CDK12.5

NGC7380: ” The Wizard Nebula”

If you look closely you will be able to find the Wizard’s pointed hat, his eye, nose, beard, his long full robe with hands and fingers extended.  Very Cool!!

• 12 hours of integration time in this beautiful SHO (Ha, OIII, SII) narrowband image of the Wizard.
• PlaneWave 12.5” CDK with PW 0.66 Reducer sitting on the Astrophysics 1100GTO CP4 mount.
• Main camera is the ATIK 16200 Mono with Chroma filters.

NGC 7380 is a young open cluster of stars in the northern circumpolar constellation of Cepheus, discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1787. The surrounding emission nebulosity is known colloquially as the Wizard Nebula, which spans an angle of 25′. It is extremely difficult to observe visually, usually requiring very dark skies and an O-III filter. The NGC 7380 complex is located at a distance of approximately 8,000 light-years from the Sun, in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, NC  Blue Ridge Mountains

www.blueridge-observatory.com

M16: “The Eagle Nebula”

M16 “The Eagle Nebula” in narrowband super cropped for a closeup of the Pillars of Creation.

• SHO (Ha, OIII, SII) in narrowband
• PlaneWave 12.5” CDK with PW 0.66 Reducer.
• Total integration time is 12 hours.
• Mount is the Astro-Physics 1100GTO CP4
• Main camera is the ATIK 16200 Mono with Chroma filters.

The Eagle Nebula (Messier 16) is a young open cluster of stars in the constellation Serpens. The name refers to visual impressions of the dark silhouette near the center of the nebula, an area made famous as the “Pillars of Creation” originally imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope. The nebula contains several active star-forming gas and dust regions, including the aforementioned Pillars of Creation. The Eagle Nebula lies in the Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, NC  Blue Ridge Mountains

www.blueridge-observatory.com

SH2-132: The Lion Nebula

SH2-132 Lion Nebula was imaged by David Collings @ the Blue Ridge Observatory in Sparta, NC.

• The telescope used was his PlaneWave 12.5” CDK with PW 0.66 Reducer sitting on an Astro-Physics 1100GTO CP4 mount.
• Main camera is the ATIK 16200 Mono with EFW3 ATIK filter wheel loaded with narrowband Chroma filters.
• This image is processed as an SHO (Ha, OIII, SII) with a total integration time of 10 hours.

The Lion Nebula Sh2-132, is an faint emission nebula located in the constellation of Cepheus. It can be found on the southern edge of the constellation, near the border with Lizard, along the plane of the Milky Way.  There are several embedded small dark nebulae and is estimated to be at a distance of roughly 10,000 light years from Earth. The core of Sh2-132 includes pillar-like structures, Bok globules, and the characteristic oxygen-rich stripe through the head of the Lion. The stars responsible for the ionization of its gas are very hot and massive; in particular, two Wolf-Rayet stars have been identified, known as HD 211564 and HD 211853.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, NC  Blue Ridge Mountains

www.blueridge-observatory.com

NGC7023: The Iris Nebula

This Iris Nebula (NGC7023) was imaged with my PlaneWave 12.5″ CDK with 0.66 PW reducer sitting on an Astro-Physics 1100 GTO CP4 mount. Total integration time was 15 hours of LRGB on June 8th and 9th. Main camera is the ATIK 16200 Mono and Chroma filters on the EFW3 filter wheel. Guide scope is the Astromania 400 refractor with an ASI 290mm.

The Iris Nebula (also known as NGC 7023 and Caldwell 4) is a bright reflection nebula in the constellation Cepheus. The designation NGC 7023 refers to the open cluster within the larger reflection nebula designated LBN 487. This beautiful blue reflection nebula has a bright young star in its center and gradually becomes darker as it is surrounded by clouds of interstellar dust.

NGC 7023 itself is bright, but it is surrounded by very faint dust and located 1300 light years from earth. The Iris Nebula is a difficult target for the Astrophotographer and will test your processing skills to the max!

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory

Sparta, NC  Blue Ridge Mountains

www.blueridge-observatory.com

IC405: The Flaming Nebula

This image of the Flaming Nebula (IC405) was imaged in narrowband Ha, OIII, SII using my PlaneWave 12.5” CDK telescope with a PW 0.66 reducer sitting on the Astro-Physics mount 1100GTO CP4. Total integration time with my ATIK 16200 Mono camera was 12 hours of Ha, OIII, and SII.  Filters used are Chroma 3nm in an ATIK EFW3 filter wheel. Guide scope is an Astromania 400mm refractor with ASI290mm camera. The Blue Ridge Observatory is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina at an altitude of 3000ft.

