Images From our June 2009 Trip to Spain

We are back in Spain again (June 2009) and have started imaging again.  Here are the images.
M81-82_120609_Web.jpg (160071 bytes) M81 and M82 in Ursa Major, taken with the Takahashi FSQ 106 telescope.  Full Resolution Image (0.8Mb)
N4565_190609_Web.jpg (388980 bytes) NGC 4565 in Coma Berenices.  This splendid edge on galaxy was imaged between 19th and 23rd June.  It is an LRGB of 55:45:45:50 minutes.  Full Resolution Image (3Mb)

Some of the Best Images from our Recent Visits

M20_230509_Web.jpg (155592 bytes) M20 in Sagittarius - the famous "Trifid" nebula.  This image was taken using the C14 telescope and ST10-XME camera on 23rd May.  It is an LRGB of 10 minutes for each component.  Full Resolution Image (2Mb)
N4536_150509_Web.jpg (123345 bytes) NGC 4536 in Virgo.  We were inspired to shoot this galaxy by Al Kelly's recent work and we thank Al for pointing us in this direction.  This is an LRGB of 50:40:40:40 minutes with the C14 and ST10 camera.  The galaxy is very similar to NGC 1365, except it is at an angle to us.  Full Resolution Image (2Mb)
M97_220409_Web.jpg (206822 bytes) M97 in Ursa Major - the famous "Owl" nebula.  This new LRGB of 30:25:25:25 minutes was taken with the C14 and ST10 camera.  Full resolution image (3.2Mb)
N3628_130409_Web.jpg (159640 bytes) NGC 3628 - the edge on member of the Leo Triplet.  This image, which is an LRGB of 40mins for each component, was taken with the C14 scope and ST10 camera on 13th April.  Full resolution image (2Mb)
M104_220309_Web.jpg (91009 bytes) M104 in Virgo.  Our latest colour image of the "Sombrero" galaxy.  We promised to shoot colours if the skies allowed.  They did.  This is an L:R:G:B of 25 minutes for each component with the ST10 camera and C14.  Full resolution image (2.1Mb)
Arp105_250309_Web.jpg (190747 bytes) Arp 105 in Ursa Major.  Ambartsumian's Knot can be clearly seen to the right of NGC 3651A.  Full resolution image (1.6Mb)
N7027_021008_Crop.jpg (208237 bytes) NGC 7027 is an interesting little planetary nebula in Cygnus.  It almost seems in our image to have three components and this image is an LRGB of 5 minutes for each component.  The cropped image is slightly pixellated as we had to zoom nearly 400x to show the structure.  Full resolution image (1.3Mb)
M17_210708_Web.jpg (126801 bytes) Messier 17 in Sagittarius.  It is a long, long time since we imaged this object and it was really just done to test the new computer and software systems.  All worked well and this is an LRGB of 30:25:25:25 minutes with the C14 and ST10 camera.  Full resolution image (2.4Mb)
N6726_240708_Web.jpg (161558 bytes) NGC 6726 in Corona Australis.  This is an interesting area of the sky, with lots of absorbing gas clouds.  The bright object in the centre is reflection nebulae NGC 6726 and 6727.  The little reddish chappie up and to the left is the reflection and emission variable nebula NGC 6729.  This is an LRGB of 10 minutes for each component using the C14 and ST10 camera.  Full resolution image (4Mb)
N6369_260708_Web.jpg (121357 bytes) NGC 6369 (the Little Ghost nebula) in Ophiuchus.  Note the little FLIERS at either end of the ring.  Full resolution image (3.8Mb)
N6826_280708_Web.jpg (39995 bytes) NGC 6826 in Cygnus is also known as the "Blinking Planetary" because of the way the central star is visible, but only with averted vision.  It is 25 arc seconds in diameter and is therefore quite a challenge for our equipment, especially to reproduce the inner shells.  Full resolution image (1.5Mb)
N6894_280708_Web.jpg (161620 bytes) NGC 6894 in Cygnus is a very red planetary with a faint star superimposed on part of the ring.  Visually it is described as "smoky grey" but as you can see in this image it is definitely quite red.  Full resolution image (4.1Mb)
