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Triangulum Galaxy (M33)
Image Details
Date: November 2, 2011 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: CGEM Guiding: C9.25 via Orion Starshoot Camera: QHY8 Filter: Astronomik CLS Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 56x5min + 23x10min = 8.5 hours Effective Focal Length: 1440mm Effective Focal Ratio: f/6.3 Want More Info ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangulum_Galaxy
Description
This is a spiral galaxy which is approximatly 3 million light years from earth. It is sometimes called The Pinwheel Galaxy. This was certainly a challenging target for my light polluted skies. It is very apparent that even with a light pollution filter, there are some targets that are simply out of reach. Ahh to be in the dark skies of Quinan....
A massive supernova (exploding star) was discovered in the Pinwheel galaxy. Mouse over the image o see the supernova.
Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) with Supernova
Image Details
Date: June 23, 2011 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: CGEM Guiding: Orion 80ED via Orion Starshoot Camera: QHY8 Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 8x5min = 40min, g=1, o=124 Effective Focal Length: f/10 Effective Focal Ratio: 2332mm Want More Info ? http://www.universetoday.com/86261/supernova-discovered-in-m51-the-whirlpool-galaxy/
Description
Finally got a chance to image the supernova (exploding star) discovered on June 2nd 2011 by French astronomers.
M109
Image Details
Date: April 23, 2011 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: CGEM Guiding: Orion 80ED via Orion Starshoot Camera: QHY8 Filter: Orion Ultrablock Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 9x5min = 45min @ g=1 o=124 Effective Focal Length: 2332mm Effective Focal Ratio: f/10 Want More Info ? http://seds.org/messier/m/m109.html
M108 (NGC 3556)
Image Details
Date: April 22, 2011 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: CGEM Guiding: Orion 80ED via Orion Starshoot Camera: QHY8 Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 20x5min = 100min, g=1, o=121 Effective Focal Length: f/10 Effective Focal Ratio: 2332mm Want More Info ? http://seds.org/messier/m/m108.html
Description
This is a beautiful edg-on spiral galaxy in the constellation of Ursa Major. I was impressed at the number of galaxies in this frame. One of which is a faint magnitude of 17.65. Considering the amount of light pollution, and the short exposure at such a high f ratio this suprised me.
Swelling Spiral (M61)
Image Details
Date: May 8, 2010 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: Tripod Guiding: Orion 80ED via Orion Starshoot Camera: QHY8 Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 16x5min g=110 o=1 Effective Focal Length: f/6.3 Effective Focal Ratio: 1440mm Want More Info ? http://seds.org/messier/m/m061.html
Sombrero Galaxy (M104)
Image Details
Date: May 8, 2010 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: CGEM Guiding: Orion 80ED via Orion Starshoot Camera: QHY8 Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 10x300sec Effective Focal Length: f/6.3 Effective Focal Ratio: 1440mm Want More Info ? http://seds.org/messier/m/m104.html
Cat's Eye Galaxy (M94)
Image Details
Date: May 6, 2010 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: CGEM Guiding: Orion 80ED via Orion Starshoot Camera: QHY8 Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 14 x 5min = 1h 10min Effective Focal Length: f/6.3 Effective Focal Ratio: 1440mm Want More Info ? http://seds.org/MESSIER/Mdes/dm094.html
Description
First test using a bit a new processing method. Turns out my flats I was taking were underexposed and causing more noise to be introduced in the final image. Noise is now much more manageable.
Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565)
Image Details
Date: April 12, 2010 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: Tripod Guiding: Orion 80ED via Orion Starshoot Camera: QHY8 Filter: Astronomik CLS Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 22 x 5min = 110min Effective Focal Length: 1440mm Effective Focal Ratio: f/6.3 Want More Info ? http://seds.org/messier/xtra/ngc/n4565.html
NGC 2903
Image Details
Date: March 13, 2010 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: Tripod Guiding: Orion 80ED via Orion Starshoot Camera: QHY8 Filter: Astronomik CLS Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 8x5min+2x10min = 60min Effective Focal Length: 2332mm Effective Focal Ratio: f/10 Want More Info ? http://seds.org/messier/xtra/ngc/n2903.html
Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)
Image Details
Date: July 18, 2009 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: Celestron AS-GT Guiding: Orion ED80 Apo via Vesta Pro Camera: QHY8 Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 6 x 4min = 24min Effective Focal Length: ~f6 Effective Focal Ratio: ~1400
Description
This is my first real attempt at image processing with the QHY8. It's going to take some time to perfect it. Need some work on the color balance. Although it does not appear so at first, this camera is much more sensitive than my Canon 300D. Incredibly less noisy too.