The Flaming Star Nebula is an emission and reflection nebula in the constellation Auriga, surrounding the bluish star AE Aurigae.  It surrounds the irregular variable star AE Aurigae and is located near the emission nebula IC 410, the open clusters M38 and M36. The nebula measures approximately 37.0′ x 19.0′ and lies about 1,500 light-years away from Earth. It is believed that the proper motion of the central star can be traced back to the Orion’s Belt area.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

NGC3587: The Owl Nebula

The Owl Nebula (also known as M97 or NGC 3587) is a planetary nebula approximately 2,030 light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. It is estimated to be about 8,000 years old and is approximately circular in cross-section with a faint internal structure. It was formed from the outflow of material from the stellar wind of the central star as it evolved. The nebula is arranged in three concentric shells, with the outermost shell being about 20–30% larger than the inner shell. The owl-like appearance of the nebula is the result of an inner shell that is not circularly symmetric.

• Imaged in HOO narrowband with RGB stars
• PlaneWave 12.5” CDK with PW 0.66 Reducer.
• Main camera is an ATIK 16200 Mono with EFW3 filter wheel and Chroma filters.
• Guider is the Astromania 400mm with ASI 290MM guide camera.
• My mount is the Astro-Physics 1100GTO CP4.
• Total hours of integration was 13 hours of HOO and RGB stars.

The details in the center came out really good for this target.  It is a very difficult target to achieve this kind of detail but the PlaneWave 12.5” CDK pulled it off. You can even zoom in on this to 200% and enjoy really crisp details.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

NGC4038/NGC4039: Antenna Galaxies

This is the Antenna Galaxies NGC4038/NGC4039 I just completed two days ago.  This target is normally imaged by the big guns 24” PW in Chile because it is more of a Southern Hemisphere target.  However, this image will show the power of a PlaneWave 12.5”CDK telescope in the Northern Hemisphere.  The highest altitude this target gets here is 32 degrees in North Carolina.  This was an incredible shoot for the PlaneWave 12.5” CDK.  Let me know what you think.

• PlaneWave 12.5” CDK telescope with the PW 0.66 Reducer captured this image at a MAX height of 32 degrees.
• I have about 15 hours in this LRGB image of the Antenna Galaxies.
• All sub-frames were captured at 300 sec.
• Astrophysics 1100GTO CP4 mount was used with the ATIK 16200 Mono main camera.
• ATIK EFW3 filter wheel with LRGB HA, OIII, and SII Chroma filters.

The Antennae Galaxies (also known as NGC 4038/NGC 4039) are a pair of interacting galaxies in the constellation, Corvus. They are currently going through a starburst phase, in which the collision of clouds of gas and dust with entangled magnetic fields, causes rapid star formation. The nuclei of the two galaxies are joining to become one giant galaxy. Most galaxies probably undergo at least one significant collision in their lifetimes.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

SH2-308: Dolphin Head Nebula

This is the Dolphin Head Nebula (SH2-308) imaged in HOO. Sh2-308, commonly known as the Dolphin-Head Nebula, is an H II region located near the center of the constellation Canis Major, composed of ionized hydrogen. The nebula is bubble-like and surrounds a Wolf–Rayet star named EZ Canis Majoris. This star is in the brief, pre-supernova phase of its stellar evolution. The nebula is about 4,530 light-years away from Earth but some sources indicate that both the star and the nebula are up to  5,870 ly away.

The Dolphin Head Nebula took me 3 weeks to gather the data to finish.  The OIII signal is weak so it takes a lot of hours to get the details to pop in the Blue Oxygen. The Ha is much fainter but adds to the overall beauty of the image.  You can see the Dolphin’s head, mouth, eye, nose, and awesome details.  Really cool to look at and amazing that these beautiful nebulas are out there for us to image and share with the world.

• Plane Wave 12.5” CDK with the 0.66 PW Reducer sitting on an Astro-Physics AP1100GTO CP4 mount.
• My main camera is the ATIK 16200 Mono with EFW3 Filter Wheel with Chroma narrowband filters.
• Guider is an Astromania 400mm refractor with an ASI 290MM guide camera.
• Total integration time was >12 hours of OIII and Ha.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

Rosette Nebula

“The Rosette Nebula is an H II region located near one end of a giant molecular cloud in the Monoceros region of the Milky Way Galaxy. The open cluster NGC 2244 (Caldwell 50) is closely associated with the nebulosity, the stars of the cluster having been formed from the nebula’s matter. The cluster and nebula lie at a distance of 5,000 light-years from Earth and measure roughly 130 light years in diameter. The radiation from the young stars excites the atoms in the nebula, causing them to emit radiation themselves producing the emission nebula we see. The mass of the nebula is estimated to be around 10,000 solar masses.

