Seagull Nebula IC 2177 in the constellation Orion imaged with a Sky-Watcher Equinox 100ED refractor at 628 mm focal length on DIY reducer, an ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera, a dual band H-alpha and O-III filter, and an ASI 174MM guide camera. Tracking was done using a Vixen GP mount with DIY controller.
Whirlpool Galaxy M51 imaged with a Sky-Watcher Equinox 100ED refractor at 628 mm focal length and an ASI 533MC astronomy camera. M51 is relatively bright and may be visible through a small telescope. Use the stars of the Big Dipper to find M51.
Crab Nebula M1, a supernova remnant in the constellation Taurus, imaged with a Sky-Watcher Equinox 100ED refractor at 628 mm focal length on a DIY reducer, an ASI533MC cooled astronomy camera, dual-band H-alpha and O-III filter, and an ASI 174MM guide camera. This photo was imaged and tracked using a Vixen GP mount with DIY go-to telescope controller.
Crab Nebula, 1 hour exposure
To find the Crab Nebula, locate Auriga first and then scan the region south of Auriga, near the bright star in Taurus. A narrowband filter helps in increasing the contrast between the nebula and the sky (such as using a 12 nm OIII for visual use, or 6 nm dual-band OIII and H-alpha for photography). Due to the nebula’s small angular size, a telescope with 4 inch aperture or larger with relatively long focal length is recommended for this target.
For a complete list of astrophoto images, click here.
Flame and Horsehead Nebula in the constellation Orion imaged with a Sky-Watcher Equinox 100ED refractor at 628 mm focal length on DIY reducer, an ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera, a dual band H-alpha and O-III filter, and an ASI 174MM guide camera. Tracking was done using a Vixen GP mount with DIY controller.
Rosette Nebula imaged with a Sky-Watcher 100ED with a DIY focal reducer, ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera, dual band H-alpha and O-III filter. Guided tracking using an ASI 174MM with DIY Off-Axis Guider and motorized Vixen Grand Polaris mount.
Rosette Nebula, 2 hours exposure
To find Rosette Nebula, point the telescope to Procyon and then lock the declination axis. While looking through the finder scope and moving the RA axis only, swing the telescope westward until you see the central stars of the nebula.
For a complete list of astrophoto images, click here.
Thor’s Helmet Nebula NGC 2359 in the constellation Canis Major imaged with a Vixen R114 reflector at 900 mm focal length, an ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera, a dual band H-alpha and O-III filter, with an ASI 174MM guide camera. This is a very faint target that requires a relatively large telescope with long focal length to frame properly and reveal details. This target is easy to locate using the three bright stars to the east of Sirius.
Thor’s Helmet Nebula, 3 hours exposure
For a complete list of astrophoto images, click here.
Eta Carinae Nebula (Carina Nebula) imaged with a 4 in refractor at 390 mm focal length, an ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera, dual band H-alpha and O-III filter, with an ASI 174MM guide camera. I am still testing the DIY focal reducer I’ve made using the objective lens of a Celestron Travel Scope 70.
Horsehead Nebula IC 434 in the constellation Orion imaged with a Vixen R114 reflector at 900 mm focal length, an ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera, dual band H-alpha and O-III filter, with an ASI 174MM guide camera. The nebula is not visible in small telescopes and requires a camera sensitive to H-alpha to reveal the deep-red ionized hydrogen gas obscured by an opaque cloud of dust and gas.
Orion Nebula M42 imaged with a Vixen R114 reflector at 900 mm focal length, an ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera, dual band H-alpha and O-III filter, with an ASI 174MM guide camera. M42 is visible even with binoculars or small telescopes.
Triangulum Galaxy M33 imaged with a 4 in refractor at 565 mm focal length, ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera with UV-IR filter, and an ASI 174MM guide camera. Use the three prominent stars of the Triangulum constellation to find M33.
M33 Triangulum Galaxy, 44 minutes exposure
For a complete list of astrophoto images, click here.
Pleiades M45 star cluster imaged with a 4 in refractor at 565 mm focal length, ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera with UV-IR filter, and an ASI 174MM guide camera. This target is very prominent and can be seen very easily with the unaided eye, binoculars, and small telescopes.
M45 Pleiades, 1 hour exposure
For a complete list of astrophoto images, click here.
Veil Nebula in the constellation Cygnus imaged with an 80-210 mm Tamron telephoto lens set at 210 mm f/5.6, an ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera, dual band H-alpha and O-III filter, with an ASI 174MM guide camera on a 30 mm f/4 guide scope. I used the StarNet++ to reduce the stars and highlight the nebula.
Lagoon M8 and Trifid Nebula M20 imaged with an 80-210 mm Tamron telephoto lens set at 210 mm f/5.6, an ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera, dual band H-alpha and O-III filter, with an ASI 174MM guide camera on a 30 mm f/4 guide scope. This photo was imaged and tracked using a DIY go-to telescope controller.
Omega Nebula M17 imaged with a Vixen R114 reflector, an ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera, dual band H-alpha and O-III filter, with an ASI 174MM guide camera on a 60 mm guide scope. This is one of the brightest deep-sky objects in the Milky Way region, in the part of the sky where you can also find the Eagle Nebula. M17 is visible even with binoculars or small telescopes. You may use the bright stars of Sagittarius to find this target.
Omega Nebula M17, 40 min exposure
For a complete list of astrophoto images, click here.
Eagle Nebula M16 imaged with a Vixen R114 reflector, an ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera, dual band H-alpha and O-III filter, with an ASI 174MM guide camera on a 60 mm guide scope. This is one of the bright deep-sky objects in the Milky Way region, in the part of the sky where you can also find the Trifid Nebula and Lagoon Nebula. You may use the bright stars of Sagittarius as pointers to find this target.
Eagle Nebula, 2 hours exposure
For a complete list of astrophoto images, click here.
Trifid Nebula M20 imaged with a Vixen R114 reflector, an ASI 533MC cooled astronomy camera, dual band H-alpha and O-III filter, with an ASI 174MM guide camera on a 60 mm f/5 guide scope. The dark dust lanes that divide the nebula into three sections are visible in this photo. This photo was imaged and tracked using a DIY go-to telescope controller.
M57 Ring Nebula imaged with a Vixen R114 reflector at 1800 mm focal length (using a 2X Barlow), OIII and H-alpha dual band filter, and an ASI 533MC astronomy camera. The planetary nebula looks like a small faint circle but relatively easy to find by scanning the region between the two bright stars in Lyra.
M57 Ring Nebula, 1 hour exposure
For a complete list of astrophoto images, click here.
Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) imaged with a Vixen R114 reflector at 900 mm focal length and an ASI 533MC astronomy camera. This target is bright, visible to the unaided eye in relatively dark skies. Use the bright stars of Crux to find this target.
Omega Centauri, 1 hour exposure
For a complete list of astrophoto images, click here.
Dumbbell Nebula M27 imaged with a Vixen R114 reflector at 900 mm focal length, OIII and H-alpha dual band filter, and an ASI 533MC astronomy camera. To find M27, use the bright stars of Aquila and Cygnus as pointer stars. This target is bright, easy to find, and should be visible even with small telescopes.
Dumbbell Nebula, 1 hour exposure
For a complete list of astrophoto images, click here.