Nebulae
"Shogun's Sky"
A full color compilation of my best night sky images as seen on this website.
This is a limited edition of hardcover books, with full color jacket, signed by the author.
Shipping Now! See the link t left for more info.
Aavailable only through this site.
VDB142, imaged from Redlands, Ca with a Tak TOA130 and NJP mount/ST10xme with Astrodon Filters. HaRGB of 170/30/30/30 minutes respectively. 10 minute subs with the color binned 2x2. Guided with a SV70 and remote guide head. A bit different rendition that what you're probably used to seeing, still I enjoyed this particular interpretation---:)
M76, the "Little Dumbell" Nebula. Imaged from Redlands, Ca., November 19, 2008 with my TOA130 and ST2000xm on the NJP mount. Ha-RGB of 100-40-40-40 minutes respectively.
IC 405 and IC 410--3 hours of Ha with color added. FSQ106N and STL-11000xm with Astrodon Filters
IC 5146, the Cocoon Nebula in Cygnus. Imaged from Redlands, California on the nights of August 9.10.11, 2008. Takahashi TOA130 with reducer and ST2000xm camera with Astrodon filters on a Takahashi NJP Temma2 mount. Guided with an AT66 semi-apo with 4 second guide exposures. Ha-RGB of 280-130-110-130 minutes respectively. The RGB was binned 2x2. Total exposure was 10.83 hours (4.4 hours Ha and 6 hours of color data. RGB was taken with a waxing gibbous moon out. Light pollution was a challenge this week.
NGC 7380 in Cepheus (7,000 light years distant). Imaged in narrowband from Redlands, Ca., with a TOA-130 with reducer/ST2000xm with Astrodon filters on an NJP mount. Guided with an AstroTech AT66 semi-apo. (Ha)SIIHaOIII of 170, 190,170,130 minutes respectively. The Ha data was shot unbinned and the SII and OIII data was binned 2x2. Total exposure time was 6.5 hours. Imaged on the nights of July 26 and 29, 2008.
M27, the Dumbell Nebula in Vulpecula. Imaged over the nights of July 23,24,25,26, 2008 from Redlands, Ca. TOA130 with reducer and ST2000xm camera with Astrodon filters. Guided with an AstroTech 66 semi-apo. The mount was my NJP Temma 2. This image was processed using a color palette used by the European Southern Observatory. This is an (Ha)HaOIIISII image with 90 minutes of unbinned Ha, 40 minutes of binned OIII, and 60 minutes of binned SII. Ha was mapped to red, OIII mapped to green and SII mapped to blue. The Ha data was also used as a luminance layer.
Part of the Gamma Cygnus nebula complex. Imaged from Redlands, Ca., with a TOA130 and ST2000xm camera on July 21 and 22, 2008. 150 minutes of Ha.
M20, the Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius. Imaged on the nights of July 5-6, 2008 from Joshua Tree National Park with an FSQ106N and ST2000xm camera on an EM200. LRGB of 110-40-40-40 minutes respectively. The RGB was binned 2x2. The open cluster M21 is at lower right.
NGC 7293, the Helix Nebula in Aquarius. This is a large planetary nebula that is "relatively" close to us at a distance of about 650 light years. Imaged from Joshua Tree National Park on July 5, 2008 with a Takahashi FSQ-106N and ST2000xm camera (Astrodon Filters) riding on an EM-200 mount. LRGB of 70-40-40-40 minutes respectively. The RGB was binned 2x2. Self-guided with the camera's guide chip with 5 second guide exposures.
NGC 1977, the Running Man Nebula in Orion. Imaged from Joshua Tree National Park with an FSQ106N and ST2000xm. LRGB of 60-15-15-15 minutes respectively.
M17, the Omega or Swan Nebula, in Sagittarius. Imaged from Joshua Tree National Park with an FSQ106N and ST2000xm camera. LRGB of 100-60-30-40 minutes respectively.
IC 5070, a portion of the Pelican Nebula in Cygnus. Imaged from Redlands, Ca., on June 24, 2008, with a Takahashi TOA130 and ST2000xm and Astrodon Filters. (Ha) SII Ha OIII of 120-80-120-60 minutes respectively.
Same as above, with some adjustments to the Hubble Palette
IC 1396 in Cepheus. Ha RGB image with my Tak FSQ106N and ST2000xm in Joshua Tree National Park. 200 mins Ha and 60 mins each RGB.
IC 1396 in Cephus. Ha-HaGB imaged at Joshau tree National park with my FSQ106N and ST2000xm camera.
The ever popular Horsehead nebula in Orion. Imaged from Joshua Tree National Park with my Tak FSQ106N and ST2000xm camera. LRGB of 100 minutes unbinned luminance and 40 minutes each binned RGB.
NGC 7822 Narrowband image shot with fsq106 using an sbig efinder riding piggyback for guiding. 13.66 hours of data (360min Ha, 200 min SII and 260min OIII). Shot from my Skyshed Pod in Redlands, Ca with an ST2000xm with Astrodon filters.
