Starship Asterisk*

Hi,

Here is an image I would like to submit for APOD:
This is a shot I've been dying to get for years: A close-up view of Rho Ophiuchi in very high definition! For the first time in my astrophotography journey, I decided to do a mosaic, which allowed me to get as much detail as possible on my target.
The picture you see below is a 4-panel mosaic, taken with our RASA 8 f/2 telescope from the Bortle 2 skies of Utah Desert Remote Observatories. I spent approximately 2 hours on each panel, which was enough thanks to the fast optics and clean sky.

Creating the mosaic and processing was done in PixInsight, and was a lot of fun. This is a funny timing because today NASA revealed an image of Rho Ophiuchi taken by the JWST. You can see that tiny section in the mosaic if you look close enough!

Credit:
Antoine and Dalia Grelin
https://www.galactic-hunter.com/

GEAR USED:
* Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC

* Telescope: RASA8
* Mount: 10Micron GM1000HPS

* Processing: PixInsight

* ACQUISITION DETAILS:

* Total Exposure Time: 8 hours

* Exposure Time per frame: 300 seconds

* Filters: N/A

* Gain: 100


Rho Ophiuchi 2x2 Mosaic

And to point out the JWST nebula location:

Rho Ophiuchi different views comparison

Inverted Realities - Airliner and an Active Star
I could not resist posting this single frame of an airliner crossing the Sun on May 27, 2023 whilst I recorded a few tests from my back garden. Hope you enjoy!

Location: Back Garden, London, UK

Imaging Telescopes
Lunt LS80MT DS

Imaging Cameras
ZWO ASI1600MM Pro

Mounts
Celestron Advanced VX

Accessories
Celestron Universal 2x Barlow

Software
Adobe Photoshop · AstroSharp Ltd SharpCap · Emil Kraaikamp AutoStakkert! · Filip Szczerek ImPPG (Image Post-Processor) · Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight

Copyright: Hamza Ilyas

Hey guys!

Here's a submission for this month APOD:

moteros sol silhouette by jessica rojas apod by Jessica Rojas, en Flickr

Copyright: Jessica Rojas

Description: A couple is having fun travelling by their motorbike when suddenly the sun setted

Camera: Nikon Z8
EXIF: 400m - 9F - ISO100 - 1/640
Location: Madrid, (Spain)
Time: 30/06/2023 (sunset)
Distance from the shooting spot is 350 meters, one single shot

If you like my work, you can see more on my IG account: https://www.instagram.com/jessica_rojas_jess/

Thanks!

IC 1396 Elephant's Trunk Nebula

I captured the Elephant's Trunk Nebula over two nights from Bortle Class 8-9 skies, using a Samyang 135mm f/2 lens, ZWO ASI533MC color camera, and dual-band (H-alpha and O-iii emission) filter. The total integration time is about 6.5 hours of narrowband data, and 10 minutes of RGB data for stars.

Location: Des Plaines, Illinois
Date: July 9-10, 2023
Copyright: Imran Sultan

Hi everybody,

Here is Astrogrumpy (aka Gabriel) from Mallorca (Spain), and I've submitted my last photograph, from last weeks sessions.

I’m an amateur astrophotographer that enjoys taking pictures of the NightSky and DSO from my backyard at home.

IC 1396 and Elephant Trunk Nebula by Gabriel Cabot, on Flickr

The image is an SHO palette image of IC1396 and the Elephant Trunk Nebula in the Cepheus constellation, I took 16h10min of integration time in 4 nights (7th, 10th, 13th, and 14th of July 2023) at my backyard at home with my Skywacher 200PDS and ASI1600MM with narrowband filters.

The specifications of the photo are:

Date: 7th, 10th, 13th, and 14th of July 2023.
Location: Santa Eugènia, Malloca (Spain)
Type of acquisition: Amateur Backyard Photography at Bortle 4.

Equipment:
OTA: Skywatcher 200/1000
Camera: ASI1600MM – Cool (Gain: 120; Temperature: -10C)
Filterwheel: ZWO EFW 7x36 + ZWO Ha/Oiii/Sii 36mm filters
Guide equipment: SVBony SV106 and SVBony 305Pro
Mount: Skywatcher AZEQ6R

Total Integration Time: 16h 10m
      75x300s Ha lights
      58x300s Oiii lights
      61x300s Sii lights
      50x 300s Dark frames
      150x Flat frames
      150x DarkFlat frames

Processed in PixInsight.

