Starship Asterisk*

I'm submitting my latest image for APOD consideration.

MWP1 and ALV1 - Loneliness in the night sky

We had a string of clear nights towards the end of August which allowed me to go deep on this target. This is my first time imaging it.

Center of the frame is MWP1, an ancient planetary nebula. Surrounding MWP1 you can see the Oiii ejection from the original collapse of the star. Just to the right is ALV1, only recently discovered in 2009.

Details:
Scope: RASA 8
Mount: iOptron GEM45
Camera: ASI2600MM Pro
Filters: Baader Ultra-Highspeed Ha, Oiii

Ha: 266 x 300", 44 x 600" (29.5 hours)
Oiii: 164 x 600" (27.5 hours)

Total of 57 hours integration time

Shot from my Bortle 7 backyard.

The image is an HOO combination, with some subtle hue adjustments to pull the blues into the image.

[size=120][b]MWP1 and ALV1 - Loneliness in the night sky[/b][/size]
https://www.astrobin.com/zvm7el/
Copyright: Ryan Génier
[img2]https://cdn.astrobin.com/thumbs/UKKGWMhXsv4r_16536x0_ieTZ0INm.png[/img2]

[img]https://i.ibb.co/wNj8PGQ/finalcefeo-redux-apod.jpg[/img]

I am writing to propose my latest astronomical mosaic for consideration as the Astronomy Picture of the Day. This image, captured with meticulous detail, showcases the breathtaking beauty of the dark and reflection nebulas within the constellation of Cepheus.

The mosaic is composed of three panels, each meticulously crafted using 32 luminance exposures of 600 seconds, 64 RGB exposures of 300 seconds, and 40 H-alpha exposures of 600 seconds. This extensive effort ensures a depth and richness of detail that highlights the spectacular features of the nebulas.

The featured nebulas are LDN 1251, LDN 1235 (also known as the Shark Nebula), and VDB 152. LDN 1251, with its dense clouds of dark dust, appears to float ethereally against the cosmic backdrop. LDN 1235, resembling a shark navigating through the stars, offers a majestic and striking view. VDB 152, a reflection nebula, introduces a bluish tint as it reflects the light from nearby stars.

The mosaic was captured using a sophisticated setup of two RedCat 51 telescopes paired with two ZWO ASI 2600 cameras—one color and one monochrome. The integration of monochrome imaging and the use of Ha exposures to emphasize hydrogen emissions contribute to the mosaic's exceptional detail, with vivid color nuances and deeply outlined dark clouds.

I believe this image would make a compelling addition to your Astronomy Picture of the Day, offering viewers a captivating glimpse into the wonders of the universe.

Thank you for considering my submission. I look forward to the possibility of sharing this image with a broader audience through your esteemed platform.

Full resolution at: https://www.astrobin.com/full/kot7my/0/

Best regards,

Simone Curzi

My Instagram https://www.instagram.com/simone_curzi_skylover/

Equipment
Imaging Telescopes Or Lenses
William Optics RedCat 51 II
Imaging Cameras
ZWO ASI2600MC Pro · ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Mounts
Sky-Watcher EQ6
Filters
Antlia EDGE H-alpha 4.5nm 2" · Antlia Luminance 2"
Software
Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight

Sept. 3 - 5, 2024
Sept. 11 - 13, 2024
Frames:
192×300″(16h)
Antlia EDGE H-alpha 4.5nm 2": 120×600″(20h)
Antlia Luminance 2": 96×600″(16h)
Integration:
52h
Avg. Moon age:
4.95 days
Avg. Moon phase:
32.61%

Locations: Mattinata, Puglia, Italy bortle 4

Data source: Backyard

[size=120][b]M16[/b][/size]

SHORGB :

[attachment=1]mosaicM16.jpg.62c8d0facf936e0b4213ba110f571547.jpg[/attachment]

[attachment=0]photo162.jpg[/attachment]

130 Hrs total frames
done with CDK 610, Moravian C4-16000 on PW L600 mount near Actacama Desert in Chile, El Sauce Observatory

Copyright: Team CielAustral
http://www.cielaustral.com

Omega Centauri, NGC5139

I intended to shoot the September Harvest Moon from my backyard, however it was still quite low in the sky, so having 1/2hr to kill time, I decided to image Omega Centauri on the off chance that it would still look good, despite the full Moon. I'm glad I did, as it still looked amazing :D

Seestar S50
30min 10" subs
Bortle 8 & Full Moon!

