The Suffolk Sky » m42

Imaging/Observing Log – January 29, 2011 – IC434 (Horsehead Nebula) and M42 (Orion Nebula)

Hersey — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:27:59 +0000

I wanted to get these posted to share. I will update with details fore each before the end of the week. Enjoy…

The Orion Nebula (M42)

Flickr link for this image is http://www.flickr.com/photos/herseyc/5401039974/in/photostream/

Open Cluster – M37

Flickr link for this image is http://www.flickr.com/photos/herseyc/5401127642/in/photostream/

The Horsehead Nebula – IC434

Flickr link for this image is http://www.flickr.com/photos/herseyc/5400436753/in/photostream/

Prime Focus Images from 1/31/09

Hersey — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:37:39 +0000

Here are the images from last night. I will post my observation log later. I think the images of M3 and M42 turned out very nice.

M3 - Prime Focus - 11x1min ISO 800

M42 - Prime Focus - 11x1min ISO 800

M53 - Prime Focus - 10x1min ISO 800

I think I should have done longer exposures of M81 and M104. You can see them, but there is not really any detail. On M104 you can just make out the edge. They looked much better through the eye piece.

M81 - Prime Focus 10x1min ISO 800

M104 - Prime Focus - 11x1min ISO 800

M31 and M42

Hersey — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:22:22 +0000

Just a few pictures from tonight. The moon was bright and clouds started to roll in a little after 10 PM. My plan tonight was to take a series of images of M31 to stack them and I was able to do that. View the full size image and you can see some of the detail of the edge of the M31.

M31 - 25 x 1 minute exposures

I also took a series of shots of M42. Again the moon was very bright so it kind of washed it out.

M42 - 15 x 1 minute exposures

These were both taken with my Nikon D60 200mm f/5.6 piggy backed on my C8 scope. I also spent a fair bit of time checking out the moon. Nice night.

Moon

My first piggyback pics – M42, M31, and Pleiades

Hersey — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:08:17 +0000

Last night it was cold and a bit cloudy, but I really wanted to get out and try out my new piggy back mount with my Nikon D60. Neat stuff! It is really amazing how much the camera sees that you cannot see with your eye.

The frost got to the scope lens pretty quick – even with the dew shield, so everything was cloudy through the main scope not 45 minutes after I got started. I am working on a dew heater for it which should be finished by the time I am out next weekend.

I just did a few test shots of M42, M31, and Pleiades. Tried 30 second, 1 minute, and 2 minute exposures just to see what I could come up with. Below are a few that I think turned out really well. These are either 30 second or 1 minute single exposures with no stacking or other processing (besides cropping and resizing). I used my 55-200mm f/3.5 lens set at infinite focus, ISO800. Most of the shots were taken at 105mm except for the Orion’s belt one which is at 55mm.

Seeing conditions were not that great. A lot of light pollution and clouds but I did enjoy trying out the new mount and I am looking forward to practicing with it on a good clear night.

M42 - The Orion Nebula

Orion's Belt and M42

Pleiades

M31 - Andromeda Galaxy