• PlaneWave Instruments 12.5” CDK with 0.66 PW reducer to capture the image.
• Main camera is the ATIK 16200 Mono with EFW-3 filter wheel and Chroma filters.
• The mount is an Astro-Physics AP1100 GTO CP4.
• Total integration time is over 20 hours of Ha, OIII, & SII from 4 quadrants of images to make up this beautiful Mosaic.
• It took over 3 weeks to capture all the images required to process this Mosaic.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

www.blueridge-observatory.com

M13: The Hercules Cluster

• June 6, 2023
• PlaneWave CDK12.5
• Paramount MX+ mount
• QHYCCD QHY268M
• LRGB, 1 hrs integration
• Bortle 7 skies

IC 1871: “The Whirling Dervish in the Soul Nebula”

• Nov. 14, 2023
• PlaneWave CDK12.5, .66 reducer
• Paramount MX+
• QHYCCD QHY268M
• Narrowband (SHO), 20 hours integration
• Bortle 7 skies

NGC 6946: “The Fireworks Galaxy”

• Nov. 6, 2023
• PlaneWave CDK17
• Paramount ME mount
• Apogee Alta U16M
• LRGB, 2.5 hrs integration
• Bortle 4 skies

IC 63: “Ghost of Cassiopeia”

• Oct. 18, 2023
• PlaneWave CDK12.5, .66 reducer
• Paramount MX+
• QHYCCD QHY268M
• Narrowband (SHO), 20 hours integration
• Bortle 7 skies

Draco Triplet

• Jul. 22, 2023
• PlaneWave CDK12.5, .66 reducer
• Paramount MX+
• QHYCCD QHY268M
• LRGB , 17 hours integration
• Bortle 7 skies

M101: “The Pinwheel Galaxy- with Supernova”

• May 31, 2023
• PlaneWave CDK12.5, .66 reducer
• Paramount MX+
• QHYCCD QHY268M
• LRGB , 5 hours integration
• Bortle 7 skies

M51: “The Whirlpool Galaxy”

• May 19, 2023
• PlaneWave CDK12.5, .66 reducer
• Paramount MX+
• QHYCCD QHY268M
• LRGB , 5 hours integration
• Bortle 7 skies

PlaneWave CDK12.5 setup in my backyard.

Flip-roof 7’x7′ observatory

SH2-188

• Jan 1, 2024
• PlaneWave CDK12.5, .66 reducer
• Paramount MX+
• QHYCCD QHY268M
• Narrowband (HOO), RGB Stars, 18 hours integration
• Bortle 7 skies

SH2-155: “The Cave Nebula”

• Oct. 3, 2023
• PlaneWave CDK12.5, .66 reducer
• Paramount MX+
• QHYCCD QHY268M
• Narrowband (SHO), 26 hours integration
• Bortle 7 skies

NGC 7380: “The Wizard”

• Aug. 31, 2023
• PlaneWave CDK12.5, .66 reducer
• Paramount MX+
• QHYCCD QHY268M
• Narrowband (SHO), RGB stars, 18 hours integration
• Bortle 7 skies

“Stephan’s Quintet”

• Sept. 14, 2023
• PlaneWave CDK12.5, .66 reducer
• Paramount MX+
• QHYCCD QHY268M
• LRGB, 20 hours integration
• Bortle 7 skies

NGC281: “The Pacman Nebula”

This is “The Pacman Nebula” NGC281 that I imaged in SHO Narrowband “Hubble Palette.” Took two weeks due to the weather and the number of hours required.  You will find it incredible with the resolution of any APOD out there now and captured with a Plane Wave 12.5” CDK!

• I have a total of 16 hours in this image consisting of 5 hours Ha, 6 hours OIII, and 5 hours of SII.
• The telescope is the Plane Wave Instruments 12.5” CDK with the PW 0.66 Reducer sitting on the Astro-Physics 1100GTO CP4 mount.
• Filters used are Chroma Ha, OII, and SII narrowband.
• Main camera is the ATIK 16200 Mono with ATIK EFW 2.2 filter wheel.
• Guide scope is the Astromania 400mm Refractor and ASI 290 guide camera.

