Starship Asterisk*

27.5 hours of M82 from San Diego, CA. Copyright KG Observatory.

Imaging telescope or lens: Celestron 8" EdgeHD
Imaging camera: QSI 660 WSG
Mount: Losmandy G-11
Guiding camera: Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2
Focal reducer: Celestron 0.7X
Software: PHD Guiding 2, PixInsight 1.8, Sequence Generator Pro, Maxim DL6, Adobe Photoshop CC 2014, Astronomy Tools Actions Set V1.6
Filters: Astrodon 1.25" R, Astrodon 1.25" B, Astrodon 1.25" G, Astrodon 1.25" L, Astrodon 1.25" 5nm Ha
Accessories: Starizona MicroTouch Autofocuser, Bahtinov Mask
Resolution: 1514x1484
Dates: Dec. 14, 2015, Dec. 15, 2015, Dec. 16, 2015, Dec. 17, 2015
Frames:
Astrodon 1.25" 5nm Ha: 24x1800" -20C bin 1x1
Astrodon 1.25" B: 6x900" -20C bin 1x1
Astrodon 1.25" G: 8x900" -20C bin 1x1
Astrodon 1.25" L: 40x900" -20C bin 1x1
Astrodon 1.25" R: 8x900" -20C bin 1x1
Integration: 27.5 hours
Darks: ~24
Flats: ~50
Flat darks: ~50
Bias: ~20
Avg. Moon age: 4.09 days
Avg. Moon phase: 18.71%
Mean SQM: 19.75
Astrometry.net job: 1363848
RA center: 148.952 degrees
DEC center: 69.680 degrees
Pixel scale: 0.637 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: 175.290 degrees
Field radius: 0.187 degrees
Locations: Home, Rancho Santa Fe, California, United States

IC410 The Tadpoles by Patrick Gilliland, on Flickr
©Paddy Gilliland

Simeis 147 - The Spaghetti Nebula
http://www.astropixels.fr
Copyright: Nicolas Kizilian

Total Exposure : 42 hours.
Larger version : http://kizix.org/files/public-docs/sime ... -50-wm.jpg

21.3 hours of M101 from an 8" SCT in San Diego, CA. Copyright KG Observatory.

Imaging telescope or lens: Celestron 8" EdgeHD
Imaging camera: QSI 660 WSG
Mount: Losmandy G-11
Guiding camera: Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2
Focal reducer: Celestron 0.7X
Software: PHD Guiding 2, Neat Image V7, PixInsight 1.8, Sequence Generator Pro, Maxim DL6, Adobe Photoshop CC 2014, Astronomy Tools Actions Set V1.6
Filters: Astrodon 1.25" R, Astrodon 1.25" B, Astrodon 1.25" G, Astrodon 1.25" L
Accessories: Starizona MicroTouch Autofocuser, Bahtinov Mask
Resolution: 1910x2476
Dates: Jan. 30, 2016, Feb. 2, 2016, Feb. 3, 2016
Frames:
Astrodon 1.25" B: 12x900" -20C bin 1x1
Astrodon 1.25" G: 12x900" -20C bin 1x1
Astrodon 1.25" L: 74x600" -20C bin 1x1
Astrodon 1.25" R: 12x900" -20C bin 1x1
Integration: 21.3 hours
Darks: ~40
Flats: ~80
Flat darks: ~80
Bias: ~40
Avg. Moon age: 22.34 days
Avg. Moon phase: 47.94%
Mean SQM: 19.75
Astrometry.net job: 1364947
RA center: 210.806 degrees
DEC center: 54.351 degrees
Pixel scale: 0.637 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: -4.972 degrees
Field radius: 0.277 degrees
Locations: Home, Rancho Santa Fe, California, United States

M78
http://www.astrowimp.com
Copyright: Tim Christensen
LRGB 4 panel Mosaic 23.7 hours exposure time

NGC7000 Narrow Band

NGC 7000 is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, located near Deneb (α Cygni), also called North America Nebula. The dark central region called the Gulf of Mexico, as in some astronomical plates many years it seemed that region of the Earth. NGC 7000 is a large nebula that covers an area equivalent to the full moon area, but its low surface brightness makes normally not visible to the naked eye (however, in a dark and using a filter night UHC can be seen without optical aid ). The dark area of ​​the center is a very dense region of interstellar material in front of the nebula and which absorbs light of it, giving the whole its characteristic shape. It is not known precisely the distance that separates us from NGC 7000, or responsible for the ionization of hydrogen produced by the light emitting star. If, as some sources indicate, Deneb is the star that lights up the nebula NGC 7000 distance to Earth would be about 1800 light years.

