M45

Optics: Takahashi FSQ-106
Mount: Astro-Physics AP900GTO
Camera: SBIG ST2K XM
Filters Astrodon Luminance, Red, Green and Blue
Dates: October 9, 2010 through October 11, 2010
Location: Deerlick Astronomy Village

NGC1499, SH2-220

Optics: Takahashi FSQ-106
Mount: Astro-Physics AP900GTO
Camera: SBIG ST2K XM
Filters Astrodon S2, Ha & O3
Dates: November 11 2008 through October 11, 2010
Location: Roswell, Georgia and Deerlick Astronomy Village

Exposure Details
S2 = 375 Minutes
Ha = 360 Minutes
O3 = 210 Minutes

NGC896

Optics: Takahashi FSQ-106
Mount: Astro-Physics AP900GTO
Camera: SBIG ST2K XM
Filters Astrodon S2, Ha & O3
Dates: August 10 2009 through September 7, 2010
Location: Roswell, Georgia

Exposure Details
S2 = 795 Minutes
Ha = 720 Minutes
O3 = 735 Minutes

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.