NGC281 is a bright emission nebula and part of an HII region in the northern constellation of Cassiopeia and is part of the Milky Way’s Perseus Spiral Arm. It is located at a distance of 9,500 light-years from Earth.  It has a magnitude of ~ 7.4.  Long-exposure photography is necessary, preferably using narrowband H-alpha, Sulfer II and Oxygen III filters where the most details are resolved.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

www.blueridge-observatory.com

 NGC1333 : Reflection Nebula

• Imaged on November 18 through November 20^th capturing 16 hours of LRGB data.
• Plane Wave 12.5 CDK with the PW 0.66 reducer
• Astro-Physics 1100GTO CP4 mount.
• Main camera used is the ATIK 16200 Mono with Chroma filters.
• Guider scope is the Astromania 400mm Refractor and ASI290mm guide camera.
• The integration time was 7 hours Luminance, and 3 hours each for RGB for a total of 16 hours all 5 minute sub frames.

“NGC1333 is located in the northern constellation Perseus, positioned next to the southern constellation border with Taurus and Aries. The nebula is visible as a hazy patch in a small telescope, while a larger aperture will show a pair of dark nebulae designated Barnard 1 and Barnard 2. It is associated with a dark cloud L1450 (Barnard 205). Estimates of the distance to this nebula range from 980–1,140 light years from Earth.  It contains a  fairly typical hierarchy of star clusters that are still embedded in the molecular cloud in which they formed.”

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

www.blueridge-observatory.com

IC63 / IC59: “The Ghost of Cassiopeia”

“IC 63, also known as “The Ghost of Cassiopeia”,  is an area of molecular hydrogen clouds and dust located 550 light-years away in the constellation of Cassiopeia. This region is both an emission nebula and a reflection nebula. The gas and dust in this region are bombarded with radiation from the bright star Gamma Cassiopeia. This Blue-White Giant star that forms the middle star in the “W” form made by the constellation.”

• Total of 26 hours in this image due to the difficulty of it being so dim with minimal OIII signal.
• The image has 6 hours of Ha, 11 Hours of OIII, and 9 hours of SII. It was imaged on 4 different evenings taking over 2 1/2 weeks to collect the data.
• Plane Wave 12.5”CDK with 0.66 PW reducer sitting on an Astro-Physics 1100GTO CP4 mount.
• Main camera is an ATIK 16200 Mono with Chroma filters.  This image is an SHO narrowband stacked and edited in PixInsight.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

www.blueridge-observatory.com

M33: “The Triangulum Galaxy”

“M33, (The Triangulum Galaxy) is such a beautiful target to image. M33 is located 2.73 million light years from earth in the constellation Triangulum. It is a spiral galaxy like our Milky Way but slightly less than half the size. M33 has a lot of star formation areas occurring as seen in the image in the beautiful clusters and Ha regions. It took me 3 days to capture all the data, but it was worth it.

• Image time is 5 hours Luminance, 4 hours Ha, 1.5 hours of each RGB for a total of 13.5 hours.
• This was imaged with my Plane Wave 12.5″ CDK telescope with the 0.66 PW Reducer sitting on the Astro-Physics 1100 GTO CP4 mount.
• My main camera is the ATIK 16200 Mono using Chroma filters. I stacked and edited the sub-frames using PixInsight.

It is a stunning beautiful image to capture and it was a pleasure imaging it again.  It has been 5 years since I last imaged it.”

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

WR 134: “The Blue Dolphin”

• Processed and captured as a HOO narrowband.
•  16 hours of just OIII and another 7 hours of Ha to make this image appear in all its splendor.
• I imaged WR 134 from 8-20-2023 to 9-16-2023 for many evening sessions (1 month) of imaging to get enough data to pull out the details!
• PlaneWave CDK12.5
• PW 0.66 reducer
• ATIK 16200 Mono main camera with Chroma narrowband filters.
• Mount is an Astro-Physics 1100GTO CP4.

“The details of the Dolphin are incredible making it easy to identify the nose, head, body, eye, dorsal fin, and tail fin.  What a great target for the Planewave 12.5” CDK to show off its capabilities. Very pleased with my final stack image of WR 134. ”

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

CED214: “The Emission Nebula”

Check out the details of the rising pillars of dust and smoke from new young star formations.

