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In the early hours of 11th January 2008 I revisited a galaxy I first imaged in February 2006. A most unusual and beautiful galaxy, NGC 3718 in Ursa Major. With the SBIG ST-8 and AP 0.7 reducer on the 12" LX200R, and using my recently acquired SBIG AO-8 'adaptive optics' unit I was able to take advantage of the good seeing and resolve the fine detail missing in my earlier effort. Luminance10 x 10 minutes, RGB each 4 x 4 minutes binned 2x2. |
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I'd almost forgotten what it was like to have an uninterrupted session. In September 2007 I got one frame of NGC2403, and since then had been thwarted at every turn. The first decent night for ages, 10th February 2008 I had equipment problems - with the AO-8 fitted my AP reducer isn't optimised and introduced some distortions as I found when I came to process the images. But on 11th February it all came right. The splashy spiral NGC 2403 in Camelopardalis has some delightful active regions and is very colourful. First time with my new Astrodon filters on the SBIG ST-8XME. Worth every penny. Previously imaged in September 2004 showing the supernova then apparent. ST-8 on 12" LX200 ACF at f7. Luminance 15 x 7 minutes, RGB each 5 x 3 minutes binned 2x2. North is up. Guided through the mount, but at the reduced FL no problems. |
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Then with the night getting on a bit, I visited the interesting interacting pair NGC5394/5 (Arp 84) in Canes Venatici. Could have done with more data but I ran out of time. Fortunately I got more the following night. ST-8 on 12" LX200 ACF at f10, guided using AO-8. Luminance 13 x 10 minutes, RGB each 6 x 3 minutes binned 2x2. I had to rotate the camera to pick up a guide star, so North is top left corner. This image was published in the April 2008 issue of Astronomy Now |
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Before capturing the extra data for ARP 84 on 12th February 2008 I decided to add M96 to my Messier images - I'd never imaged it before, it looking rather uninteresting on my wall chart which doesn't show the outer clouds. But after seeing Adam Block's superb APOD image I decided it was definitely worth a go. Interestingly the Isaac Newton Telescope image doesn't hold a candle to Adam's. But to be fair it was taken in 1995! Well, even with 2+ hours luminance it's clear that I need darker, more contrasty skies than I'm ever likely to get without a temperature inversion covering all the local area light pollution, and leaving me in the clear at my 680 ft. altitude. But I guess it'll do! Note: Further processing in 2025(!) improved the galaxy contrast and better showed the outer star clouds. SBIG ST-8XME, 12" LX200 ACF at f10, Luminance 1 x 8 min + 12 x 10 mins (I possibly could have gone longer, but was avoiding blooming), RGB each 8 x 3 mins binned 2x2, Astrodon filters. Slightly rotated to acquire a guide star. Full size |
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NGC 2685 - the Helix or Spindle galaxy - is a peculiar polar ring galaxy in Ursa Major. Also classified as Arp 336. At first sight not particularly faint at magnitude 11.2, but the outer regions proved to be difficult in the poor weather conditions prevailing in early March 2008. This image is a result of several attempts both with and without a Moon in the sky. At this time (19th. March) the Moon is nearing Full, and I've abandoned any further attempts until dark skies return! Then I will hope for a crisp clear night to revisit this interesting and unusual object. SBIG ST8XME and 12" LX200 ACF at f10 (cropped from full frame). Luminance 12 x 15 minutes, RGB each 5 x 5 minutes binned 2x2 |
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After collecting more data - another 10 Luminance subs at 15 minutes, I managed to improve the detail within the galaxy. But still imaging under mediocre conditions for this difficult object. So unless a really good night comes along soon (it's now 29th. March and other targets are crying for attention), that's it folks! This image was published in the May 2008 issue of Practical Astronomer |
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The weekend commencing 4th April 2008 was the climax of the Spring Kielder Star Party. Staying at Calvert Trust, we were blessed with a couple of good clear nights, but I wanted to experiment with some cameras to help with some purchasing decisions. So on the Friday night a friend kindly allowed me to 'play' with his recently acquired SBIG ST-4000XCM one-shot colour camera. I had my TMB refractor with me on my 'portable' EQ6 mount, and the field of view with a focal reducer nicely encompassed Markarian's Chain in Virgo. 7 x 10 minute subs. That's Messier 87 (Virgo A) in the bottom left hand corner. Full size. This image appeared in the July-September 2008 SPA magazine, and featured in The Sky at Night BBC TV programme, August 2012 |
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Hoag's Object (PGC 54559) resides in Serpens. Although it could be mistaken for a planetary nebula, it is in fact a Ring Galaxy. I previously imaged this interesting though small and faint (mag 16) target on a visit to COAA in Portugal in 2003. But always wanted to capture it from the UK. With a declination of +21deg 35 minutes, it culminates around 56 degrees altitude for me, so decently high in March/April. But this faint low contrast target needs crisp clear stable skies, and these were simply not forthcoming in early 2008. So I made the best of what opportunities were available in early and late April 2008, and this is the result. Luminance 6 x 30 minutes, RGB each 4 x 5 minutes, binned 2x2. ST-8XME, AO-8, Astrodon filters, LX200ACF at f10. Here is the Hubble image. I like to think I managed to catch a hint of structure in the ring.... |
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