N7026_280708_Web.jpg (99512 bytes) NGC 7026 in Cygnus is a fascinating object and has been dubbed by some "The Cheeseburger Nebula".  This image shows perhaps how it got its name.  Full resolution image (3.4Mb)
M13_030508_Web.jpg (173791 bytes) Messier 13 in Hercules.  We imaged this at f/5 in the Takahashi FSQ and using the ST8-XE camera in response to a request from the British Astronomical Association for an image of M13 (the great Northern sky globular) and Omega Centauri (the great Southern sky globular) at the same image scale.  Full resolution image (1Mb)
N2903_240308_Web.jpg (157962 bytes) NGC 2903 in Leo.  To prove that the scope is now working well we imaged this fine galaxy up near the question mark of Leo.  This is an LRGB of 50:40:40:40 minutes using the C14 and ST10-XME camera.  Full resolution image (3.3Mb)
M82_050108_Web.jpg (131526 bytes) Messier 82 in Ursa Major.  We had quite a battle with the skies this trip and this image of M82 was gradually accumulated over several imaging sessions.  This is an LRGB of 60:45:45:45 minutes with the C14 and ST10 camera.  Full resolution image (1.1Mb)
N7293_Helix_141107_Web.jpg (151824 bytes) NGC 7293 in Aquarius, also known as the Helix nebula.  This LRGB of 60:30:30:30 minutes was taken using the Takahashi FSQ-106 scope and ST8-XE CCD camera.  Full resolution image (1.4Mb)
N253_241107_Web.jpg (103143 bytes) NGC 253 in Sculptor, better known as the "Sculptor Galaxy".  This image was taken with the FSQ-106 scope at f/5 and the ST8-XE camera.  It is an LRGB of 60:30:30:30 minutes.  Full resolution image (1.4Mb)
N2392_161107_Web.jpg (44553 bytes) NGC 2392 in Gemini, known as the "Eskimo" or "Clown Face" nebula.  This is a good example of a planetary nebula and is an LRGB of 12:5:5:5 minutes with the C14 and ST10-XME camera.  Full resolution image (1.9Mb)
M83_040508_Web.jpg (210749 bytes) Messier 83 in Hydra.  We now have the colour component of this wonderful galaxy and it was well worth the wait.  This LRGB image is 50:30:30:30 minutes using the C14 and ST10-XME camera.  Full resolution image (2.3Mb)
N7009_190707_Crop.jpg (25699 bytes) NGC 7009 the "Saturn Nebula" a planetary nebula in Aquarius.  Note the lobes and ring structure and the striking blue colour, which is clearly visible in a telescope.  Full Resolution Image
N6543_170707_Crop.jpg (56179 bytes) NGC 6543 in Draco - the famous "Cat's Eye" planetary nebula. This is an LRGB of 10:10:10:10 minutes with the C14 and the object is very small, so the image has been cropped.  Full Resolution Image
M27_091007_Web.jpg (199306 bytes) Messier 27, the dumbbell nebula in Cygnus.  Imaged with the C14 and ST10-XME camera.  Full resolution image (1.6Mb).  An LRGB of 50:30:30:30 minutes.
M51_110607_Web.jpg (179971 bytes) Messier 51 in Canes Venatici.  We have wanted a good image of this beautiful galaxy for a long time, and our new ST10 CCD camera created the opportunity to finally get one.  This is an LRGB of 60:40:40:40 minutes through the C14.  The full resolution image is here (2.3Mb)

Images of the 3rd March, 2007 Lunar Eclipse

These super images of the eclipse were taken by David McKinlay of Casa Montserrat Holiday Lets in southern Spain using a Canon EOS 20D camera fitted with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS USM lens and a Canon 2X teleconverter.  The images were shot at 400mm focal length.  This is David's first excursion into astro-photography, but I think you will agree he has done a pretty fine job.  The images and montage are ©2007 David McKinlay.

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