Thanks a lot in advance

Gabriel

Hi!

I want to share this panorama with all of you!

Title: Concave and Convex: Geometries of the Universe

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qu3QZY ... sp=sharing Credit & Copyright: Ramseit Cairos https://www.instagram.com/ramseit

Description: The night was clear in The protected area of Champ of Pumice (Campos de Piedra Pómez) in Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca, Argentina and it was only illuminated by Venus located at the right. You can also see in the same sector the zodiacal light with its brightness. The milky way center is still on its way to be visible and you can see Orion's constellation next to Venus as well. In the center, you have the Big Magellanic Cloud aligned with the main visible rock formation in the selected spot in which you can also appreciate a game of symmetry made by the curve of the milky way arch and the curve made by the crack in the Pumice floor.

Thank you!

M16 - Eagle Nebula
Click on above to enlarge

Full info & high resolution @ https://www.kinchastro.com/m16-eagle-nebula.html

NGC 1097 and background galaxies by William Ostling, on Flickr

Full write-up here: https://theastroenthusiast.com/ngc-1097 ... -galaxies/

This was a tough image to process because of how faint the stellar streams are. Nonetheless, I think I did a pretty good job balancing out the brightness of the galaxy with the streams. I also am still fine-tuning my MMT HDR method, which works pretty well to bring out detail. There is a far better and deeper image taken by Mike Selby here: https://throughlightandtime.com/ngc_109 ... -may-2023/

Spiral galaxy NGC 1097 shines in southern skies, about 45 million light-years away in the heated constellation Fornax. Its blue spiral arms are mottled with pinkish star forming regions in this colorful galaxy portrait. They seem to have wrapped around a small companion galaxy above and right of center, about 40,000 light-years from the spiral’s luminous core. That’s not NGC 1097’s only peculiar feature, though. This very deep exposure hints of faint, mysterious jets, seen to extend well beyond the bluish arms. In fact, four faint jets are ultimately recognized in optical images of NGC 1097. The jets trace an X centered on the galaxy’s nucleus, but probably don’t originate there. Instead, they could be fossil star streams, trails left over from the capture and disruption of a much smaller galaxy in the large spiral’s ancient past. A Seyfert galaxy, NGC 1097’s nucleus also harbors a supermassive black hole.

Website: https://theastroenthusiast.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_astronomy_enthusiast/

The Bubble Nebula - HOO by Ali Alobaidly, on Flickr

About the Image:
Every image, to me, is the story of how and when it was captured. These images I've been putting out lately represent a determination in me I never knew I possessed. It takes a concentrated effort of will to transport these equipment in and out of the city in 50°C+ (122°F) heat of kuwait. At night, temperatures drop to around 33°C (91°F), still a bit too hot for me and a little too overwhelming for the cameras. So, why is it that I find myself drenched in sweat every other weekend setting up and staying up late?

I always ask myself that question and I always get an answer when I finally see that stacked frame on my computer screen. There is a kind of satisfaction soldem experienced by many when one witnesses the products of his passion revealed so magnificently. I'm happy to inform you that indeed I felt it again when I stacked my 10 hours of narrowband data on the bubble nebula and had a blast processing it. Some images just seem to come together, this one did, like that cold can of coke after a long hot night amids the dunes and underneath the stars.

Equipment:
Imaging Telescopes: Celestron EdgeHD 9.25"
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Mounts: Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Pro
Filters: Chroma H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 36 mm and Chroma OIII 3nm Bandpass 36 mm

Acquisition details:
Dates: July 15, 2023 and July 16, 2023
Chroma H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 36 mm: 60×300″(5h)
Chroma OIII 3nm Bandpass 36 mm: 60×300″(5h)
Integration: 10h

(Instagram: AstraPharma_Q8)

The Path to Stars

The Path to Stars by Ahmed Waddah, on Flickr

Image is a composite where foreground was imaged during blue hour and Sky was imaged tracked later that night. Image was taken in Al Fayoum Desert at Qussor Al Arab on the 14th of July in Egypt. A friend was imaged in the foreground to convey the feel of desert travelers stargazing at the majesty of the Galactic Core. Only one image was used for the sky as it was a partially cloudy night and I decided to use the glow of the clouds to complement the Milkyway. My friend my local guide who almost always accompanies me on my imaging nights. Sky and Foreground were shot from same position.