[size=120][b]Omega Centauri, NGC5139[/b][/size]

Copyright: Simon Capone
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qgZJiW][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54002266128_88fc7c55b1_k.jpg[/img][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2qgZJiW]Omega Centauri[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/simoncapone/]Simon Capone[/url], on Flickr

During a geomagnetic storm, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus aligned near Pleiades

Canon 5DIV 28-105@50mm

Iceland, 1th September 2024

[imghover=https://davnec.eu/images/mju_no_label.jpg]https://davnec.eu/images/mju_label.jpg[/imghover]

Partial Lunar Eclipse and Supermoon also named the Corn Moon, Harvest Moon on September 17-18th. ( ED80 APO, CGX-L Mount, ASI533mm Pro Cmos, EFW8, Astronomik Ha Filter.)

[size=150][b]Dust and Light: The Unveiling of The Cocoon Nebula[/b][/size]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qhb4vV][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54004281859_31fef4cf9b.jpg[/img][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2qhb4vV]Dust and Light: The Unveiling of The Cocoon Nebula[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/201435184@N05/]Jordi Cardús Port[/url], on Flickr

Telescope: ZWO FF65 65mm f/6.4 Petzval Refractor
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Mount: ZWO AM5
Filters: Antlia 3nm Narrowband H-alpha 2" · Antlia V-Pro Blue 2" · Antlia V-Pro Green 2" · Antlia V-Pro Luminance 2" · Antlia V-Pro Red 2"
Accessories: ZWO ASIAIR Plus
Software: Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight

Frames:
Antlia 3nm Narrowband H-alpha 2": 128×300″(10h 40′)
Antlia V-Pro Blue 2": 59×240″(3h 56′)
Antlia V-Pro Green 2": 60×240″(4h)
Antlia V-Pro Luminance 2": 134×120″(4h 28′)
Antlia V-Pro Luminance 2": 96×240″(6h 24′)
Antlia V-Pro Red 2": 43×240″(2h 52′)
Integration:
32h 20′
Avg. Moon age:
5.47 days
Avg. Moon phase:
30.18%

When I first saw an astrophotography of Barnard 168, its richness of contrasts deeply moved me: the dance between the darkness of the dust and the light of the nebula, immersed in a sea of hydrogen; the blues, pinks and browns, alternating and blending in endless patterns blew me away. Until then, I had only taken a few images with limited integration time, but that image made me decide to invest more time in a single object. I wanted to photograph the Cocoon Nebula, and I wanted to do it right. My main objective has been to create contrast between the object and the background. This is the result. I am very proud of my first image created with care, dedication and effort. I hope you find my version of the Cocoon compelling. Please, enjoy it as much as I endured to create it.

CS
Jordi

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qh63tz][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54003302799_ccfa13f62c.jpg[/img][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2qh63tz]Abell 78_N[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/78790604@N03/]Lefteris Velissaratos[/url], on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qh6yAK][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54003404135_60f1c328f4.jpg[/img][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2qh6yAK]Arp 99 - Hickson 93_N[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/78790604@N03/]Lefteris Velissaratos[/url], on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qh5b27][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54003133064_fce5f48f50.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qh5b27]Twilight of the Gods[/url]
by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/clementbrustel/]Clément Brustel[/url]

Perseids and Eta-Eridanids, pieces of two distinct comets, crossing each other above an aurora borealis and a storm in the French Alps.
A total of 5h of exposure with single frames of 30s.