Observation area: Benamahoma, Cádiz August 1, 2016
photographic telescope: Takahashi FSQ-106 - focal f / 3.6
Telescope guide: Lunatic EZG-60mm
Mount: Losmandy G-11 Gémini v.4
CCD guide: CCD QHY-5
CCD capture: QSI-683 CCD WS8
Exposure: (17 OIII Halfa + 10 + 10 SII) x 600 "
http://www.sky-astrophotography.com/ind ... re&id=1104

Clear Skies,

Jesús M.Vargas and Maritxu Poyal

http://www.sky-astrophotography.com

IC59- IC63 Narrow Band

These magnificent clouds that appear to be flowing, like a cosmic ice it were. They can be found on a beautiful starry field in the direction of the constellation Cassiopeia. The IC 59 and IC 63 nebulae with a slight cometary appearance are at a distance of about 600 light years. Clouds are only 3 or 4 light years from Gama Casiopeae bright star, whose ultraviolet radiation is slowly dissipating both clouds. IC 63, the nebula on the right is closer to the star and shows the familiar red glow for the ionized hydrogen by ultraviolet radiation emitting its own light. IC 59, however, is furthest away from said star, exhibiting a little blue tinge characteristic of the reflected starlight. Has been used palette H-alpha, G and B, the luminance of alpha and h and a channel R

Observation area: Benamahoma, Cádiz July 26, 2016
photographic telescope: Takahashi FSQ-106 - focal f / 5
Telescope guide: Lunatic EZG-60mm
Mount: Losmandy G-11 Gémini v.4
CCD guide: CCD QHY-5
CCD capture: QSI-683 CCD WS8
Exposure: 12 x 900 "Hydrogen alpha filter (H Alfa) 6 x 900" Filter Blue 6 x 900 "Green Filter
Clear Skies,

Jesús M. Vargas and Maritxu Poyal


http://www.sky-astrophotography.com

Horsehead and Flame Nebula

Optics: SW ED80/FF x0.85
Camera: Qhy8 color
Mount and guidng: NEQ6 Pro, SW 9x50 finderguider
Guding camera: Qhy5L-IIc
Exposure: 11x900s
Software: PHD2, Nebulosity, Pixinsight 1.8, PS CS6
Location: Petrova Gora, Croatia
Copyright: Miroslav Horvat



IC434 - Horsehead Nebula by Miroslav Horvat, on Flickr

Heart Nebula IC1805

IC 1805 and IC 1848 are two emission nebulae located in the constellation Cassiopeia at 7500 light years from the solar system, in the Perseus spiral arm of the Milky Way. Both make up the stellar association OB6 Cassiopeia. 1805 IC also close Maffei I and Maffei II, two of the brightest galaxies in the Maffei Group are. Has a size of almost 200 light years, and ionization source are the stars of young (1.5 million years old) open cluster Melotte 15, located inside and have formed therein.
Observation area: Puerto Real (Cádiz) SPAIN
Photographic telescope: Takahashi FSQ 106 f / 5
Telescope guide: Lunatic EZG 60mm
Mount: G11 Losmandy Gemini v4
CCD guide: CCD QHY 5
CCD capture: QSI 683 WS8
Exposure: 14x900 "H Alfa + 8x900" OIII + 8x900 "SII

Clear Skies,

Jesús M.Vargas and Maritxu Poyal

http://www.sky-astrophotography.com

Melotte 15

It is a cut (CROP) of the original image of IC1805
IC 1805 and IC 1848 are two emission nebulae located in the constellation Cassiopeia at 7500 light years from the solar system, in the Perseus spiral arm of the Milky Way. Both make up the stellar association OB6 Cassiopeia. 1805 IC also close Maffei I and Maffei II, two of the brightest galaxies in the Maffei Group are. Has a size of almost 200 light years, and ionization source are the stars of young (1.5 million years old) open cluster Melotte 15, located inside and have formed therein.