• This was imaged beginning on 8-31-2-23 and finished on 9-9-2023.
• 18 hours of Ha, OIII, and SII were imaged to stack this beautiful nebula in SHO narrowband.
• Planewave 12.5” CDK
• PW 0.66 reducer
• Main camera: ATIK 16200 Mono captured this incredible detail
• Mount is the Astro-Physics 1100GTO CP4
• Filters used for these sub-frames are Chroma narrowband filters

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

 IC5070: “The Pelican Nebula”

• Plane Wave Instruments 12.5” CDK telescope with the PW 0.63 reducer on the Astro-Physics 1100 GTO CP4 mount.
• Main camera is the ATIK 16200 Mono with Chroma Filters capturing this beautiful 11 hours of Narrowband Ha-OIII-SII.
• Subframe captures were 5 minutes each for the Ha-OIII-SII.

“The details show an active mix of star formations and evolving gas clouds. The foreground has a dark dust molecular cloud.”

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

This is M22 sitting in the middle of the Milky Way, a stunning amount of stars!

• Captured with my Plane Wave Instruments 12.5” CDK telescope with the PW 0.63 reducer on the Astro-Physics 1100 GTO CP4 mount.
• My main camera is the ATIK 16200 Mono capturing this beautiful 5-hour LRGB Globular Cluster nestled in our Milky Way.

Being 3000 ft up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC allows for very dark skies yielding good details of the massive amount of stars in our Milky Way galaxy. Subframe captures were 60 secs each for Luminance and 120 secs each for RGB.

M22 has an estimated 80,000 Suns in its cluster. The age of M22 is estimated to be 12 billion years and is only 10,000 light years from Earth located in Sagittarius.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

NGC6888: “The Crescent Nebula”

• Plane Wave Instruments 12.5” CDK telescope with the PW 0.63 reducer on the Astro-Physics 1100 GTO CP4 mount.
• Main camera is the ATIK 16200 Mono with Chroma filters for HA, OIII, and SII.
• Imaged in narrowband HOO for 8 hours total with 4 hours of Ha and 4 hours of OIII.
• Stacked as a bi-color image with Ha to Red, OIII to Green, and Blue with some pixel math allowing some Ha to the Blue channel.

“NGC6888 is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus, about 5000 light-years away from Earth.  NGC6888 has an apparent magnitude of 7.4.  It is formed by the fast stellar wind from the Wolf-Rayet star (WR 136)  colliding with and energizing the slower-moving wind ejected by the star when it became a red giant star.  The result of the collision is a shell and two shock waves, one moving outward and one moving inward revealing the beautiful OIII and Ha of the Crescent.

Being 3000 ft up in the Blue Ridge Mountains allows for very dark skies yielding good details of deep space objects.”

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

M63: The Sun Flower Galaxy

This is M63 ‘The Sun Flower Galaxy’.  It took me 6 weeks to capture all the data needed for this LRGB image due to weathering.  I finally got it done after capturing 10 hours of LRGB data.

• Plane Wave 12.5” CDK telescope with the PW 0.66 Reducer on an Astro Physics 1100 GTO CP4 mount.
• Main camera is an ATIK 16200 Mono CCD with an ATIK EFW3 Filter wheel with Chroma LRGB Ha & OIII,  SII,  HA 3nm filters.
• Guide scope is Astromania 400mm Refractor with an ASI 290mm guide camera.
• A total of 10 hours of imaging was used to create this beautiful LRGB image of M63 “The Sun Flower Galaxy’.
• All sub-frames were 300 sec. each gathering 4 hours of Luminance, 2 hours each Red, Green and Blue.
• Voyager software is used for capture and running the entire observatory.  PixInsight was used for stacking the subs and editing to bring out all the fine detail of M63.

“I imaged M63 ‘The Sun Flower Galaxy’ 5 years ago that was published in Sky & Telescope magazine, but this image, today, of M63 using my Plane Wave 12.5” CDK telescope is 3 times the quality and details my old published image from just 5 years ago! Again, it sure says a lot about Plane Wave telescopes!”

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

“This is an extremely rare event that I captured on May 24, 2023.

When I heard NASA thought they saw a super Nova in one of the spiral arms of M101 on May 23^rd, I imaged M101 again on May 24^th.  I did very clearly see the new huge Super Nova, an extremely rare event to image.

They are in black and white by inverting the images to make it easier to see all the stars in the galaxy and the Super Nova.

• The image of M101 on the left was 12 hours of LRGB data inverted and B&W.
• The image on the right capturing the Super Nova in M101 was only 15 minutes of Luminance data only!

