Latest Images
M61 in Virgo - Apr. 26 and Apr. 28, 2025
Nice spiral galaxy M61 in Virgo.
Nearly two hours of exposure time was taken over two nights.
I unknowly picked up minor planet (1055) Tynka on the first night's exposures.
You will see it as a small diagonal streak in the upper right hand corner.
At the time it was magnitude 15.6.
Also captured are several small galaxies.
NGC4301 is to the upper left of M61.
NGC4292 is to the upper right of M61.
UGC7387 is the edge on spiral galaxy at the bottom right.
The image size is 52' by 42'.
Click on the image for a larger view in a new window.
Details:
Location: Front yard Cary, NC
Camera: ASI294mc-Pro
Exposure: 53 x 45s gain 150 on Apr. 26, 2025
Exposure: 100 x 45s gain 150 on Apr. 28, 2025
Filter: UV/IR
Scope: TeleVue Genesis 4" f/5
Mount: iOptron GEM-45
Guider: Orion 60mm finder/guider
Capture software: ASIAir
Guiding software: ASIAir
Calibration frames: darks, flats, flat-dark
Processing software: Pixinsight, BlurXterminator, NoiseXterminator,
StarXterminator, and Affinity Photo.
Weather conditions: Not noted.
Notes: This image is cropped from the upper left corner of the original frame.
The data was also drizzled 2x.
Over 40 images on the first night were discarded due to clouds.
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M95 M96 M105 in Leo - Mar. 22, 2025
Bright Leo galaxies M95 M96 M105 plus others.
This photo was for the RAC second quarter image challenge to photograph a field of galaxies
with at least 3 galaxies in the same FOV.
Most of the data shot in this photo (70 minutes) was on Mar. 22, 2020.
22.5 minutes was shot back on May 9, 2020.
Click on the image for a larger view in a new window.
Details:
Location: Front yard Cary, NC
Camera: ASI294mc-Pro
Exposure: 70 x 60s gain 150 on Mar. 22, 2025
Exposure: 30 60s gain 120 on May 9, 2020
Exposure: 30 45s gain 120 on May 9, 2020
Filter: UV/IR
Scope: TeleVue Genesis 4" f/5
Mount: iOptron GEM-45
Guider: Orion 60mm finder/guider
Capture software: ASIAir
Guiding software: ASIAir
Calibration frames: darks, flats, flat-dark
Processing software: Pixinsight, BlurXterminator, NoiseXterminator, and Affinity Photo.
Weather conditions: Not noted.
Notes: This image is cropped from the full frame to aligned the frames from two diferent dates.
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Jones-Emberson 1 in Lynx - Feb. 2, 2019 and Apr. 24, 2025
This is the faint planetary nebula Jones-Emberson 1.
It is also known as the headphones nebula.
The image is shown with south at the top to show the face wearing headphones look.
The image is unguided since I managed to break the guide camera adaptor as the guide scope
slid off the main scope at the start of the session.
This image was reprocessed in April 2025 using the 2019 data and produced a much better result.
Click on the image for a larger view in a new window.
Details:
Location: Front yard Cary, NC
Camera: ASI1600mc-Pro
Exposure: 35 x 90s gain 139
Filter: UV/IR
Scope: TeleVue Genesis 4" f/5 refractor
Mount: Losmandy G-11
Guider: Orion 60mm finder/guide scope
Capture software: MaximDL 5
Guiding software: none
Calibration frames: darks, flats, flat-dark
Processing software: Pixinsight, BlurXterminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXterminator,
and Affinity Photo.
Weather conditions: Clear and cold.
Notes: This image is cropped.
Click on the image for a larger view in a new window.
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The Rosette in Monoceros - Mar. 18, 2025
NGC2244 - the Rosette nebula.
This image was shot in broad band for stars and narrow band for the nebula.
Total exposure time was 45.5 minutes.
