February 20,2008 Lunar Eclispe

This shot was from several years ago now – I remember it being very cloudy during the day and evening. As I was setting up and aligning the equipment it seemed that the night would be a washout. The full moon was rising in the east completely blocked by the clouds. At about thirty minutes before the start of the eclipse - the clouds cleared and I was able to get the pictures. Each shot of the moon is a separate image digitally combined into a single photograph.

Optics: Takahashi FSQ-106
Mount: Astro-Physics AP900GTO
Camera: SBIG ST2K XM
Filters Astrodon L, R, G, & B
Dates: February 20, 2008
Location: Deerlick Astronomy Village

NGC 2403

Optics: Takahashi FSQ-106
Mount: Astro-Physics AP900GTO
Camera: SBIG ST2K XM
Filters Astrodon L, R, G, & B
Dates: February 13, 2010 through March 25, 2010
Location: Deerlick Astronomy Village

Exposure Details
L = 300 Minutes
HA = 225 Minutes

Hopefully I’ll be able to finish the color portion of this photo next year.

ABELL 1656

How many galaxies can you see in the Photo of Abell 1656? The object is also known as the Coma Cluster and is located in the constellation Coma Berenices. The cluster of galaxies is estimated to be 321 million light years from our home.

Optics: Takahashi FSQ-106
Mount: Astro-Physics AP900GTO
Camera: SBIG ST2K XM
Filters Astrodon L, R, G, & B
Dates: April 7, 2010 through April 12, 2010
Location: Deerlick Astronomy Village

Exposure Details
L = 360 Minutes
RGB = 400 Minutes

Below is a cropped portion of the central region.

M101

It’s good to be out under the clear sky again. M101 is a spiral galaxy estimated at 27 million light years away in the constellation Ursa Major. The Ha filter was used to highlight the HII regions in the galaxy.

Optics: Takahashi FSQ-106
Mount: Astro-Physics AP900GTO
Camera: SBIG ST2K XM
Filters Astrodon L, R, G, B, & Ha
Dates: May 19, 2009 through April 12, 2010
Location: Deerlick Astronomy Village and Roswell, Georgia

Exposure Details
Ha = 450 Minutes
L = 240 Minutes
RGB = 180 Minutes

I want to dedicate this picture to Chuck Duff my Dad and great friend. His thirst for knowledge and wisdom will always be a great inspiration to me. We shared a great life. He had the opportunity to see the Lord this past Christmas day. While I miss our time eating ice cream under the stars and talking of life’s great mysteries - I can still remember him and with confidence look forward to seeing him again. If I could instill the love that his children had for him into my two boys – I would consider myself a worthy dad. Thank you for the time we had together and let me always remember how precious every moment of every day is to have with my sweetheart and boys.

SH2-162

The Bubble Nebula is an emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia.

Optics: Takahashi FSQ-106
Mount: Astro-Physics AP900GTO
Camera: SBIG ST2K XM
Filters Astrodon S2, Ha & O3
Dates: August 10 through September 28, 2009
Location: Roswell, Georgia

Exposure Details
S2 = 450 Minutes
Ha = 300 Minutes
O3 = 240 Minutes

M31

This object is also known as the great Andromeda Galaxy. On Sunday night October 18 we had a clear moonless night at the Deerlick Astronomy Village near Sharon, Georgia. After several days of rain for the Peach State Star Gaze, it was great to see the sky once again. M31 holds a special meaning for me; it was one of the first galaxies shown to me through a telescope so many years ago. Thanks again to Vince Garland for allowing me to visually see this galaxy again this year through his great 18” Dobsonian. Hope that you enjoy the photo.

Additional galaxies in the photo include M32 and M110.

Optics: Takahashi FSQ-106
Mount: Astro-Physics AP900GTO
Camera: SBIG ST2K XM
Filters Astrodon L, R, G, B, & Ha
Dates: July 14 through October 19, 2009
Location: Deerlick Astronomy Village and Roswell, Georgia

Exposure Details
Ha = 540 Minutes
L = 300 Minutes
RGB = 390 Minutes

NGC7331 & Stephan's Quintet

Optics: Takahashi FSQ-106
Mount: Astro-Physics AP900GTO
Camera: SBIG ST2K XM
Filters Astrodon L, R, G, & B
Dates: August 23 and August 24, 2009
Location: Deerlick Astronomy Village near Sharon, Georgia.

Exposure Details
L = 330 Minutes
RGB = 350 Minutes

NGC7331 Wikipedia Information

Stephan’s Quintet Wikipedia Information