Tag: Messier

Imaging cluster Messier 35 and NGC 2158 from Böblingen / Germany

/ Carsten / Leave a comment
Messier 35 cluster - 2015/02/19

Messier 35 or M35, also known as NGC 2168, is an open cluster of stars in the west of Gemini (left part of the image). To the right there is another open cluster named NGC 2158. Even if the two open clusters are “close” they are not related – their distance is about 9000 ly.

The image is also available in full resolution here.

Date2015/02/19
LocationBöblingen / Germany
ObjectMessier 35 cluster
CameraAtik383L+
Guidingyes, QHY5-II Mono via OAG
Telescope8" GSO Newtonian
Barlow lensnone
MountEQ6Syntrek
Cooling-15°C
Luminance11x, 600s, bin: 1x1
Red9x, 150s, bin: 2x2
Green9x, 150s, bin: 2x2
Blue9x, 150s, bin: 2x2
Dark5x
Flat10x
Total exposure~2h57min.

NGC 2158 is believed to be ~2 billion years old!

Clear skies!

Last updated: June 19, 2022 at 22:20 pm

A photo shooting with the Seven Sisters

/ Carsten / Leave a comment
Pleiades (M45) - 2015/02/08

The Pleiades (M45) are an open star cluster which can be seen in the night sky without a telescope. They are also known as the Seven Sisters. I have imaged M45 three years ago. It was actually one of the first objects I ever photographed.

The image is also available in full resolution.

Date2015/02/08
LocationBöblingen / Germany
ObjectPleiades (M45)
CameraAtik383L+
Guidingyes, DMK31AU03.AS via OAG
Telescope8" GSO Newtonian
Barlow lensnone
MountEQ6Syntrek
Cooling-15°C
Luminance8x 400s, bin: 1x1
Red6x 150s, bin: 2x2
Green6x 150s, bin: 2x2
Blue6x 150s, bin: 2x2
Dark5x
Flat10x
Total exposure~1h38m

Clear skies!

Last updated: June 20, 2022 at 7:43 am

Astrophotography – Triangulum Galaxy (M33), again

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Triangulum Galaxy (M33) - 2014/09/20

The Triangulum Galaxy is a spiral galaxy around 2.7 million ly. away from Earth. It is located in the constellation Triangulum. The Triangulum Galaxy is the third-largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, right after the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way. For me this one of the best pictures I was able to capture so far. And again it is amazing to see what is possible with an amateur telescope and a mid-range CCD camera!

Date2014/09/20
LocationBöblingen / Germany
ObjectTriangulum Galaxy (M33)
CameraAtik383L+
Guidingyes, DMK31AU03.AS via OAG
Telescope8" GSO Newtonian
Barlow lensnone
MountEQ6Syntrek
Cooling-15°C
Luminance6x 600s, bin: 1x1
Red5x 300s, bin: 2x2
Green5x 300s, bin: 2x2
Blue5x 300s, bin: 2x2
Dark10x
Flat10x
Total exposure~2h15m

The image is also available in full resolution.

Clear skies!

Last updated: June 20, 2022 at 9:43 am

Having a look at the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101)

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Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) - 2014/02/23

The Pinwheel Galaxy M101 (NGC 5457) is a spiral galaxy in constellation Ursa Major. It is about 21 million ly away from earth. The apparent magnitude of this galaxy is ~7.8 mag. Therefore, this object is well suited for astrophotography with equipment like mine.

There is also a full resolution image of M101 available. UPDATE: I finally decided to put this picture into My Top Astro-Pics gallery.

Date2014/02/23
LocationBöblingen / Germany
ObjectPinwheel Galaxy (M101)
CameraAtik383L+
Guidingyes, DMK31AU03.AS via OAG
Telescope8" GSO Newtonian
Barlow lensnone
MountEQ6Syntrek
Cooling-15°C
Luminance12x 800s, bin: 1x1
Red9x 450s, bin: 2x2
Green9x 450s, bin: 2x2
Blue9x 450s, bin: 2x2
Dark10x
Flat10x
Total exposure~6h02min

Clear skies!

Last updated: June 20, 2022 at 9:58 am

The Great Orion Nebula – A second try

/ Carsten / 1 Comment
Orion Nebula (M43) - 2014/02/07

Actually this motif – the Great Orion Nebula (M42) – was one of the first nebula I have ever tried since starting with astrophotography. I was already quite satisfied with the first result (maybe because I didn’t know better :)). Tonight I decided to give it another try. Personally I think it is much better than the last one. The image is also available in full resolution.

Date2014/02/07
LocationBöblingen / Germany
ObjectM42 (The Great Orion Nebula)
CameraAtik383L+
Guidingyes, QHY5-II Mono via OAG
Telescope8" GSO Newtonian
Barlow lensnone
MountEQ6Syntrek
Cooling-15°C
Luminance2x, 2s, 20s, 100s, 200s, 600s, bin: 1x1
Red2x, 2s, 20s, 100s, 200s, 400s, bin: 2x2
Green2x, 2s, 20s, 100s, 200s, 400s, bin: 2x2
Blue2x, 2s, 20s, 100s, 200s, 400s, bin: 2x2
Dark10x
Flat10x
Total exposure~1h43min.

Clear skies!

Last updated: June 20, 2022 at 10:02 am