Observation area: Puerto Real (Cádiz) SPAIN
Photographic telescope: Takahashi FSQ 106 f / 5
Telescope guide: Lunatic EZG 60mm
Mount: G11 Losmandy Gemini v4
CCD guide: CCD QHY 5
CCD capture: QSI 683 WS8
Exposure: 14x900 "H Alfa + 8x900" OIII + 8x900 "SII
Clear Skies,

Jesús M.Vargas and Maritxu Poyal

http://www.sky-astrophotography.com

NGC2264 Narrow Band

NGC 2264: Cone Nebula at bottom with inverted Christmas Tree cluster above the cone; the bright star just above the cone is the tree topper and the very bright star at the top of the image (S Monocerotis) is the center of the tree trunk. The Fox Fur Nebula is at the top right corner. The Snowflake nebula is in the middle which shows up better on the infrared image.

Low to right we can observe NGC 2261 (also known as the Hubble Variable Nebula or Caldwell 46) is a variable nebula located in the constellation of the Unicorn. It is illuminated by the star Ro of that same constellation, although the star itself is not directly visible.
Observation area: Puerto Sta. Maria (Cadiz) SPAIN
Photographic telescope: Takahashi FSQ106
Telescope guide: Lunatic EZG-60
Mount: Gemini Losmandy G-11 v4
CCD guide: CCD QHY 5
CCD capture: QSI CCD 683 WS8
Exposure: 5x720 " x (HA -SII - OIII)

Clear Skies,

Jesús M.Vargas and Maritxu Poyal

http://www.sky-astrophotography.com

venus and mercury (down right)

A Hunter in the Winter Night Sky by Transient Astronomers, on Flickr

Image credit and copyright Tom Masterson

Crescent moon and Jupiter conjunction
Copyrights: Manjeet Singh Cygnus Loop and Northern Lights
Copyrights: Göran Strand Sunrise over Skidaway Island,GA
Copyrights: R Bottern Milky Way from Boyne Valley, Ireland
Copyrights: Anthony Murphy Sky jewels over the Namibian highest
Copyrights: Petr Horálek Full Moon
Copyrights: Ryan Raposo IC 342
Copyrights: Danny Lee Russell Lick Observatory observing super Moon
Copyrights Liao Fukang Dust lanes around the Orion Nebula M43
Copyrights: Peter Maasewerd Orion's belt
Copyrights: Raul Villaverde Fraile IC 5146
Copyrights: Raul Villaverde Fraile IC1805 and NGC 896 - mosaic
Copyrights: Brad Wallis The Horse Swims in Hydrogen
Copyrights: Dylan O'Donnell IC 5146
Copyrights: Raul Villaverde Fraile Wanderers
Copyrights: Tim Bruton M31
Copyrights: Alan Potts Double Cluster in Perseus
Copyrights: Alan Potts Dusk over Chipeque, Tenerife
Copyrights: Domingo Perez Once
Copyrights: Aggelos Makris M45 and surroundings
Copyrights: R. Colombari / C. Iaffaldano Jupiter & its moons
Copyrights: Chinmay Gupte Sh 2-199
Copyrights: Peter Weinreich

Saint-Véran (AstroQueyras) Observatory for Amateurs
AstrosibT500F8 (4m focal length !) with ASI1600MM-Cool
590 x 10sec exposures... up to mag. 24 !
Only 10 seconds exposures... Lucky Imaging with good seeing.
Around 1 arcsec resolution (0,2 arcsec sampling). You can see individual stars of this cluster at almost 2,5 million light years.
Additional information at :
http://www.astrosurf.com/pixiel/astroqu ... hfinal.htm

It is the first time that amateurs make this kind of extreme picture of this object. This picture reach SDSS (2,5m) level !
Capture and processing by Robert CAZILHAC and Mathieu SENEGAS
Postprocessing and color by Christian DUPRIEZ

Rosette Nebula
Copyrights: Raul Villaverde (Alcarreño) and Jose Jimenez (astromet) Especially bright Belt/girdle or Venus
Copyrights: Ed Kearton-Gee First Signs of Weird Quantum Property of Empty Space?
Copyrights: ESO/L. Calçada
An article: http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1641/ http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?t=36603

NGC 2237
Copyrights: Daniel Puerta Sánchez Cone Nebula
Copyrights: Richard S. Wright Jr. Embryonic Cluster Galaxy Immersed in Giant Cloud of Cold Gas
Copyrights: ESO/M. Kornmesser
An article: https://public.nrao.edu/news/pressrelea ... luster-gas http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?t=36609