This photo was another in a series of re-shooting large objects with the new RedCat 61
with much better results than in the past.
Click on the image for a larger view in a new window.
Details:
Location: Front yard Cary, NC
Camera: ASI294mc-Pro
Exposure: 15 x 30s broad band gain 150
Exposure: 19 x 120s narrow band gain 150
Filter: UV/IR and Optolong e-Nhance
Scope: WO RedCat 61 300mm fl @ f/4.9
Mount: iOptron GEM-45
Guider: WO 120mm guide scope
Capture software: ASIAir
Guiding software: ASIAir
Calibration frames: darks, flats, flat-dark
Processing software: Pixinsight, BlurXterminator, StarXTerminator, NoiseXterminator,
and Affinity Photo.
Weather conditions: Clear and cold.
Notes: This image is cropped.
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Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann - Feb. 28, 2025
Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 in Leo, not far from Regulus.
So far this year, not to much has been happening for relatively bright comets.
However, this one is special to me.
It was my 90th comet of my astronomy career either seen by eye or photographed.
This guy was faint at around mag. 11.5.
It was almost invisible on the individual sub-frames.
Click on the image for a larger view in a new window.
Details:
Location: Front yard Cary, NC
Camera: ASI1600mc-Pro
Exposure: 30 x 60s gain 139
Filter: UV/IR
Scope: TeleVue Genesis 4" f/5
Mount: iOptron GEM-45
Guider: Orion 60mm finder/guider
Capture software: ASIAir
Guiding software: ASIAir
Calibration frames: darks, flats, flat-dark
Processing software: Pixinsight, BlurXterminator, NoiseXterminator, and Affinity Photo.
Weather conditions: Not noted.
Notes: This image is cropped from the full frame.
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The Andromeda Galaxy - Dec. 30, 2024
The Andromeda Galaxy M31 with the RedCat 61 f/4.9 300mm.
This is my first try on this object with the RedCat and I like the wide FOV.
It took a while to post this one due to dust motes on the camera's optical
window after a desiccant change. The uneven background was difficult to deal with.
Click on the image for a larger view in a new window.
Details:
Location: Front yard Cary, NC
Camera: ASI294mc-Pro
Exposure: 60 x 90s (1.5 hrs) gain 150
Filter: UV/IR
Scope: WO RedCat 61 300mm fl @ f/4.9
Mount: iOptron GEM-45
Guider: WO 120mm guide scope
Capture software: ASIAir
Guiding software: ASIAir
Calibration frames: darks, flats, flat-dark
Processing software: Pixinsight, StarXTerminator, NoiseXterminator, and Affinity Photo.
Weather conditions: Clear and cold.
Notes: This image is uncropped.
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A dusty M45 in Taurus - Dec. 3, 2024
The Pleiades (M45) with lots of associated blue-white and brown nebulosity.
I'm still having fun seeing what the RedCat 61 will do with wide field objects.
I put M45 to the upper left side of the frame to give extra room for the dark nebulosity
to the right and below.
The stars and nebula were processed independently to stretch the nebula without blowing
out the stars.
There were plenty of neighborhood lights on brightening the sky.
M45 was approaching the meridian at the end of the imaging run.
Click on the image for a larger view in a new window.
Details:
Location: Front yard Cary, NC
Camera: ASI294mc-Pro
Exposure: 82 x 90s (2 hrs 3 min) gain 150
Filter: UV/IR
Scope: WO RedCat 61 300mm fl @ f/4.9
Mount: iOptron GEM-45
Guider: WO 120mm guide scope
Capture software: ASIAir
Guiding software: ASIAir
Calibration frames: darks, flats, flat-dark
Processing software: Pixinsight, StarXTerminator, NoiseXterminator, and Affinity Photo.
Weather conditions: Clear and cold with temps 29-30F.
Notes: Cropped around the borders to eliminate stacking artifacts.
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North American and Pelican Nebulae in Cygnus - Oct. 24, 2024
The North American and Pelican Nebulae in northern Cygnus.