Sony a7s and samyang 24mm 1.4

I checked the Eta-Eridanids activity that night with this website and the trajectory matches well.
https://meteorshowers.seti.org/?lat=3.600&long=105.600&date=2024-08-11

[size=120][b] NGC 1514 "Crystal Ball Nebula" [/b][/size]
[url] https://www.flickr.com/photos/186618701@N08/53996690379/in/dateposted-public/ [/url]
Copyright: Jose Luis Bedmar
[img2]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53996690379_e9ddfc0bf0_k.jpg [/img2]

GSO 12" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Truss Tube ×
ZWO ASI294MM Pro
Sky-Watcher EQ8
Chroma H-alpha 5nm Bandpass 36 mm · Chroma OIII 3nm Bandpass 36 mm · Chroma SII 3nm Bandpass 36 mm
14 de Septiembre de 2024
Chroma Blue 36 mm: 30×60,″(30′)
Chroma Green 36 mm: 30×60,″(30′)
Chroma OIII 3nm Bandpass 36 mm: 30×300,″(2h 30′)
Chroma Red 36 mm: 30×60,″(30′)
Astrometry.net job: 10711545
Huercal de Almeria, Almeria, España

[size=120][b] HELIX nebula SHO [/b][/size]
[url] https://www.flickr.com/photos/186618701@N08/53988725410/in/dateposted-public/ [/url]
Copyright: Jose Luis Bedmar
[img2]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53988725410_87b9c3fd8e_c.jpg[/img2]
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53988725410_f53bebbc88_o.png

GSO 12" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Truss Tube ×
ZWO ASI294MM Pro
Sky-Watcher EQ8
Chroma H-alpha 5nm Bandpass 36 mm · Chroma OIII 3nm Bandpass 36 mm · Chroma SII 3nm Bandpass 36 mm
18 de Agosto de 2024
20 de Agosto de 2024
22 de Agosto de 2024
4 de Septiembre de 2024
Chroma H-alpha 5nm Bandpass 36 mm: 74×300,″(6h 10′)
Chroma OIII 3nm Bandpass 36 mm: 74×300,″(6h 10′)
Chroma SII 3nm Bandpass 36 mm: 74×300,″(6h 10′)
Astrometry.net job: 10700162
Huercal de Almeria, Almeria, España

The all seeing eye - Sheltered under the Stars

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qgUy3Z][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54001256061_fcff7591ae.jpg[/img][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2qgUy3Z]Sheltered under the Stars[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/193554766@N08/]Ahmed Waddah[/url], on Flickr

This image was taken back in July using the TTArtisian Fisheye which has been so much fun since I started using it this year. Image is a composite where the sky was taken during the night and fore ground at sunrise. The sky was shot from the higher ground behind that huge rock. As usual image was taken in Al Fayoum Desert in Egypt on a very very hot day!

Sky:
Nikon Z6II - Modified
TTArtisian 11mm f/2.8 - 60x13s - iso 3200 11mmm f/2.8

Foreground:
Nikon Z6II
TTArtisian 11mm f/2.8 - 1/8 -ISO100 - f/8

Date:7th of July, 2024
Place:AL Fayoum Desert, Egypt

Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/7775z5/

Social:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waddah.photography
Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/WolfHeart/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/waddahphotography/

[size=120][b]The man, the moon and the mountain under the Milkyway![/b][/size]

Location: Blood Mountain, Georgia.
Date: 08-Sept-2024; Time: 10:30 Pm
Copyright: Prashant Naik
Web: https://naikonpixels.com/

Blood mountain is the highest peak on the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail. I trekked to the summit of Blood Mountain, located at the border of Chattahoochee National Forest and Blood Mountain Wilderness. The hike from Byron Reece along the Appalachian Trail to the peak spanned approximately 4.1 miles. I carried all my astro gear on this rugged terrain for nearly 3 hours, all for a magical evening under the stars. The moon was about to descend below the horizon around 11:00 pm, and the Milky way was blazing in the southeastern sky. And in that moment, I captured this image.

[attachment=0]BloodMt_ManAndMilkyway_v4.jpg[/attachment]

[b]M16 and The Eagle Nebula[/b]

M16 is a young star cluster located about 7,000 light-years away from us. It lies within the Eagle Nebula, a region surrounded by clouds of glowing dust and gas in the center of which are dense dark columns of dust and gas that were immortalized by the Hubble Space Telescope in the 1990s in the famous photo titled “Pillars of Creation,” because these dense columns can contract under the force of gravity to form stars.
While the object is easily visible from the Northern Hemisphere, the view from the dark skies of the Southern Hemisphere where it almost reaches the zenith is much better, allowing for great depth in the dust in just a few hours of exposure.