Sky: 1x90" - ISO 1000 - f/2.8 (Nikon Z6II (Stock) - Z14-24mm f/2.8 @24mm)
Foreground: 1x1.6" - ISO 100 - f/16 (Nikon Z6II (Stock) - Z14-24mm f/2.8 @24mm)
Fornax LightrackII

https://www.astrobin.com/sbjigh/

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

This is Barnard 143 in Aquila. When I started this I thought it was going to be a fairly standard looking dark nebula but there was enough faint detail to bring the dark nebula into the light!

This is 24h 55m of LRGB data.

The image was processed by me with input from our telescope team members Chris Kagy, Bob Traube and Jim Medley. The equipment is owned by Tim Triche. Collectively we operate the telescope but process data individually. You can find more tech details here: https://www.astrobin.com/zwe2h4/. You might prefer Chris Kagy's version at https://www.astrobin.com/a8a2is/

Equipment:
FLI ML16803 camera
Planewave CDK14
Astrophysics 1600GTO
Astrodon LRGB filters
hosted at Sierra Remote Observatories

In the footsteps of Galileo by Agostinho Gomes da Silva, no Flickr

This is my once in a lifetime shot!
https://kleinburger.com/wp-content/uplo ... scaled.jpg

Last saturday 15. July at 11:44 pm a big fireball meteor burns up in direction south.
It was one of the brightest meteors I've ever seen and I just stood there in amazement.
The explosion was visible for almost a minute. When I looked at my camera I couldn't believe my eyes. I had caught him full of all the magic colors.

I was there for milky way photos but this is really a once in a lifetime photo for me.
Taken with a full frame astro modified camera and a 50mm lens from Hochkar Mountain in Austria.


It would be a great honor and pleasure for me if you would share my photo in various channels, especially on Facebook and Instagram:
https://www.facebook.com/kleinburger.photography
https://www.instagram.com/kleinburger.photography

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/530 ... cc85_k.jpg
An Ocean of Wonder - WR 134 (APOD Submission) by Ali Alobaidly, on Flickr

My name is Ali Alobaidly and I'm from Kuwait.
This is my submission for APOD (Instagram: AstraPharma_Q8).
https://www.instagram.com/astrapharma_q8/

Condition and location: Bortle 5, Al Salmi Desert Kuwait.

About this Image:

Inner dialogue:
"The AM5 is so portable, maybe I should take it with me on my trip to photograph the Bubble Nebula. My 2600MM will be occupied so I'll just take my OSC. I'll figure out what to image later, when I get there. I do have that dual-band though, might be interesting. How about that weird target I have saved somewhere. Ah, there it is, I wonder if it's out tonight. What, its near Cygnus! I can Image it all night, maybe tomorrow as well. Let's go!!"

Unexpected result if I'm completely honest, as you can see I was not even planning to Image this target let alone come up with these results. There is so much hydrogen in the frame. My only regret (Not really a regret) is that I didn't blast this with another 10 hours of Oiii. I want a piece of that blue in the middle. I will definitely revisit this target.

Acquisition:
Gain 100 - offset 50 - temperature -10°C

15/07/2023 & 16/07/2023
Zwo Duo-Band 7nm 300s frames x 120 (10 hours)
Total acquisition ~10 hours (without the calibration frames)

Setup:
* WO GT81 + small guide scope
* WO Flat6A III 0.8x Reducer / Flattener
* ZWO AM5
* ASI120MM-S for guiding
* ASI2600mm pro
* ZWO electronic auto focuser
* ASIair Pro
* A 500w battery with a 12VDC/10A output + various other powering solutions
* Flat master

Hello

My name is Anthony Sleiman.

Here is my APOD Submission.

This image was taken deep in the Everglades during the dry season.

