Monthly Archives: October 2013

A first visit to M71

Posted on October 15, 2013 by james

I wasn’t sure I had this cluster in the field of view initially. It’s quite diffuse compared with the Messier clusters I’ve spent the summer imaging and against a fairly dense star field it wasn’t entirely obvious. It looks lovely … Continue reading →

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A stunning globular cluster

Posted on October 15, 2013 by james

I’ve not even got close to doing this justice, and it didn’t help that I lost my guide star after 30 subs or so thanks to the sky becoming hazy. I am going to have to come back and have … Continue reading →

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Back into the ring

Posted on October 15, 2013 by james

I had to revisit this before it disappeared from view for the winter. Sadly dew had other ideas (time to make some dew heaters…), but not before I’d managed almost two hours worth of subs. Only 90 seconds this time. … Continue reading →

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Final M27 of the season

Posted on October 15, 2013 by james

After starting to get to grips with guided imaging I had to give this planetary nebula one more crack before I move on to pastures new. So this is two and a half hours of RGB in two minute subs. … Continue reading →

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Guiding for Boys

Posted on October 15, 2013 by james

And girls, and indeed astroimagers of any other persuasion. I’ve finally assembled all the bits I need to start guided imaging. Whilst I have an ST80 that I plan to use eventually, for the moment I have a Skywatcher 50mm … Continue reading →

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Over (and under) the rainbow

Posted on October 15, 2013 by james

It’s the first time I’ve seen one of these thought it appears they’re not that rare. A rainbow, photographed from our garden: But it’s a double — there’s a second rainbow above it, just visible in this photo (most easily … Continue reading →

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Another M27 attempt

Posted on October 15, 2013 by james

Still unguided, this is seventy minutes worth of RGB exposures of 45 seconds each. I’m not displeased with it, but the outer reaches of the nebulae definitely show that much longer exposures are required.

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Interesting cloud formation

Posted on October 15, 2013 by james

I’ve not noticed anything like this before. To me it looks like lots of little knots bunched up together. There was more of the same in thicker cloud nearby, but being lit from behind by the Sun makes the details … Continue reading →

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Dumbbell? Apple core?

Posted on October 15, 2013 by james

Neither really does it for me, but this is an amazing object. Another planetary nebula, and one with so much to see. It looks small, but in fact it’s huge, dwarfing our entire solar system to the point where I … Continue reading →

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One ring to rule them all

Posted on October 15, 2013 by james

I didn’t really believe it would be possible to image this with my setup as it is, but I decided I’d give it a go anyhow. Planetary nebulae are such fascinating objects. Perhaps what lies in wait for our own … Continue reading →

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