Technical data
System 1: ASA Newton 250mm, 900mm focal length, with ZWO ASI 6200 MM camera and 3 nm Chroma Ha filter from Rio Hurtado, Chile. 21x120s bin 2x2 Ha
System 2: Takahashi TOA 130mm apochromatic refractor, 780mm focal length, with SBIG STX-16803 and Astrodon E-Series RGB filters from Siding Spring, Australia. 5x300s bin 1x1 RGB

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qgNREm][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54000144628_e97480b6c3_z.jpg[/img][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2qgNREm]M16 and the Eagle Nebula[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/151655471@N07/]Alessandro Carrozzi[/url], su Flickr

[size=120][b]Pillars of Creation[/b][/size]
https://www.facebook.com/tommaso.m.stella
Copyright: Tommaso Stella
Date: 2024 from 30-07 to 07-08
Site & Sky: Stigliano (MT-ITALY), SQM 21.2
Lights: 130x180s Ha + 127x180s OIII + 125x180s SII
Setup: Omegon CC Pro 203/1847mm + QHY 294M + Skywatcher AZEQ6 GT
Filters: Optolong SHO 3nm
[attachment=0]PillarsOfCreation-TommasoStella.jpg[/attachment]

[size=120][b]M57 nebula with outter shell[/b][/size]

[img2]https://team-ouranos.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/M57_mixfinal_cropAB2mini.jpg[/img2]

Full version : https://cdn.astrobin.com/thumbs/n3YbLGsiwtnD_16536x0_ieTZ0INm.jpg

We are pleased to submit to APOD this image of the M57 planetary nebula, showing both fine details in the core and the fainter outter shell.

We made 703 exposures of 120s (i.e. 23h30) for the Ha layer, in order to reveal the weak extensions.

Cassegrain T520 - Paramount ME2 - ZWO ASI 6200MM - Astronomik Filters (LRGB + Ha 6nm)
L : 69 x 120s
R: 50 x 120s
G: 55 x 120s
B: 50 x 120s
Ha : 703 x 120s
Total : 30h54
12 April to 30 June 2024 - Alpes-Maritimes (France)
Pixinsight & PS

Copyright: Team OURANOS (Jean-Baptiste Auroux, Jean Claude Mario, Mathieu Guinot & Matthieu Tequi).
https://team-ouranos.fr/
https://www.astrobin.com/users/Team_OURANOS/

This image was taken from my private observatory in Rylstone, NSW, Australia using a TEC-140/Paramount MX+ mount at f14 with an astrophysics BARADV barlow yielding a resolution of .5 arc-sec at 1960mm focal length. The filters were Baader Ha, SII, OIII for an SHO pallet. The camera was a mono Trius SX694 at -20C. Total imaging time was 49.5 hours and the majority of subs in SII and OIII were 1800 sec. Ha , 600 sec. Processing was 90% in Pixinsight and the remainder in Adobe Photoshop CS5. RGB stars were added, 30 sec subs.

Thanks for looking!

Peter

Dear APOD team,
I submit my photograph of the Andromeda Galaxy. It was edited using minimal processing to show it in close to natural colours. I also attached a version with added "moon for scale" because I think it's a great representation of this object size.
Image details:
It was taken on 25 of August 2024. Last quarter Moon. About 4 hours of exposure time. Image was stretched, colour calibrated and denoised.
What do you think?
[url=https://ibb.co/x1DccXJ][img]https://i.ibb.co/pfxssbJ/Andromeda.jpg[/img][/url]
Also version with moon scale:
[url=https://ibb.co/7QYDBNg][img]https://i.ibb.co/sCm4cJ5/Andromeda-Scale.jpg[/img][/url]

Saturn over 10 years Lyon France


[img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53985377290_a165c2a0bb_k_d.jpg[/img]


Some projects take years... especially in astronomy. I dreamed of it ten years ago! Long-winded work, exhausting when you have to get up in the middle of the night and go to work in the wake but it was worth it



Saturn over ten years from Lyon France



For the pleasure of the eyes I propose you a

Photo montage containing 1 shot of Saturn per year since 2014 .