Milky Way over McDonald Observatory
Copyrights: Brent Schneeman ISS passing over Austin, Texas
Copyrights: Tanner Brown M45 (The Pleiades)
Copyrights: Javier Gomez Laina Airglow night at Chopok peak (2024m), Slovakia
Copyrights: Ondrej Kralik Jupiter
Copyrights: Peter Muks Moonset over Eiffel Tower
Copyrights: Josselin Desmars Sunset
Copyrights: Vasilis Misirlis Andromeda & Triangulum Constellations & Spirals
Copyrights: John Chumack Milky Way over Conococha - Peru - South America
Copyrights: Jheison Huerta Colourful Moon
Copyrights: Emanuele Chiapparelli Rosette Nebula
Copyrights: Lovro Dujnic Barnard 22 & IC2087
Copyrights: Gordon Wright NGC 7023
Copyrights: Gordon Wright NGC1333
Copyrights: Gordon Wright Asymmetrical Rainbow
Copyrights: Chris Erikson

Sh2-308
http://astrob.in/270027/G/
Copyright: Anis Abdul
http://cdn.astrobin.com/images/thumbs/2 ... 0Abdul.jpg

Heaven's Gate SH2-124
Full image here: http://moonrocksastro.com/wp-content/up ... s-Gate.jpg
Copyright: Paul C Swift

August 2016
Location: San Romualdo - Ravenna (Italy)
Tecnosky Apo 130 F/6.9
ASA DDM60PRO with Autoslew and Sequence.
CCD QSI 520wsi cooled -9
Unguided images
Baader CCD RGB and Halpha 7nm filters
HA-RGB: HA 29x10min, R 16x5min, G 17x5min, B 22x5min
Acquired with: MaximDL5 - Calibrated with Dark, Bias and Flat.
Processed with: MaximDL5, Astroart6, StarTools 1.4, Photoshop CS2, Paint Shop Pro X9, Topaz and Nik plug-in.

Cristina Cellini

M13 from San Diego, CA. Copyright KG Observatory.

Imaging telescope or lens: Celestron 8" EdgeHD
Imaging camera: QSI 660 WSG
Mount: Losmandy G-11
Guiding camera: Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2
Focal reducer: Celestron 0.7X
Software: PHD Guiding 2, PixInsight 1.8, Sequence Generator Pro, Maxim DL6, Adobe Photoshop CC 2014
Filters: Astrodon 1.25" R, Astrodon 1.25" B, Astrodon 1.25" G
Accessories: Starizona MicroTouch Autofocuser, Bahtinov Mask
Resolution: 2568x2034
Dates: April 16, 2016, May 25, 2016
Frames:
Astrodon 1.25" B: 30x120" -20C bin 1x1
Astrodon 1.25" G: 29x120" -20C bin 1x1
Astrodon 1.25" R: 30x120" -20C bin 1x1
Integration: 3.0 hours
Darks: ~20
Flats: ~60
Flat darks: ~60
Bias: ~20
Avg. Moon age: 13.40 days
Avg. Moon phase: 79.51%
Mean SQM: 19.75
Astrometry.net job: 1366272
RA center: 250.431 degrees
DEC center: 36.463 degrees
Pixel scale: 0.637 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: 84.972 degrees
Field radius: 0.290 degrees
Locations: Home, Rancho Santa Fe, California, United States

Sorry about the hot link earlier. Uploading the image now.

SH2-308 in Bicolor (Ha and OIII)

Imaging telescope or lens: Takahashi FSQ 106ED
Imaging camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool
Mount: Astro-Physics AP 900 GTO CP3
Guiding telescope or lens: Orion Magnificent Mini AutoGuider
Guiding camera: Starlight Xpress Lodestar x2
Focal reducer: Takahashi .7x Reducer
Filters: Astrodon OIII 1.25 3nm, Astrodon Ha 1.25 5nm, Orion LRGB filter set 1.25"
Frames:
Astrodon Ha 1.25 5nm: 20x480" bin 1x1
Astrodon OIII 1.25 3nm: 57x600" bin 1x1
Integration: 12.2 hours
Avg. Moon age: 28.43 days
Avg. Moon phase: 1.59%
Astrometry.net job: 1355719
RA center: 103.599 degrees
DEC center: -24.022 degrees
Pixel scale: 2.159 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: 81.173 degrees
Field radius: 1.069 degrees
Locations: Backyard, Austin, Texas, United States
http://astrob.in/270027/G/
Copyright: Anis Abdul

All panoramas in one shot for each individual.