Same as above but cropped on the center of the image
NGC 6888, the Crescent Nebula in Cygnus. Imaged in narrowband from Redlands, Caliifornia on June 11, 2007 and June 7, 2008. Takahashi TOA130r with reducer, ST2000xm camera with Astrodon Filters on an NJP mount. Guided with a remote guide head/e-finder combo. For this image I used 160 minutes of unbinned Ha data for the luminance channel, 160 minutes of binned Ha for the R channel, 160 minutes of binned Ha for the G channel, and 100 minutes of binned OIII for the B channel. Total exposure time was 6.16 hours. All subs were 10 minutes each.
NGC 6888, the Crescent Nebula in Cygnus. Imaged in narrowband from Redlands, Caliifornia on June 11, 2007 and June 7, 2008. Takahashi TOA130r with reducer, ST2000xm camera with Astrodon Filters on an NJP mount. Guided with a remote guide head/e-finder combo. For this image I used 160 minutes of unbinned Ha data for the luminance channel, 110 minutes of binned SII for the R channel, 160 minutes of binned Ha for the G channel, and 100 minutes of binned OIII for the B channel. Total exposure time was 6.16 hours. All subs were 10 minutes each.
NGC 6888 as above, except using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope palette (CFHT) --H-Alpha assigned to the Red channel, OIII assigend to the Green channel, SII assigned to the Blue channel, and Ha used as a luminance layer.
A slice of the large emission nebula, NGC 7000, the North American Nebula in narrowband. Imaged from Redlands, Ca, on June 6, 2008, with a Takahashi TOA130 with reducer, ST2000xm, Astrodon filters, NJP Temma mount, inside my Skyshed POD. The image is done in LRGB style, with 80 minutes of unbinned Ha for the Luminance layer. 70 minutes of binned SII for the red layer, 80 minutes of Ha unbinned for the green layer, and 70 minutes of binned OIII for the blue layer. All were 10 minute subs guided with an SBIG external guide head/e-finder combo (3 sec guide exposures). Total amount of data was 3.66 hours. Anacortes Photo of the day for june 19, 2008.
NGC 7023, the Iris Nebula in Cepheus. Imaged from Joshua Tree National Park on June 5, 2008. Imaged with my Takahashi FSQ106N and ST2000xm camera (Astrodon Filters), riding on an EM-200 mount. LRGB of 140 minutes unbinned L, and 40 minutes each RGB binned respectively. The lum were 20 min subs and the RGB were 10 min subs, all self guided.
NGC 7635, the Bubble Nebula in narrowband. Imaged on October 17, 2007 from Redlands, Ca., with my TOA130 with reducer and ST2000xm camera. 180 minutes Ha, 200 minutes of OIII, and 200 minutes of SII in LRGB using Ha for the luminance layer, SII for the red, Ha for the green, and OIII for the blue.
M57, the Ring Nebula in Lyra. It's distance from Earth is estimated between 1000-4000 light years. Planetary nebulae are the ejecta dying stars as they turn from giants into white dwarfs. Imaged on May 30, 2008, from Redlands, Ca., with my Tak TOA130 with reducer, and ST2000xm camera with Astrodon filters. LRGB of 60-30-30-30 minutes respectively. The L was unbinned and the RGB was binned. All 10 minute subs.
NGC 7380, imaged on July 4, 2007, and data reworked on January 27, 2008. 280 minutes of Ha from Redlands, Ca with TOA130 and ST2000xm. False color added to enhance contrast and details.
CED 214, a large emission nebula in the constellation of Cepheus. TOA130 with flattener and ST2000xm camera. Imaged on September 19, 2007, from Redlands, Ca. 230 minutes of unbinned Ha data. False color added to emphasize contrast.
NGC 7023, the Iris Nebula. Another full moon project. Imaged on May 18, 2008 from Redlands, Ca. TOAr and ST2000xm camera. LRGB of 210 minutes unbinned l and 80,60,70 minutes respectively of RGB binned.
B72, the Snake Nebula in Ophiuchus. Imaged on May 3, 2008 from Red Cloud Road (a dark sky site about 40 miles east of Indio, Ca) with my FSQ106-N/ST2000xm combo riding on my EM-200 Temma 2 mount. LRGB of 60 mins unbinned L and 40 mins each binned RGB, self guided with 5 sec guide exposures.
M97, The Owl Nebula in Ursa Major. Imaged with my Takahashi TOA130 at F7.7 and ST2000xm. HaRGB (160 mins unbinned Ha and 60 mins each binned RGB from Redlands, Ca.)
M27, the Dumbbell nebula in Vulpecula. Imaged on July 10, 2007 with the Tak TOA130 with reducer on the NJP mount from Redlands, Ca. LRGB of 70 mins L unbinned and 30 mins each RGB binned 2x2.
NGC 7380, imaged on July 4, 2007, and data reworked on January 27, 2008. 280 minutes of Ha from Redlands, Ca with TOA130 and ST2000xm.