Thank you,

Veil Nebula Complex by Daniele Borsari, on Flickr

Atacama Desert Air Glow by Victor Lima, no Flickr

Category: Single Exposure Panoramic Shot
Social IG: @victorlimaphoto
Story:
Magical Air Glow in the Atacama Desert, Chile.
The intense Air Glow in the Atacama Desert is likely due to its high-altitude and clear, dry atmospheric conditions, which allow for better visibility of this natural phenomenon caused by various chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere.
The colors of Air Glow are predominantly green and red, caused by the emission of light from excited oxygen molecules and atoms in the upper atmosphere.
EXIF:
07/may/2022 - 1:54am
Panoramic Shot
Canon 6D Ha-mod
Sigma 20mm f/1.4 Art
Manfrotto 055XPRO Tripod
5x 15 sec / f:1.8 / ISO 5000
______________________________________________________________________
Come with us!
ATACAMA DESERT PHOTO TOUR
September 2023
https://en.trilhadeestrelas.com/atacama-desert

The rural sky of Teresópolis by Victor Lima, no Flickr

The Milky Way cloud appears in detail over Morro dos Cabritos, a 900-meter-high mountain in the Vale dos Frades region, in Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This is a rural area categorized as class 3 on the Bortle scale.

The Bortle scale is a numerical rating system that assesses the darkness and visibility of the night sky. It consists of nine levels, ranging from Class 1 (the darkest skies) to Class 9 (severe light pollution). Each class on the scale describes specific characteristics and features of the sky.
In Bortle Class 3, the sky conditions exhibit relatively limited light pollution. Here are some notable features of a Bortle 3 sky:
Moderate Light Pollution: Bortle 3 skies experience some degree of light pollution, typically from nearby towns or cities. While not as severe as in more populated areas, the presence of artificial lighting affects the overall darkness and visibility of the sky.
Milky Way Visibility: In Bortle 3 skies, the Milky Way, our galaxy, is visible as a prominent band stretching across the sky. While it may not be as vivid and detailed as in darker sky conditions, the core of the Milky Way and its brighter sections can still be observed.
Good Star Clarity: Bortle 3 skies offer reasonably clear views of individual stars. While some fainter stars may be less visible due to light pollution, the overall brilliance and clarity of the stellar display remain impressive. Constellations and their brighter stars are easily identifiable.
Observable Nebulae and Galaxies: Deep-sky objects, such as nebulae and galaxies, can be observed in Bortle 3 skies. While the presence of light pollution may affect the visibility of fainter objects, brighter and more prominent nebulae and galaxies should still be visible. The details and structures of these celestial objects can be appreciated with the right equipment.
Zodiacal Light: Bortle 3 skies allow for occasional sightings of the zodiacal light. This faint glow appears as a pyramid-shaped illumination along the ecliptic and is caused by sunlight reflecting off interplanetary dust particles. In darker areas of the Bortle 3 zone, the zodiacal light may be more visible.
Meteor Shower Observations: Bortle 3 skies are suitable for observing meteor showers. While some light pollution may affect the visibility of faint meteors, brighter meteors and fireballs should still be visible. Clear nights during meteor showers can offer memorable viewing experiences.
Overall, Bortle 3 skies provide a relatively darker and clearer viewing environment compared to higher Bortle classes. Although some light pollution is present, stargazers and astronomers can still enjoy a range of celestial objects and phenomena, including the Milky Way, individual stars, nebulae, galaxies, zodiacal light, and meteor showers.

EXIF:
07/14/2023 - 9pm
Single Exposure Vertical Panorama
Canon 6Da | Sigma 20mm f/1.4 Art
5x 20 sec | f/1.8 | ISO 5000

Veil Nebula in Cygnus

Widefield shot of the Veil Nebula in the Cygnus constellation. I captured this target from Bortle Class 8-9 city skies with a 135mm f/2 lens, ZWO ASI533MC color camera, and dual-band (H-alpha and O-iii emission) filter, with an integration time of 2.5 hours.

