Sep 2017: 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.
May 2017: 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.
Jan 2017: 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.
Oct 2016: 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.
Jul 2016: Gemmi Pass
© Rick Field‘Moon from the Gemmi Pass, Switzerland’ by Rick Field, taken with his Sony RX100 MKIII.The Valaisian Alps 4000m peaks shown are from left to right: Nadelhorn, Dom, Tashchorn, then in the middle the highest peak,(but furthest away) the Dufourspitze, then Bishorn and Weisshorn with the Grand Gendarme.
Jun 2016: 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).
Oct 2015: 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.
Sep 2015: 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.
Aug 2015: Elephants Trunk
© 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.
Jun 2015: Lake Wenatchee
© Phil RandallThe attached picture is of the triple conjunction over Lake Wenatchee in Washington State.It was taken this evening (June 20th) at about 10.30pm or so. The star to the left of Jupiter is Regulus and you can just make out Castor and Pollux to the left of the tree. And for good measure, there is a dead tree in the foreground.
Feb 2015: 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.
Dec 2014: 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.
Nov 2014: Star Trails
© Peter JenkinsStar Trails over Sherwood Observatory. 36 exposures 30s long with 10 sec gaps between frames at f5.6 ISO400 Canon 60D with Sigma 10-20mm zoom set at 12mm.Camera controlled with DSLR Controller (to set frame timelapse details) running over wireless connection from my Android tablet to the Canon.
Camera mounted on a ball and socket head, both then attached to a polar aligned Skywatcher Star Adventurer tracking at 12x sidereal all supported on a Manfroto Tripod.
Jun 2014: Elephant's Trunk
© 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.
May 2014: M51 Whirlpool
© 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).
Mar 2014: 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.
Jan 2014: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 2013: 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.
Jun 2013: Saturn
© J. HurstThis image of Saturn was taken on 26th May 2013 22:30, from Zakynthos, Greece by Mr John Hurst, and submitted to the members photography competition.It was taken with a Toucam Pro II webcam with Celestron Ultima 2X Barlow, at prime focus on Celestron Nexstar 6SE 6 inch SCT, and consists of 1500 frames stacked and processed in Registax 6.
Dec 2011: 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 2010: Horsehead Nebula
© MSASThis image of NGC2244 - The Horse Head Nebula, 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 2009: 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.
Dec 2008: The Moon
© C. MilhouseThis picture of the waxing gibbous Moon was taken by C. Millhouse, and submitted to the December 2008 members photo competition. The picture was taken from Blidworth, using a Canon 400D camera at 1/250th second ISO800. The camera was mounted at the prime focus of a SkyWatcher SkyMax 127 telescope.
Oct 2008: 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 2008: NGC7000
© C. RadfordNGC 7000 North American Nebula by 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 2008: 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 2008: 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 2008: 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 2008: 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 2007: 17P Holmes
© G. JenkinsonThe following picture of the 17P Holmes comet was taken by society member Mr Graham Jenkinson, and submitted to the October 2007 members picture contest. The picture was taken using a 12 inch F6 telescope at the prime focus and a total exposue time on 7 frames of 2 minutes and 59 seconds with a Canon D350 camera set at 200 asa. The picture was taken on 28th October 2007.
Aug 2007: ISS and Endeavour
© M. GreenwoodISS and Endeavour by Mr M. GreenwoodThe photograph below, of the International Space Station and Space Shuttle Endeavour over the dome of the observatory on the 12th August 2007 at 10:05 PM was taken by society member M. Greenwood, and entered into the August 2007 members photo contest
The picture was taken with a Canon 400D digital camera with a 10mm lens and a 30 second exposure at f3.5 ISO 200.
Jul 2007: Saturn
© K. Watson'Saturn' by Keith Watson.This image of Saturn was taken in Cyprus by society member Keith Watson using a Phillips Tou-Cam at 5 fps, with 925 frames and an IR filter, at f30. The subsequent frames were stacked and processed using Registax with additional processing then being performed using Photoshop.
Apr 2007: Moon and Venus
© G. ShepherdThe following photograph of the Moon and Venus was submitted by society member Mr G. Shepherd, for the April 2007 picture of the month. The picture was taken at 21:30 on the 18th April 2007, and features the Moon age 1d 10m, and the planet Venus. It was taken from Tattershall Bridge with a Nikon Coolpix 4300 at f2.9 with a shutter setting of 1/3.8.
Mar 2007: Large Magellanic Cloud © M. GreenwoodThe following photograph of the Large Magellanic Cloud was submitted by society member Mr M. Greenwood, for the March 2007 picture of the month.The photograph was taken from a location just north of Sydney, using a 50mm lens at f2, and a 30 second exposure at ISO 1600.
Dec 2006: Orion Rising
© S. Shetliffe'Orion Rising with Skyglow' by Steve Shetliffe.This image was taken at 0:36 UT from Kelling Heath in Norfolk, with a Canon 350D Digital SLR camera and an 18mm focal length lens set to f3.5. The camera was set to ISO1600 and a 19 second exposure was used to capture the constellation detail.
Nov 2006: NGC884 & NGC869
© S. ShetliffeThis picture by Steve Shetliffe shows 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.
Oct 2006: Lunar Montage
© K. WatsonLunar Montage taken in Cyprus by K. Watson using a Philips ToUCam webcam coupled to a 10 inch Meade LX-200 telescope fitted with a neutral density filter.<p>The image is the result of 600 individual frames at 15fps, processed in registax 3. The mosaic was assembled using Photoshop CS2.
