The Pillars of Creation (Eagle Nebula, or Messier 16)

 

Imaging Telescope: Vixen ED81s f/7.7 

Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Synscan Pro (belt mod) 

Camera: QHY 533M 

Filter Wheel: QHY CFW3S-SR 

Filters: L,R,G,B,Ha

Guiding camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini (mono)

Guidescope: SkyWatcher EvoGuide 50ED

Constellation: Serpens

Date: 15-16 July-2023 

Location: Korinthos - Greece - Albireo Observatory 1 

Exposure Time: 

L: 60x120" (gain: 50.00, offset: 12.00) 0°C bin 1×1 

R: 60x120" (gain: 50.00, offset: 12.00) 0°C bin 1×1 

G: 60x120" (gain: 50.00, offset: 12.00) 0°C bin 1×1  

B: 60x120" (gain: 50.00, offset: 12.00) 0°C bin 1×1

Ha: 12x900" (gain: 50.00, offset: 12.00) 0°C bin 1×1  

Calibration Frames: Darks, Flats, Bias, Dark Flats 

Acquisition: N.I.N.A, PHD2 

Processing: Pixinsight, Photoshop

NGC 6914

NGC 6914 is a complex of reflection nebulae at the heart of the constellation Cygnus. This region concentrates gaseous and dusty masses of the galactic plane, where stars are born. Fragments of nebula situated between the Earth and the young stars appear to be dark, with varying opacities and intricate shapes. In other areas, near the younger and hotter stars, dust shines with the bluish colors of the reflection nebulas. Lastly, all the image is covered by ionized hydrogen that gives to the scene a reddish and warm backdrop. Newly born stars, which are only a few million years old, mill around the scene. Their colors reveal their diversity of masses and temperatures. But in this small portion of the Galaxy, about 6,000 light-years away, massive and hot stars (O and B type stars) are so abundant that the area is classified as an OB association. Its name is Cygnus OB2.

Imaging Telescope: Vixen ED81s f/5.2 

Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Synscan Pro (belt mod) 

Camera: QHY 533M 

Filter Wheel: QHY CFW3S-SR 

Filters: L

Guiding camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini (mono)

Guidescope: SkyWatcher EvoGuide 50ED

Constellation: Cygnus 

Date: 8-July-2023 

Location: Korinthos - Greece - Albireo Observatory 1 

Exposure Time: Ha: 12x900" (gain: 56.00, offset: 12.00) 0°C bin 1×1  

Calibration Frames: Darks, Flats, Bias, Dark Flats 

Acquisition: N.I.N.A, PHD2 

Processing: Pixinsight, Photoshop

 

NGC 6960: The Witch's Broom Nebula

Ten thousand years ago, before the dawn of recorded human history, a new light would have suddenly have appeared in the night sky and faded after a few weeks. Today we know this light was from a supernova, or exploding star, and record the expanding debris cloud as the Veil Nebula, a supernova remnant. This sharp telescopic view is centered on a western segment of the Veil Nebula cataloged as NGC 6960 but less formally known as the Witch's Broom Nebula. Blasted out in the cataclysmic explosion, the interstellar shock wave plows through space sweeping up and exciting interstellar material. Imaged with narrow band filters, the glowing filaments are like long ripples in a sheet seen almost edge on, remarkably well separated into atomic hydrogen (red) and oxygen (blue-green) gas. The complete supernova remnant lies about 1400 light-years away towards the constellation Cygnus. This Witch's Broom actually spans about 35 light-years. The bright star in the frame is 52 Cygni, visible with the unaided eye from a dark location but unrelated to the ancient supernova remnant.

Imaging Telescope: Vixen ED81s f/5.2

Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Synscan Pro (belt mod)

Camera: QHY 533M

Filter Wheel: QHY CFW3S-SR

Guiding: ZWO ASI120MM Mini + SkyWatcher EvoGuide 50ED

Constellation: Cygnus

Date: June 24, July 01 2023

Location: Korinthos - Greece - Albireo Observatory 1

Calibration Frames: Darks, Flats, Bias, Dark Flats

Acquisition: N.I.N.A, phd2

Processing: Pixinsight, Photoshop

Filters: L

Exposure Time:

L: 90x120" (gain: 56.00, offset: 12.00) 0°C bin 1×1

Filters: L,R,G,B

Exposure Time:

L:R:G:B: 30x120" (gain: 56.00, offset: 12.00) 0°C bin 1×1

Filters: Ha,L,R,G,B

Exposure Time:

L:R:G:B: 30x120" (gain: 56.00, offset: 12.00) 0°C bin 1×1

Ha: 24x900" (gain: 56.00, offset: 12.00) 0°C bin 1×1

Draco Trio of Galaxies

Imaging Telescope: Vixen VC200L f/6.4

Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Synscan Pro (belt mod)

Camera: QHY 533M

Filter Wheel: QHY CFW3S-SR

Guiding: DMK21AU04 + 9x50 Skywatcher finder

Filters: L

Constellation: Draco

Date: June 4, 2023

Location: Korinthos - Greece - Albireo Observatory 1

Exposure Time:

Ha: 28x120" (gain: 50.00, offset: 60.00) 0°C bin 1×1

Calibration Frames: Darks, Flats, Bias, Dark Flats

Acquisition: N.I.N.A, phd2

Processing: Pixinsight, Photoshop

Simeis 57 - Propeller Nebula (Ha)

 

Imaging Telescope: Vixen VC200L f/6.4

Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Synscan Pro (belt mod)

Camera: QHY 533M

Filter Wheel: QHY CFW3S-SR

Guiding: DMK21AU04 + 9x50 Skywatcher finder

Filters: Ha

Constellation: Cygnus

Date: June 3, 2023

Location: Korinthos - Greece - Albireo Observatory 1

Exposure Time:

Ha: 5x600" (gain: 50.00, offset: 60.00) 0°C bin 1×1

Calibration Frames: Darks, Flats, Bias, Dark Flats

Acquisition: N.I.N.A, phd2

Processing: Pixinsight, Photoshop

M31 - 4 Panel Mosaic

 

Imaging Telescope: Vixen ED81s f/5.2

Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Synscan Pro (belt mod)

Camera: QHY 533M

Filter Wheel: QHY CFW3S-SR

Guiding: DMK21AU04

Filters: L

Constellation: Andromeda

Date: Oct.29 2022

Location: Korinthos - Greece - Albireo Observatory 1

Exposure Time:

4 Panel Mosaic

L: 30x180" (gain: 56.00, offset: 12.00) 0°C bin 1×1

Calibration Frames: Darks, Flats, Bias, Dark Flats

Partial Solar Eclipse (maximum), Oct 25 2022

 

The solar eclipse of October 25, 2022 was a partial solar eclipse visible from Europe, the Urals and Western Siberia, Central Asia, Western Asia, South Asia and from the north-east of Africa. At its maximum point in Russia some 82% of the Sun was eclipsed by the Moon. From Western Europe it appeared to be around 15-30% eclipsed. It was visible between 08:58 UTC, the greatest point of eclipse occurred at 11:00 UTC and it ended at 13:02 UTC. The maximal phase of the partial eclipse occurred on the West Siberian Plain in Russia near Nizhnevartovsk.

Imaging Telescope: Vixen ED81s f/7.7

Mount: Vixen Sphinx

Camera: Canon EOS 450D

Date: Oct. 25 2022

Location: Kifisia - Greece

Exposure Time:

1/100 sec, ISO 100