That says a lot about the Plane Wave 12.5” CDK !!”

The picture above depicts the original color image published in April, M101 by Dave Collings, now alongside M101 imaged on May 24, 2023.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

• Captured with the PlaneWave CDK 12.5
• Taken in the Atacama Desert, Chile

Ted Wolfe’s Starsite

• Captured with the PlaneWave CDK 12.5
• Total of 6.5 hours of imaging
• ZWO ASI6200 CMOS
• Taken in the Atacama Desert, Chile
• Processing was on Prism, Maxim DL, Registar, and Photoshop CS6.

  Ted Wolfe’s Starsite

LDN-43:  “The Cosmic Bat Nebula”

• Plane Wave 12.5” CDK telescope with the PW 0.66 Reducer on an Astro Physics 1100 GTO CP4 mount.
• Main camera is an ATIK 16200 Mono CCD with an ATIK EFW3 Filter wheel with Chroma LRGB Ha & OIII,  SII, and  HA 3nm filters.
• Guide scope is Astromania 400mm Refractor with an ASI 290mm guide camera.
• A total of 9 hours of imaging was used to create this beautiful LRGB image of LDN-43 “The Cosmic Bat Nebula”. All sub-frames were 300 sec.
• 4 hours of Luminance, 2 hours of red, and 1.5 hours of Green and Blue.

“It has amazing detail that even blew me away for a 12.5” Plane Wave Telescope.  What a joy to capture this target.”

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

A beautiful galaxy about 41 Million light years from Earth and spans 100,000 light-years across!

• Image shot in LRGB.  7 hours Luminance, 2 hrs. Red, 2 hrs. Blue and 2 hrs. Green for a total of 13 hours. All sub-frames were 300 sec. exposures.
• Plane Wave 12.5” CDK telescope with the PW 0.66 Reducer on an Astro Physics 1100 GTO CP4 mount.
• Main camera is an ATIK 16200 Mono CCD with an ATIK EFW3 Filter wheel with Chroma LRGBHa & OIII,  SII, and HA 3nm filters.
• Guide scope is Astromania 400mm Refractor with an ASI 290mm guide camera.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

The M101 Pinwheel stacked after 14 hours of HaLRBG. Captured with the PlaneWave 12.5 CDK telescope.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

Captured in LRGB 9-hour image all of 300-sec subframes with the PlaneWave 12.5 CDK telescope.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

The M104 Sombrero in an LRGB 9-hour image all of 300-sec subframes. Captured with our PlaneWave 12.5 CDK telescope.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

Imaged over 3 evenings during a Gibbous Moon! This narrowband image was captured on March 29, March 30 and April 2, 2023 by David Collings at the Blue Ridge Observatory in Sparta, NC.

Captured with our PlaneWave 12.5” CDK telescope using Chroma filters, 3 hrs. of Ha, 3 hrs. of SII and 3 hrs. of OIII for a total of 9 hours imaging.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

Imaged in HOS Narrowband with a PlaneWave CDK12.5.

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

David Collings – Blue Ridge Observatory | Sparta, North Carolina  USA

https://www.blueridge-observatory.com

9-hours total exposure with Planewave CDK12.5 at f/5, Astrodon filters, and ST11000 CCD.

© Griffin, HapDateLocation: August 7-8, 2010 GriffinHunter Observatory Bethune, SC
Camera: QSI 583wsg Filters: Astrodon E Series Generation 2 LRGB
CCD Temperature: -10 C
Instrument: Planewave CDK 12.5″
Focal Ratio: f8
Mount: AP-1200
Guiding: Auto via the QSI camera’s built in Off-Axis Guider mirror and an SBIG ST-402 Guider
Conditions: Hot and humid, clear for summer in SC
Weather: 85-75 F, still
Exposure: 270 minutes total (12 x 10 minutes Luminance, 5 x 10 minutes each RGB binned 2×2)
Capture: CCDAutopilot 4 w Maxim DL Camera Control, focused automatically w FocusMax

Processing: Frame calibrations, alignment and stacking with ImagesPlus v3.80. Finishing in Photoshop CS4. Noise reduction with Noise Ninja.

This nebula gets its name from the fact that the main cloud is tri-sected by a dark nebula into three main sections. The beautiful red and blue colors come from the regions of the nebula where hydrogen is glowing (red) and reflecting starlight (blue). The red portion is excited to emission by the ultraviolet light coming from a triple star system embedded within. The distance to the Trifid is approximately 5200 light years, although there is a large disparity between various sources.