Credits & Copyrights:

D. Pestana - R. Villaverde - D. Forteza
Datos de Domingo y Raul by David Forteza, en Flickr

D. Forteza
El espinazo de la noche by David Forteza, en Flickr

D. Forteza
Salines Shadow by David Forteza, en Flickr

Xisco A.P. - R. Villaverde - J. Jiménez - D. Forteza
Mosaico by David Forteza, en Flickr

D. Forteza
Cometa 252P Linear & Via Lactea by David Forteza, en Flickr

D. Forteza
A la sombra de la Via Lactea by David Forteza, en Flickr

Xisco A.P. - D. Forteza
In Action Milky Way by David Forteza, en Flickr

D. Forteza
Vía Láctea, Cometa 252P, Saturno & Marte by David Forteza, en Flickr

D. Forteza
Reprocess Air-Glow by David Forteza, en Flickr

D. Forteza
Reprocesado al canto by David Forteza, en Flickr

D. Pestana - Nicolás - R. Villaverde - D. Forteza
Via Lactea y Luz Zodiacal desde Las Inviernas by David Forteza, en Flickr

D. Pestana - R. Villaverde - D. Forteza
Bolido junto Via Lactea desde la Alcarria by David Forteza, en Flickr

D. Forteza - Lucía T.
El Cielo Café by David Forteza, en Flickr

D. Forteza
Luna y Via Lactea en Santanyí by David Forteza, en Flickr

D. Forteza - Lucía T.
La pareja by David Forteza, en Flickr

D. Forteza
Milky way from Cala Santanyi, Mallorca, Balearic Island. by David Forteza, en Flickr

Milky Way Panorama from North America to Eta Carinae Nebula with Planets Saturn (in Ophiuchus) and Mars (in Scorpius), Namibia, Aug. 28 - Sept 02 2016
http://www.sternklar.ch/images-webpages ... ept-16.htm

Exposure data:
4 frames mosaic with Canon EOS 6D(a) and Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 25 mm 1:2.8 ZE @ f/4.0 & 800 Asa.
Aug. 28 2016: 3 frames for the sector from Aquila to Carina including the planets Mars and Saturn.
Sept. 02 2016: 1 frame for the sector including the constellation Cygnus.
Total exposure time for all four frames: 91 x 3 minutes (273 minutes).

Copyright: Manuel Jung, http://www.sternklar.ch
http://www.sternklar.ch/images/FotosAkt ... ept-16.jpg

Orion Nebula
Copyrights: Steven Christensen Cygnus Loop
Copyrights: Shane Ramotowski Rare Aurora over North Pole region
Copyrights: Shreenivasan Manievannan Orion Nebula
Copyrights: Filip Piękniewski Milky Way over Lowell Observatory's Discovery Channel Telescope
Copyrights: Michael West Startrails over Lowell Observatory's Discovery Channel Telescope
Copyrights: Michael West Moon and Jupiter Conjunction from Colombia
Copyrights: Carlos Galeano The Alien Thunderstorms
Copyrights: Carlos Galeano Heart nebula close-up
Copyrights: Marco Verstraaten The Heart Nebula - IC1805
Copyrights: Brendan Walsh Lagoon
Credits and copyrights: Data: ESO/INAF/R.Colombari/E. Recurt; Assembling and processing: R. Colombari
Full size: http://www.astrobin.com/full/274283/0/?nc=&real=&mod= Anvil cloud
Copyrights: Denis Martinez Tangled threads weave through cosmic oddity
Image credits: NASA, ESA/Hubble, A. Fabian
An article: http://www.spacetelescope.org/news/heic1621/ http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?t=36606

IC1795, Fishhead nebula
Copyrights: Juan Francisco Dark Horse and the whole Rho Op area
Copyrights: Rogelio Bernal Andreo Sh2-129 Ou4 The Flying Bat and Squid Nebula
Copyrights: Barry Wilson The Propeller Nebula
Copyrights: Martin Pugh Moondog over China
Copyrights: Tianwei Zhang NGC 1532 and supernova
Copyrights: Mike Berthon-Jones and Trish Berthon-Jones NGC 2392 (Clown Nebula)
Copyrights: Jeffsimo Bax NGC7822
Copyrights: Gordon Wright M 16
Copyrights: Josep Drudis NGC 1316
Copyrights: Steve Mazlin

NGC2170
http://www.astrowimp.com
Copyright: Tim Christensen
LRGB 4 panel mosaic 31.8 hours exposure