Location: Des Plaines, Illinois
Date: July 3, 2023

https://www.astrobin.com/full/04yy79/B/

https://cdn.astrobin.com/thumbs/fbxD-yK ... pnh7T1.jpg

I would like to submit this for APOD
M20 Trifid Nebula
Captured with my 120mm triplet refractor from William Optics
One shot color camera zwo 533 mc pro
4HRS of integration (120 x120sec exposures)
Location: Fairburn Georgia

Rho Ophiuchi 21.6 Hours by Blake Estes, on Flickr

This image consists of 647 x 120 images stacked.
By Christian Sasse & Blake Estes

Camera: ZWO ASI 6200MC Pro
Lens: Sigma 180 Macro f/2.8
Filter: Optolong L-Pro
Mount: Paramount ME
Location: Siding Spring Observatory, Australia

Sh2-155 (also designated Caldwell 9, Sharpless 155 or S155) is a diffuse nebula in the constellation Cepheus, within a larger nebula complex containing emission, reflection, and dark nebulosity. It is widely known as the Cave Nebula, though that name was applied earlier to Ced 201, a different nebula in Cepheus. Sh2-155 is an ionized H II region with ongoing star formation activity,[1] at an estimated distance of 725 parsecs (2400 light-years) from Earth.[2][3]
Mauro R.

https://maurosky.webador.it/sh2-155-cav ... uror-finex
https://primary.jwwb.nl/public/m/q/z/te ... -finex.png

Atacama Sky's by Victor Lima, no Flickr
Atacama Sky's by Victor Lima, no Flickr

Category: Panorama
Social IG: @victorlimaphoto
Story:
In this captivating astrophotograph taken in the otherworldly landscape of the Atacama Desert, the night sky comes alive with celestial wonders. The inky blackness is pierced by the ethereal glow of the Coal Sack Nebula, a dark cloud obscuring the stars behind it. Just above, the Southern Cross (Crux) stands tall, its four bright stars forming a heavenly cross. To the right, the sky is adorned with the splendor of the Running Chicken Nebula (IC 2948) and the iconic Eta Carinae Nebula (NGC 3372), a sprawling region of intense star formation. The Gum Nebula (Gum 12) stretches across the lower part of the frame, a vast expanse of ionized gas and dust. This image is a testament to the pristine skies of the Atacama, allowing us to witness the celestial marvels of the Milky Way's southern hemisphere.
As we shift our gaze further, the scene unravels the cosmic ballet of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. These two dwarf galaxies, satellite companions of the Milky Way, display their distinctive cloudy structures amidst a sea of stars. The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) exhibits its grandeur on the right, while the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) graces the left side of the composition. Their presence adds an enchanting depth to the night sky, as they have done for countless generations, guiding explorers and dreamers alike.
Completing this breathtaking tableau, a mesmerizing Airglow softly illuminates the horizon. The Earth's atmosphere releases faint, greenish light due to chemical reactions in the upper layers, creating a captivating luminescence. As this celestial symphony unfolds in the Atacama Desert, far from the intrusive lights of civilization, one can't help but feel humbled by the vastness and beauty of the universe. This photograph is a tribute to the splendors of the southern celestial hemisphere, inviting us to ponder the mysteries and wonders that lie beyond our world.
EXIF:
07/may/2022 - 1:07am
Atacama Desert/Chile
Canon 6Da / Sigma 20mm f/1.4 Art
2x 15 sec / f:1.8 / ISO 5000

M12 - THE GLOBULAR CLUSTER (MESSIER 12/NGC 6218)


BEST DETAILS
https://www.astrobin.com/full/cvpwj7/0/

EQUIPMENT:
Esprit 150mm triplet
Zwo asi 6200mc
Mount CEM120
Frames 39X100"

LOCATION: Munhoz - MG - Brazil
DATES: From 06/06/2023 to 06/07/2023

PROCESSING AND CAPTURE:
Adobe Photoshop, ASTAP, SGP, PHD2 and PixInsight

Author: Fernando Oliveira de Menezes
Email: Barretosmed@hotmail.com
(Organizing author of the book Amateur Astrophotography in Brazil)
https://clubedeautores.com.br/livro/ast ... -no-brasil

Bubble Nebula and M52

I would like to share this picture of the Bubble Nebula and M52 (and a bit of the Lobster Claw Nebula) I captured from my backyard. Shot with an OSC camera/dual-narrowband filter, and processed in HOO palette.

Equipment:
ZWO ASI533MC Pro
Optolong L-Ultimate 2" filter
Svbony SV503 80ED 80mm refractor
Star Adventurer GTi, ZWO 30mm f/4 guidescope, ASI120MM Mini guidecamera, ASIAIR Pro

41x300 sec light; flat/bias/dark frames

Software: Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight, Photoshop

Location: NW Illinois, Bortle Class 8-9
Date: July 22, 2023