Leo Triplett (M66 Group)
Image Details
Date: April 25, 2009 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: Orion 80ED Apo Refractor Mount: Celestron AS-GT Guiding: C9.25S via Vesta Pro Webcam Camera: QHY8 Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 6 x 3min = 18min Effective Focal Length: 600mm Effective Focal Ratio: f/6.3 Want More Info ? http://www.messier.obspm.fr/more/m066gr.html
Description
This is the first try with my new QHY8 CCD camera. I still have lots to learn. The step involved in image processing are different than DSLR. This camera has an amazing signal to noise ratio and thus no need for dark frames.
Andromeda (M31) & M32
Image Details
Date: October 25, 2008 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: Orion 80ED Apo Refractor Mount: Celestron AS-GT Camera: Canon Digital Rebel 300D Site: Indian Mountain Exposure: 26 x 30sec = 13.8min @ ISO 1600 Effective Focal Length: ~600mm Effective Focal Ratio: f/6 Want More Info ? http://seds.org/MESSIER/m/m031.html
Description
Although this image needs more exposure time, I thought I would share it anyway.
Bodes Galaxy (M81, NGC 3031)
Image Details
Date: May 29, 2008 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: Celestron AS-GT Guiding: Orion ED80 Apo via Vesta Pro Camera: Canon Digital Rebel 300D Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 22 x 3min = 66min @ ISO 1600 Effective Focal Length: 1440mm Effective Focal Ratio: f6.3
Description
This was my third attempt over the last couple of weeks to image this galaxy. I like to try and keep my exposures less than 5 minutes long. Unfortunatly I was not able to gather enough light even at ISO 1600 with such short exposures, so I used the f/6.3 focal reducer. This did the trick. I am starting to think ISO 1600 may be the way to go. It does require nearly twice as many light frames to correct for the high noise, but the exposures can be a bit shorter.
Cigar Galxy (M82)
Image Details
Date: May 16, 2008 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: Celestron AS-GT Guiding: Orion ED80 Apo via Vesta Pro Camera: Canon Digital Rebel 300D Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 17 x 2 min @ ISO 1600 = 34min Effective Focal Length: 2332mm Effective Focal Ratio: f/10
Description
The Cigar Galaxy is known as a starburst galaxy and is about 12 million light years away and resides in the constellation of Ursa Major. This is the first guided image taken with my Orion ED80. It seems to perform very well. Out of 19 frames only two were throw aways. This is also the first image after replacing the motor control board of my DEC axis.
The Whirlpool Galaxy (M52)
Image Details
Date: June 15, 2007 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: Celestron AS-GT Guiding: Orion 80mm guidescope via Vesta Pro webcam Camera: Canon Digital Rebel 300D Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: Effective Focal Length: Effective Focal Ratio: Want More Info ? http://www.seds.org/Messier/M/m051.html
Description
The Whirlpool Galaxy is one of my favorite objects in the night sky. This image was taken from my rather light polluted backyard. The power of image processing has sure come a long way.
Black Eye Galaxy (M64)
Image Details
Date: May 21, 2007 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: Celestron AS-GT Guiding: Orion 80mm guidescope via Vesta Pro webcam Camera: Canon Digital Rebel 300D Site: DSE Observatory Exposure: 5x3min @ ISO 400 Effective Focal Length: 2332mm Effective Focal Ratio: f/10 Want More Info ? http://seds.org/messier/m/m064.html
Description
This image did not turn out too bad considering the length of the exposures
Andromeda Galaxy (M31,M101)
Image Details
Date: October 3, 2005 Author: Tim Doucette Telescope: C9.25 Mount: Celestron AS-GT Guiding: Orion 80mm guidescope via Vesta Pro webcam Camera: Canon Digital Rebel 300D Site: Indian Mountain Exposure: 5 x 4min = 20min @ ISO 800 Effective Focal Length: 1440mm Effective Focal Ratio: f/6.3
Description
This image was taken during an observing session with the RASC club at our observation site at Indian Mountain.