© Paquette, AndreM106, a spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici, accompanied by several other galaxies including NGCs 4217, 4248, 4231, and 4232.

Telescope: PlaneWave CDK 12.5
Camera: Apogee U16M
Mount: Celestron CGE Pro
Guiding: OAG with Astrodon Monster MOAG, Lumenera Skynyx 2.0m, MetaGuide

Image consists of 150min L, 60min R,G,B (each) and 40min HA.

Data taken over two nights, starting March 16.

© Paquette, AndreTaken 20091111

Exposures
50 min L (unbinned)
25 min R, G, B (binned 2×2)

Telescope: Planewave Instruments CDK12.5
Camera: Apogee U16M
Mount: Celestron CGE Pro
Filters: Baader LRGB
Guiding: Astrodon Monster MOAG, Lumenera Skynyx 2.0m, MetaGuide

© Griffin, Hap
DateLocation: January 9, 2010
GriffinHunter Observatory Bethune, SC
Camera: QSI 583wsg
Filters: Astrodon E Series Generation 2 LRGB
CCD Temperature: -20 C
Instrument: Planewave CDK 12.5″
Focal Ratio: f8
Mount: AP-1200
Guiding: Auto via the QSI camera’s built in Off-Axis Guider mirror and a Starlight Express Lodestar Guider
Conditions: Clear and cold
Weather: 17 F, still
Exposure: 150 minutes total (5 x 10 minutes each in RGB)
Capture: CCDAutopilot 4 w Maxim DL Camera Control, focused automatically w FocusMax
Processing: Frame calibrations, alignment and stacking with ImagesPlus v3.80. Finishing in Photoshop CS4.

© Paquette, AndreTelescope: PlaneWave CDK 12.5
Camera: Apogee U16M
Mount: Celestron CGE Pro
Guide method: Astrodon Monster MOAG
Guide camera: Lumenera Skynyx 2.0m
Guide software: MetaGuide

Image scale 0.73″pixel.

Subframes:
26x600s L
9x300s R,G,B
9x600s HA

Acquisition software: MaximDL
Processing software: custom, MaximDL, ImagesPlus, PhotoShop CS4

© Paquette, Andre The Pelican Nebula in Hubble Palette
Taken 20090901

Exposures
S-II: 13x900s (binned 2×2)
HA: 14x900s (binned 2×2)
O-III: 13x900s (binned 2×2)

Telescope: Planewave Instruments CDK12.5
Camera: Apogee U16M
Mount: Celestron CGE Pro
Filters: Astrodon 3nm Narrowband
Guiding: Astrodon Monster MOAG, Lumenera Skynyx 2.0m, MetaGuide

© Geissinger, Rolf

M13 – Globular Cluster in Hercules
Taken 20th July 2009 / Germany, Remseck
Exposures RGB: 11x600sec
Telescope: Planewave Instruments CDK12.5
Camera: QHY8 (one-shot camera)
Mount: 10micron GM2000
Guiding: Mitsuboshi OAG, SX Lodestar, MaximDL Image processing: MaximDL, Photoshop CS3

© Wood, Kent

M104 Sombrero Galaxy
Date:  May 2009
Starlodge Observatory
Planewave CDK 12.5
SBIG STL 11000 Cropped
LRGB 110:90:90:90

© Geissinger, Rolf

M101 – Pinwheel Galaxy

Taken 23th May 2009 / Germany, Remseck

Exposures RGB: 10x1200sec
Telescope: Planewave Instruments CDK12.5
Camera: QHY8 (one-shot.camera)
Mount: 10micron GM2000
Guiding: Mitsuboshi OAG, SX Lodestar, MaximDL
Image processing: MaximDL, Photoshop CS3

© Schnepel, Soenke

The Pinwheel Galaxy, M101

Planewave CDK 12.5
10 Micron GM2000 QCI
STL-11000M
LRGB (40:30:30:30 min., all 1 x 1 bin)
Total Exposure Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes

Image processed with: MaximDL 5, CCDAutoPilot 4, CCDStack 1.4, Adobe Photoshop CS3
Date: 04-22-2009
Location: Luetjensee, Germany
Seeing conditions: less good

© Schnepel, Soenke

The Orion Nebula, M42
Planewave CDK 12.5
10 Micron GM2000 QCI
STL-11000M
LRGB (2 x 180 sec each channel, all 1 x 1 bin) Total Exposure Time: 24 minutes

