2010
Lagoon Nebula in H-alpha
Technically, this shot is a 2009 shot as it was taken in July 2009. But, I recently re-discovered the data and re-processed it having now learned a lot more about processing from folks like Warren Keller’s IP4AP, Tony Hallas’ E-Z CCD DVD, and Ken Crawford’s talks at places like AIC. The image was taken with my QSI 540 with a Custom Scientific 3 nm H-alpha filter and guided with a Starlight Xpress Lodestar (Mini Borg guide setup) riding atop a Tak EM-10. 18 10-minute frames were used. PHD Guiding, Nebulosity, and PhotoShop were used for acquisition and processing.
Rosette Nebula
This is the first image here taken with my new Losmandy G11 and the first one to use the Baader line filters. The color version here is a mix of H-alpha (35 @ 10m) and O-III data (32 @ 10m) taken over several nights. A QSI 540 with the wsg guide system was used on the Borg 101 ED f/4. PHD Guiding, Nebulosity, PixInsight, and PhotoShop were used for acquisition and processing.
Here is just the H-alpha data
2009
Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
This shot was taken not from the urban backyard, but from Julian, CA while I was at the Julian Starfest (staying at the Artists’ Loft B&B). Great people and great skies. It’s the first to use the Baader LRGB filter set. A QSI 540 was used on the Borg 101 ED f/4. PHD Guiding, Nebulosity, PixInsight, and PhotoShop were used for acquisition and processing.
Pelican and North American Nebulae (H-alpha)
This is a two-panel mosaic of H-alpha data (QSI 540, Borg 101 ED f/4, Custom Scientific 3 nm H-a filter guided on a Lodestar and a MiniBorg guider). Each panel was 20 or so 10 minute frames. PHD Guiding, Nebulosity, PixInsight, and PhotoShop were used for acquisition and processing.
Wide-field shot of Orion (Horsehead through M42) in H-alpha
Three-panel mosaic taken under urban skies and a full moon. This was really a silk purse out of a sow’s ear kind of image. Each panel is only 8 frames @ 5m. QSI 540 with the Custom Scientific 3 nm Ha filter. That’s an interline transfer CCD with a weakness in H-alpha, only 40 minutes, a 4” scope (Borg 101 ED f/4), and a 3 nm filter (not to mention a full moon). PHD Guidng, Nebulosity, and Photoshop were used for acquisition and processing.
Cone nebula in H-alpha
I got stuck at one point processing this and Warren Keller of IP4AP was able to give some good tweaks to help give it some more impact. 9 frames @ 10m with the QSI 540 + Custom Scientific Ha filter, Borg 101 ED f/4, Tak EM-10, Borg guidescope + Lodestar. PHD Guiding, Nebulosity, and Photoshop were used for acquisition and processing.
2008
Western Veil Nebula (HaLRGB)
This was first light on the QSI 540. 16 L, 12 Ha, 8 each R, G, B at 5 min each with the Borg 101 ED f/4. All-Mac image, captured in Nebulosity and guided in PHD using Lodestar. Tak EM-10, TSS StableMax tripod, AstroDon LRGB and Custom Scientific Ha. Taken in Julian, CA at the Julian Starfest (staying at the Artists’ Loft B&B).
Alternate gamma version
Whale and Crowbar (NGC4631 and NGC4656)
LRGB image on loaner QSI 516 wsg (testing the wsg setup), Vixen R200ss 8” f/4 Newt, Baader MPCC, and a Tak EM-10 (guiding with a Fishcamp Starfish) taken at the OCA club’s size in Anza, CA. RGB data were binned 2x2 and were 10 @ 3m apiece. L had 20 @ 4m. Nebulosity, PHD Guiding, and Photoshop for acquisition and capture.
Eagle Nebula (M8)
H-alpha image with 10 frames @10m on a QSI 516 wsg (loaner test camera) and a Vixen R200SS 8” f/4 Newt with a Baader MPCC. Guided with PHD (and a Fishcamp Starfish) and stacked with no alignment to see how PHD and the "wsg" do a “100 minute exposure”.
Pinwheel Galaxy (M101)
Shot taken during the review of the 520ci for Astrophoto Insight (taken at the OCA club site in Anza, CA). 50 frames @ 5m on a Vixen R200SS with a Baader MPCC, QSI 520ci. Guided in PHD w/Fishcamp Starfish. Processed in Nebulosity and Photoshop.
Great globular in Hercules (M13)
Imaged under Murphy's Law, but I decided to give it a go anyway and to see what I could do using nothing but Nebulosity 2 for processing. 30 frames @ 5m on a QSI 520ci and a Vixen R200SS 8” f/4. Guided in PHD guiding (Fishcamp Starfish) and processed entirely in Nebulosity.
