Collecting  Photons

Hybrid HαR GB image of the Antares area (Scorpio)

Wide field mosaic of the M16 M17 area (Sagittarius)

The area between these two objects is literally filled with the soft glow of HII and the dark streaks of obscure nebulae. In July 2007 I was blessed with three nights of good trasparency. Two parts mosaic with the M80 and the Astronomik Ha filter. 64x8' subframes in total.

The Cygnus head in Hα

In the fall of 2007 I begun experimenting with a 2" Ha filter mounted in front of a 135 mm lens (Canon L series, 135 mm f2.0). In this way the lens operates at f 3.1. The Cygnus head is a land of many wonders: the view is dominated by the North America complex and by the nebulae around Sadr (g Cigni, bottom right). North of Sadr is visible a wonderful and complex area laced by thin filaments of nebulosity. Three part mosaic for a grand total of 52x16' exposures. Published on the January 2008 issue of Coelum.

NGC 6888 "Crescent nebula" (Cygnus)

The Crescent nebula is a shell of ionised gas surrounding a hot Wolf-Rayet star. This lovely object is layered on top of the south edge of the nebula surrounding g Cygni creating a wonderful dialogue between the shell and the surrounding filaments. 50x8'. A color version adds up 43x4' subs to return the star colours and 6 more hours of integration through the C8 for the central nebula.

NGC 7000 in Hα (Cygnus)

This nebula is simply too small for the FOV of the Megrez 80 with the D350. This is a two part mosaic. 36x8', iso 800.

Veil nebula in Hα (Cygnus)

44x8' in three nights. Iso 800. December 3, 2006.

M52, the Bubble nebula, NGC 7538 and sh2-157  (Cassiopea)

Megrez Apo. 44x8' in three nights. Iso 800.

The glowing center of IC1805  (Cassiopea)

"California Nebula" in Hα (Perseus)

A close up with the Megrez 80. Modified Canon 350D, 24x8' plus 13x16' exposures in two nights, Iso 800. See here for its combination with a RGB shot.

IC 405 in Hα (Perseus)

Modified Canon 350D, 17x8' 21x16' in two nights. Iso 800.

Simeis 147 (Sh2-240) in Hα (Tauri)

Simeis 147 is one of the most amazing but relatively obscure objects of the sky. It covers over 10 square degrees and is one of the largest supernova remnant of the sky. This bubble of ionized hidrogen is extremely weak and display a beautiful filamentary structure best observed in a negative look up table. Modified Canon 350D, 64x16' exposures (17 hours), Iso 800.

The Barnard's loop (Orion)

Orion is a land of many great wonders, some of which are so large to be hard to grasp. This image is a two part mosaic of the east side of the constellation (north to the left). Above the centre is well visible the area surrounding Alnitak including the Flame nebula and the Horsehead nebula. The picture is dominated by the immense expanse of the Barnard's loop, a structure so wide that enclose most of the constellation. This huge ring is a putative supernova remnant and belongs to the huge molecular clouds of Orion.

M78 and the Barnard's loop (Orion)

M78 is a large complex of reflection nebulae shining in blue forming a lovely counterpoint to the red glow of the Barnard's loop. The area surrounding M78 is very complex containing several separate objects and an intricate interplay between reflection nebuale and obscuring clouds blended over the soft glow of ionized hidrogen. See here for a full resolution view of the area surrounding M78. This image composes xx8' exposure for the RGB data with xx16' in Ha. Published on Le Stelle and Nuovo Orione.

Multiband M42 (Orion)

This is a composite image containing RGB (35x4'; 20x1'; 10x8"), Hα (58x8; 16x1' 16x14") and OIII (26x8'; 32x1'; 19x8") data for a total exposure of almost 15 hours (in 7 nights). Each data set includes the summation of three different exposure times to cover the entire dynamic range of the nebula. The reflection nebula NGC 1977 north of the main body of M42 has been supplemented with 42x4' exposures made with the C8. Canon 350D, Megrez 80, f 4.8.c Published on the January issue of Coelum.

"Rosetta Nebula"  in Hα (Monocerotis)

A wide field image with the Megrez 80. Modified Canon 350D, 41x16' in three nights.

"Rosetta Nebula"  in OIII (Monocerotis)

A wide field image with the Megrez 80. Notice the drammatically different distribution of the Hα and Oxygen signals. Modified Canon 350D, 30x16' in two nights.

"Rosetta Nebula"  in Hα and OIII (Monocerotis)

The narrow band data of the two preceding images have been combined to provide this synthetic RGB rendering. The RGB channels have been build by mixing the data according with the following formula:

R = Ha

G = OIII

B= OIII+0.15 Ha

Published on the January 2007 issue of Coelum.

"Rosetta Nebula"  in Hα OIII RGB (Monocerotis)

A wide field image with the Megrez 80. Modified Canon 350D. To the previous data sets I have added some RGB data to build the colours of the star field (RGB: 44x4' exposures). I don't like much this rendering and sooner or later I will rework the data. 22 hours of total exposure in 6 nights.

"Cone Nebula"  in Hα (Monocerotis)

An incredibly complex area just north of the Rosetta. 21x16', Megrez 80, super apo.

IC 443 (Gemini)

Megrez 80 triplet, TV 0.80. 33x8' plus 31x16' at ISO 800 (760', 12 hr 40' total). Canon 350D.

IC 443 (Gemini)

Megrez 80 triplet, TV 0.80. The Hα data of the previous picture has been blended with 12 hours of RGB data to produce this colour rendering. Canon 350D. Picture published on the October 2007 issue of Sky and Telescope.

IC 2177 (Canis Major, Monoceros)

Megrez 80 triplet, TV 0.80. 26x16' at ISO 800, Canon 350D. North to the left.