Image processed with: MaximDL 5, CCDAutoPilot 4, CCDStack 1.4, Adobe Photoshop CS3
Date: 01-07-2009
Location: Luetjensee, Germany
Seeing conditions: good

© Wood, Kent

The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51, NGC 5194, NGC 5195
Location: Starlodge Observatory
Camera: SBIG STL 11000
Scope: Planewave CDK 12.5
LRGB 45:90:90:90

© Geissinger, Rolf

Exposure time: 10 x 1200 sec

Camera: QHY8
Scope: CDK 12.5″
Mount: 10micron GM2000

© Geissinger, Rolf

M76
Exposure time: 13 x 1000 sec
Location: “balcony observatory ” Remseck / Germany
Date: 2008 / 12 / 30
Camera: QHY8
Scope: CDK 12.5″

© Wood, Kent

M33, The Pinwheel Galaxy
Date: August 2008
Location: Starlodge Observatory
Camera: STL 11000
Telescope: CDK 12.5
LRGB: 300:140:140:140 (12 hours)

© Murphy, Stephane

Object:  IC 5146, The Cocoon Nebula
Total exposure: HaRGB 300:60:60:60.
Location: Granville, Ohio
Date:  Sept 2008
Aquisition: CCDAutopilot 4.0 + CDK 12.5 + STL11002M + MOAG ST-402, Astrodon Gen2 Filter.
Processing: CCDstack, and CS3

© Murphy, Stephane

Object:  M27, The Dumbbell Nebula

Image Information

Date: July 3rd, 2008
Location: Stonecreek Observatory
Telescope: PlaneWave CDK12.5
Equipment: SBIG STL11000, Software Bisque Paramount, Astrodon RGB Filters, Astrodon MOAG (off axis guider), Optec TCF-S3
LRGB: 0:60:60:60
Acquisition: CCDAutopilot4.0
Processing: CCDStack and Photoshop CS3

© Schnepel, Soenke

Object: M31- The Andromeda Galaxy, the Core Region

Red: 60 minutes (10 x 6min)
Green: 60 minutes (10 x 6min)
Blue: 60 minutes (10 x 6min)

Equipment:  CDK12.5, STL11000M, 10 Micron GM2000 QCI GEM, PlaneWave 2.75″ (EFA) Electonic Focuser

Processed with MaxIm DL, Focus Max, CCDStack, CCDAutoPilot 4, Photoshop

© Wood, Kent

Object: M16 – The Eagle Nebula

H-alpha: 180 minutes
Lum: 180 minutes
Red: 90 minutes
Green: 90 minutes
Blue: 90 minutes

Equipment:  CDK12.5, STL11000

© Wood, Kent

Object: M13 – The Hercules Cluster

Image details:
Location: Star Lodge Observatory
Date: May, 2008
Telescope: Planewave CDK 12.5
Camera: SBIG STL 11000
LRGB 35:20:20:20

© Schnepel, Soenke

Object:  M13 – The Hercules Cluster

Exposure:  50 minutes, 5 x 10min Luminance

Equipment: CDK12.5 and GM2000 GEM by 10-Micron

1. PlaneWave 2.75″ Focuser with EFA (Electronics Focus Accessory).
2. PreciseParts custom Planewave to Optec Pyxis 3″ adapter
3. Optec Pyxis 3″ camera rotator
4. Optec 3″ to AP 2.7″ adapter (female)
5. Astrodon’s Monster Off-Axis Guider AP 2.7″
5.1. Attached remote STL guider
5.2. Astrodon’s STL-adapter
5.3. Attached STL-11000

© Wood, Kent

Date: May, 2008
Location: Starlodge Observatory
Telescope: Planewave 12.5 CDK
Camera: SBIG STL 11000
LRGB 200:120:120:120 (9 hours total exposure time)

© Seavey, Richard

Object:  M1 – The Crab Nebula
Field Center:  RA 5h 34.5m  DEC +22d 01m
Field Size: ~  48 x 33 arcminutes
Exposure: LRGB = “coming” minutes
Instruments: CDK12.5 f/8 with STL-11000
Location: “info coming”
Date:  “info coming”
Conditions:   ~ 2.5-3 arcsecond seeing
Processing:  “info coming”

© Wood, Kent

IC5146 Cocoon Nebula
Location: Starlodge Observatory
July 2008
Scope: CDK 12.5
Camera: SBIG STL 11000
LRGB 230:100:100:100