We have had a very long run of clear skies here in North Carolina,
so even though C/2023 A3 has been getting all the attention lately, I decided it was time
to try a little regular deep sky photography with the RedCat 61.
As is usually the case for me, I shot a set of exposures broadband for natural star color then
a set of exposures narrow band for the nebulae.
The last time I tried for this pair was with a DSLR and 135mm lens
at the Staunton River Star Party almost exactly 10 years ago.
Click on the image for a larger view in a new window.
Details:
Location: Front yard Cary, NC
Camera: ASI294mc-Pro
Exposure: Narrow band - 25 x 3 min exposures gain 150
Exposure: Broad band - 20 x 15s gain 150
Filter: UV/IR and Optolong L-eNhance
Scope: WO RedCat 61 300mm fl @ f/4.9
Mount: iOptron GEM-45
Guider: WO 120mm guide scope
Capture software: ASIAir
Guiding software: ASIAir
Calibration frames: darks, flats, flat-dark
Processing software: Pixinsight, StarXTerminator and Affinity Photo.
Weather conditions: Cool and clear.
Notes: none
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Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS - Oct. 20, 2024
Comet C/2023 A3 was finally visible without moonlight for the first time
since it moved into the western sky.
I finally got to use the RedCat 61 on a tracking mount so I could stack
some individual frames.
At this focal length, the whole tail will not fit onto the frame which is
3.6 degrees top to bottom.
The comet is quite a bit fainter than a week ago but the anti-tail is still showing nicely.
Details:
Location: Crabtree Lake Dam, Cary, NC
Camera: ASI294MC-Pro
Exposure: 15x30 sec gain 150
Filter: uv/ir
Scope: WO RedCat 61 300mm fl @ f/4.9
Mount: iOptron GEM-45
Guider: none
Capture software: ASIAir plus
Guiding software: none
Calibration frames: none
Processing software: PixInsight and Affinity Photo
Weather conditions: Cool and clear with temps in the 50s.
Notes: The image was taken at 8:15 pm. Image aligned on stars.
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Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS - Oct. 14, 2024
Comet C/2023 A3 looked much better tonight from my light polluted area.
I was at the Crabtree Lake Dam which was busy with other comet chasers and the usual hikers
and bikers.
A cold front came though today clearing out the high clouds and haze.
Even with better conditions, I could not see A3 naked eye,
but was able to find it in binoculars so I could point my camera.
A careful look at the photo will show a hint of the anti-tail that has formed as well
as globular cluster M5 embedded in the tail near the top.
Details:
Location: Crabtree Lake Dam, Cary, NC
Camera: Canon Rebel T3i with Nikon 135mm f/3.5 lens
Exposure: Single 3 second exposure at ISO 800
Filter: none
Scope: none
Mount: camera tripod
Guider: none
Capture software: none
Guiding software: none
Calibration frames: none
Processing software: PixInsight and Affinity Photo
Weather conditions: Cool and mostly clear with the moon up in the east.
Notes: The image was taken at 7:55 pm.
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Aurora over Cary - Oct. 10, 2024
Tonight we had red/pink aurora over Cary NC.
This photo came from round two around 10:45pm. The first round happened around 7:30pm.
I took this standing in the street in front of my house pointing the camera NNE.
Visually the aurora was much less impressive as the photo shows.
It was mostly a pink glow to the north-east.
Click on the image for a larger view in a new window.
Details:
Location: Front yard Cary, NC
Camera: Canon Rebel T3i with Rokinon 16mm lens
Exposure: Single 8 second exposure at ISO 800
Filter: none
Scope: none
Mount: camera tripod
Guider: none
Capture software: none
Guiding software: none
Calibration frames: none
Processing software: Affinity Photo and Topaz Denoise AI
Weather conditions: Cool and clear.
Notes: I took about two dozen shots, this was one of my favorites.
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