More Astrophotos from my Backlog

I just completed the post-processing of a couple of objects from my backlog - one from Feb 6, 2024 (open star cluster M35) and the other the Wizard Nebula imaged between September 5 and September 18, 2023.

M35

M35, Open Cluster in Gemini
WO ZS61/ASI1600mm Pro
Feb 6, 2024 - 24x60sec RGB

M35, also known as NGC 2168 or the Shoe-Buckle Cluster, is a relatively close open cluster of stars located in the constellation Gemini. It lies approximately 2,970 light-years away from Earth. Directly above in this image is NGC 2158  which, although looks like a globular cluster, recent data shows it to be a very compact open cluster, with a radius of 8 light years and an estimated age of around 2 billion years. It lies approximately 14,700 light-years away from us, far beyond the nearby M35 cluster.

The Wizard Nebula

Wizard Nebula (in SHO, Narrowband Palette)
September 2023 - EdgeHD11/ASI2600mm Pro
Integration Time: 17h 15m

The Wizard Nebula (NGC 7380) is an emission nebula that surrounds the open star cluster NGC 7380 in the constellation Cepheus. The nebula gets its name as it is said to resemble the appearance of a medieval sorcerer when viewed sideways. It lies approximately 7200 light-years away from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 7.2. It has a radius of 100 light years and occupies 25 arc minutes of the apparent sky. For comparison, the moon has an apparent size of approximately 31 arc minutes (about 1/2 degree).

This image was another capture session from my backlog of projects. Because of it's size and the fact that I was using my Edge OTA, this is also one of the few mosaic images that I have processed. It is a two panel mosaic taken over the period September 5 to September 18, 2023. Each panel has 33x600sec subs of NB data and 30x30sec subs of RGB data for the stars.

The Dumbbell Nebula - M27

Getting around to completing the postprocessing of a number of astro objects in my backlog. Part of my backlog of image runs, this image contains subs taken over the period August 8, 10, 11 and September 1 and 2, 2023.

The Dumbbell Nebula (M27) - Aug/Sep 2023
EdgeHD-11 / ASI2600mm Pro
Hubble Palette (HOO) - total integration time: 14h 15m

The Dumbbell Nebula, also known as Messier 27, and NGC 6853, is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Vulpecula, approximately 1360 light-years away from us. It was the first planetary nebula to be discovered by Charles Messier in 1764. It appears as an elongated spheroid from our perspective along the plane of its equator. Based on its angular expansion rate of 2.3 arcseconds per century, M27 has an estimated age of 14,600 years.  Its apparent magnitude of 7.4 makes it one of the largest and brightest planetary nebulae in the sky. (Wiki)

Planetary nebulae are clouds of gas and dust that form when a star like the Sun dies. The star's outer layers are shed, forming the nebula, while the core becomes a white dwarf. The nebula's complex chemicals glow in interesting colors when lit by the white dwarf. It is the light from this glow, mainly from excited Hydrogen gas (Hα) and Oxygen (Oiii), that my photographic filters allow through to the camera sensor - all other light is blocked. Images taken in this way are known as narrowband images since they only contain light from a very narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum. The Hubble Palette includes Hα, Oiii and Sii (Sulphur). Since there is very little contribution from Sii in M27's light, I used a modified Hubble Palette which only captures Hα and Oiii (known as the HOO palette).

Since M27 glows very bright in normal light as well, here is the same image taken with RGB subs, 20 of each color (broadband imaging, at an exposure of only 60 seconds each for comparison.  

M27 - RGB
EdgeHD-11 / ASI2600mm Pro
20x60sec - total integration time: 1hr

Updated photos of the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

The total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024 as taken at Vermilion, OH.  The front moved out of the area but left behind some high, thin clouds, which did not prevent the viewing of this fantastic eclipse, but did prevent me from capturing the full span of the sun's corona. This composite photo shows the eclipse at mid-eclipse (center). The top left image shows the lunar limb just after 2nd contact with the bottom right showing the other side just before 3rd contact. The view with the naked eye was awesome. I did not see the solar prominences with the eye during the 2017 eclipse. The southern prominence in this display was outstanding - looking to the eye as an electrical storm blasting out from the sun. Photos just don't do justice to the sharpness and clarity that was evident while enjoying this celestial event.

Photos were taken with my William Optics GT102 and Canon 50D body mounted on an iOptron iEQ30 mount. Everything was checked out the Sunday before the event. I had created a script (or plan as APT calls it) to run the sequence of exposures bracketing up to 3 stops either side of nominal exposure. I wanted to spend most of my time observing the eclipse with photography a second priority. I missed capturing the diamond ring during the 2017 event when I forgot to remove the solar filter. I missed it this year since I didn't start the plan on time. Everything was ready to go, I had worked out the specific times for each exposure provided I started the plan 30 seconds before 2nd contact. At precisely 15:12:15 I pressed the 'start' button and ... nothing. Tried again - nothing. Finally I realized that I still had the camera set for live view (as I was using that to capture the partial phases and make sure focus was maintained). Argh, I quickly turned live view off and started the plan. But now the sequence was late by about 30 seconds or so. Next time (if I'm still around for next time) I'll have multiple plans that can be started at later times in the event that the first one fails.

This was a real joy to experience and I was very happy with the results. A total eclipse is one of those astronomical events that simply can't be missed if at all possible.

Exploded views of lunar limb showing the solar prominences:

The sizes of these solar prominences are huge. In the image below the Earth is shown next to the southern prominence for comparison.

Details on the image capture

HDR Combination of 1/30, 1/60 and 1/125 seconds with ISO400.
Top Left:  3:13:34 EDT
Center:  3:15:04 EDT
Bottom Right:  3:16:32 EDT

Solar Eclipse from Vermilion OH

We arrived at Vermilion OH on Saturday, late afternoon, to our rental house which had a great backyard for viewing the eclipse.

Equipment was set up and tested on Sunday. I had written a script for APT to automatically run the series of exposures varying the duration based on time in order to capture Bailey's Beads and maybe the Diamond Ring. Weather forecast was promising only high level clouds during the event.

Monday morning the scope/equipment was set up outside and tested one more time. The script would require me to start it precisely at 15:12:15 in order to maintain the order of exposures. I spent the partial phase time making sure the focus was good. After capturing a number of photos of the partial phase the time of second contact (start of the total phase) was getting close.

At precisely 15:12:15 I pressed the start button to run the script. Nothing. I pressed it again. Still, nothing! I then realized that I was still in Live-Mode (which prevents the script from running). I quickly turned off Live-Mode, started the script and ran back to the telescope to remove the filter. I knew that getting the Diamond Ring and Bailey's Beads was probably not going to happen as the script was now off-sequence. But I didn't want to miss out on at least seeing them with the naked eye.

Although the clouds probably masked the outer corona as it didn't appear to extend very far, the view of the coronal ring with all those red prominences was a sight to see. The ring was bright. Brighter than the one during the 2017 eclipse. And the prominence at the bottom of the sun was absolutely stunning. It almost looked like a blazing red fire igniting the base of the moon.

As expected, initial review of the photos showed a good number of images capturing the total phase in various durations but only one photo got a hint of Bailey's Beads. I'll take it! I will spend the next few days processing the images. Probably not surprising was the fact that the view through binoculars (and naked eye) seemed crisper and more colorful than the photos - at least, the unprocessed ones. Total solar eclipses are definitely meant to be seen live! 

Here is a single, unprocessed photo of the eclipse. All images were taken with my William Optics GT102 telescope and Canon 50D camera mounted on an iOptron eq30 Pro.