO 800, then stacked and processed in the Deep Sky Stacker 3.0.0 software.
Dec'07 Andromeda Galaxy
© G. JenkinsonThis picture of the Andromeda Galaxy was submitted by Mr G. Jenkinson.It was taken using a Canon 350D digital SLR camera, mated to an F5 6 inch telescope at prime focus.
The image consists of 20 frames and 3 dark frames, all taken at 1-minute exposure and ISO 1600, then stacked and processed using the Deep Sky Stacker software.
Oct'07 M27 (Dumbell Nebula)
© G. JenkinsonThe following picture of the Dumbell Nebula (M27) was taken by society member Mr Graham Jenkinson, and submitted to the October 2007 members picture contest.This picture was taken with a Canon D350 camera and 12 inch F6 telescope. The exposure details are: film speed set at 800asa 10 frames total exposure time 13 minutes and 58 seconds stacked using deep sky stacker.
The picture was taken on 20th October 2007.
Jun'08 M17
© G. JenkinsonThis image was taken by society member Graham Jenkinson, and submitted to the June 2008 picture of the month contest.The picture consists of 54 frames each exposed for 30 seconds at 800 ASA taken using a 12 inch F6 telescope at the prime focus and Canon 350D camera. The total exposure time was 27 minutes.
Jun'08 M13
© G. JenkinsonThis image of Messier 13 in Hercules was taken by society member Graham Jenkinson, and submitted to the June 2008 picture of the month contest.The image was taken from Grahams home using a Canon 350D camera and a 12 inch F6 telescope. The camera was set to 800 ASA, and the image consists of 57 frames, each exposed for 30 seconds, stacked with Deep Sky Stacker, and then post-processed using Photoshop." 03_jun08_gj01_sm.jpg| alt="Jun'08 M13"
M13 in Hercules
© P. DingleyBelieved to be around 14 billion years old, the M13 Globular Cluster in Hercules is approximately 145 light years across, and 25,100 light years away from the Earth. It contains between 300,000 and half a million stars and can just be made out with the naked eye under dark-sky conditions.The Great globular cluster in Hercules (as it is often known) was first recorded by Edmond Halley in 1714, but is more widely known by its Messier-13 designation, having been catalogued by Charles Messier on the 1st June 1764.
In 1974 the Hercules Cluster was selected as the target for one of the first radio messages addressed (somewhat hopefully) to any extra terrestrials that might be listening in. A broadcast transmitted by the large Arecibo radio telescope.
The image below is a single 60-second exposure taken from the Sherwood Observatory in Nottingham England, using Canon D60 Digital SLR camera, and the Observatory's 61cm f4 Newtonian Reflector.
Very little post-processing has been performed other than difference layering the original image with a heavily gaussian-blurred copy of the same image to remove some of the background light pollution.
Mar'08 Messier 3
© G. JenkinsonMessier 3 (NGC 5272) is a globular cluster in the constellation of Canes Venatici. The cluster was first discovered by Charles Messier on the 3rd May 1764, and is one of the largest and brigtest in the sky.Messier 3 is made up of somewhere around 500,000 stars, and is located at a distance of around 33,900 light-years away from the Earth. It has an apparent magnitude of 6.2, which means that it is easily visible to the naked eye under dark conditions.