IC 443, the Jellyfish Nebula, a galactic supernova remnant approx 5,000 light years distant, in the constellation Gemini. Imaged over 4 nights on Jan 12-13-14-15, 2008, from Redlands, Ca, with my FSQ106N and ST2000xm (Astrodon Filters) riding on a Takahashi NJP. 200 minutes of Ha was used for the luminance, 100 mins of SII for the red channel, 200 min of Ha for the green channel, and 100 mins OIII used for the blue channel (all unbinned, 20 min subs).
Anacortes APOD for January 20, 2008.
Image of the Day
and also March 2008 imaging winner at Cloudynights.com:
March Winner:
Congratulations Jim Lafferty! |
IC 1848, part of the "Soul Nebula" in Cassiopeia, 160 minutes of Ha imaged on January 14-15, 2008 from Redlands, Ca. Imaged with FSQ106N and ST2000xm. This is dedicated to "Mousey" our loyal canine friend and family member of 13 years who passed on 1-15-2008. Color added Aug 9, 2008.
IC405, the Flaming Star Nebula in the constellation of Auriga (distance from Earth 2200 light years). Imaged over 4 nights in December 2007, and January 2008 from Redlands, Ca. This is a narrowband image done in LRGB style. L= 220 minutes of Ha, R=240 minutes of SII, G=220 minutes of Ha, and B= 240 minutes of SII. There was no OIII data to speak of in my test images through that filter. I processed this object two different ways (see next image for the other view). Imaged with the FSQ106/ST2000xm combo with Astrodon Tru-Balance filters. Guided with an Sbig remote guide head/e-finder combo with 5 sec guide exposures. The mount was a Takahashi NJP Temma 2 (all shot from my Skyshed POD).
IC 405 (as above), but processed with L= 220 minutes of Ha, R=220 minutes of Ha, G=240 minutes of SII, and B=240 minutes of SII. This more closely resembles normal RGB images of this object but with a bit more detail brought out by the Ha filter. Total exposure time 460 minutes (7.66 hours). Same equipment and data as above.
VDB 152, a combination of reflection and dark nebula in Cepheus at a distance of abt 1400 light years. Imaged on June 16, 2007, at Joshua Tree National Park with my FSQ106 and ST2000xm. LRGB of 180 minutes L (unbinned) and 60 minutes each RGB (binned). Data reworked on Feb 22, 2009.
IC 2118, the Witch Head nebula on January 2, 2008 from Redlands, Ca. FSQ106/ST2000xm. LRGB (90min L unbinned, 20 min each RGB binned)
NGC 1491 in narrowband on October 19, 2007. 120 minutes unbinned Ha and 120 minutes each binned SII and OIII. Ha-SIIHaOIII with FSQ106N and ST2000xm/Astrodon Filters. Guided with the remote guide head/efinder combo on NJP temma2 mount. Imaged from Redlands, in my POD.
M42, the great Orion Nebula, a stellar nursery some 1200 light years from our solar system. Imaged with my FSQ106N/ST2000xm with Astrodon narrowband filters. Ha-SIIHaOIII (32 minutes each filter (2min subs) from Redlands, Ca., on December 11, 2007
Another version of M42 in the Hubble palette
And yet another M42, this time in the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope palette (CFHT) --H-Alpha assigned to the Red channel, OIII assigend to the Green channel, SII assigned to the Blue channel, and Ha used as a luminance layer.
IC 1805, the "heart" of the Heart Nebula in Narrowband, from Redlands, Ca. Imaged with my FSQ106N and ST2000xm with astrodon filters. Guided on my NJP mount with an sbig e-finder/remote guide head assembly. Ha-SII-Ha-OIII. unbinned for a total exposure time of 14.2 hours,on the nights of November 14, 15, 18, 19, and December 3 and 4, 2007 from my Skyshed POD. Ha was 280 minutes, SII was 280 minutes and OIII was 300 minutes, unbinned. Processed with Maxim DL, CCD Stack, and Photoshop CS2.
Another version in the hubble palette
For this shot of IC 1805 I used only Ha and OIII data as (Ha) HaOIIIHa
IC1795 in Narrowband with TOA130 and st2000xm--350min exposures, over the night of Aug 19-20, 2007 from Redlands, Ca
PacMan Nebula NGC 281---Takahashi TOA130 with reducer--6.6 hours exposure narrowband (Aug 17-18, 2007, Redlands, Ca)
M16 Eagle Nebula---Takahashi TOA130 with reducer--2.8 hours exposure narrowband (August 16-17, 2007, Redlands, Ca)
Full frame of M16
Pelican Nebula with fsq106 and stl-11000
M8 Lagoon Nebula with fsq106 and st2000xm imaged on June 1, 2005, at Joshua Tree National Park and reworked on September 14, 2008.. LRGB of 140 min L, 60 min R, 30 min G, and 40 min B all unbinned.
Rho Oph area with fsq106 and stl-11000
NGC7000 North American Nebula with fsq106 and stl-11000
NGC 1499, the California Nebula. Imaged from Joshua Tree National Park with a Takahashi FSQ106 and STL-11000 camera with Astrodon Filters. RRGB.
click here for Latest Images
All images are the property of Jim Lafferty and may not be reproduced or used without permission
|