The first image of 2014 , my debut in astrophotography, was shot in afocale with a compact camera Canon SX 260 HS at the focus of a 10 mm eyepiece mounted on a Maksutov 180/2700 mm Skywatcher

The other images were taken with two CMOS colours, first from 2015 to 2017 a ZWO ASI 120 MM + LRVB ZWO filters and then from 2018 to 2024 an Altair 385 C CMOS focusing on a Maksutov 180 / 2700mm Skywatcher



For the 2014 image I use a compact camera Canon powershoot 260 SX in afocale on an eyepiece of 10 mm at the focus of the Maksutov 180/2700 Black Diamond Skywatcher I do not remember the time of exposure but it was very short



For the images from 2015 to 2017 I used a CMOS ZWO ASI 120 MM + LRVB filter ZWO + ADC ZWO + Maksutov 180/2700 + mount NEQ 6



Acquisition of 1500 images in AVI Gain 200 at 22 images per second with sharpcap 3

10% stacking with Autostakkert 3

Cosmetic with Registax and GIMP



For the 2018 to 2024 images I used an Altaïr 385 C + ADC Mark III + Maksutov 180/2700 + EQ6-R mount



Acquisition of 1000 images in AVI gain 1200 at 48 images per second with sharpcap 3

10% stacking with Autostakkert 3

Cosmetics with Registax and GIMP 2.10



All photos were taken from my balcony on the second floor in the heart of Lyon



Several tens of hours were needed to achieve this result



[url]https://www.flickr.com/photos/134093884@N08/53985377290[/url]



Lionel Guyonnet

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2qg84Mb][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53992380912_3b3024593a.jpg[/img][/url]
[b]The Lobster Claw Nebula[/b]

I'm excited to share my image of the striking Lobster Claw Nebula, captured from bright city skies just outside of Chicago. Over three nights, I used a dual narrowband filter (H-alpha and O III) to bring out the nebula’s faint details and processed the image in the HOO palette to highlight its beauty.

Location: Des Plaines, Illinois
Date: September 2-4, 2024
Copyright: Imran Sultan

[size=120][b]Planet Parade - Panoramic image of 6 planets. [/b][/size]
Location: Blood Mountain, Georgia.
Date: 09-Sept-2024; Time: 5:00AM
Copyright: Prashant Naik
Web: https://naikonpixels.com/

From the summit of Blood Mountain in North Georgia, this panoramic image shows five planets—Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—aligned from east to west across the night sky. Mercury was below the horizon. Rising in the east, Orion constellation appears high in the sky with two bright stars Betelgeuse and Regel. Jupiter, the largest planet, shines brilliantly above the horizon at the top, while Mars, with its reddish hue, contrasts against the deeper blue of the pre-dawn sky. Uranus was seen as a faint distant dot. To the west, Saturn casts a subtle glow, and Neptune, appears as tiny dot. This rare alignment is set against the backdrop of the rugged Appalachian landscape, giving a unique view of our vast solar system from Earth.

Processing details: Panorama of 8 vertical images stitched in PTGui. Exposure time 15s, f2.8 at ISO 10000. RAW file processed in Lightroom. Color correction and other minor adjustments done in Photoshop.

[attachment=0]Planet_Parade_BloodMt_v2_w.jpg[/attachment]

Dear APOD team,

The image shows two dim nebulae, shark and rotten fish. They somewhat look like they are in a rush and dust creates this beautiful spectacle. I never before seen such framing in these objects photos.

It was taken during two nights: 27 and 28 of August. Image is a stack of 7hr of footage (300s exposure time). It was stretched, colour calibrated, denoised i enhanced colours and brightness.
Bortle 4 sky, moon was under the horizon.

What do you think?

[url=https://ibb.co/ykP2xj2][img]https://i.ibb.co/kDBZPCZ/Two-Fishes-Signed.jpg[/img][/url]

Saturn at opposition

The image was taken from Buenos Aires, Argentina, on September 8, 2024, at 02:54 UTC, just moments before the exact time of opposition. The photograph showcases Saturn along with its moons Dione, Tethys, and Rhea. The Seeliger effect is also nicely seen.


[attachment=0]2024-09-08-0254_9-LY-RGB-Sat_final_southup.jpg[/attachment]

Methuselah Nebula

[attachment=0]MWP 1.jpg[/attachment]
Click on above to enlarge.

Full info @ https://www.astrokin.com/mwp1---pk080-101.html