Rosette Nebula

I chose the Rosette nebula again as my target of choice when I wanted to test if I can improve on the image quality when using the 0,7x reducer.

The Rosette nebula is a large and relatively bright emission nebula in the constellation Monoceros. Various parts of the nebula have separate NGC numbers and the embedded star cluster itself is NGC2244

This wider view was taken with the Takahashi FS-60CB and shows the surrounding area of the sky.

Later I discovered that the reducer only provides a 10% reduction in focal length, while introducing quite a bit of vignetting.

Rosette Nebula, Nikon D750a, Optolong l-enhance Filter, Astro-Physics 127mm f/8 with 0.7x Reducer, 61x120s, ISO400, Blur Exterminator, Noise Exterminator
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The Rosette Nebula

The Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237, 2238, 2239, 2246) with the embedded open cluster NGC 2244, 1h53, Nikon D750a, Takahashi FS-60CB, Vixen Polarie, Optolong L-enhance

The Rosette nebula is a large and relatively bright emission nebula in the constellation Monoceros. Various parts of the nebula have separate NGC numbers and the embedded star cluster itself is NGC2244

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NGC7000 – The North America Nebula

With the Z6 now my main camera for general photography I sent of my trusty Nikon D750 to modify it by filter removal. The camera is now still fully functional, but he color temperature settings are off, and red response has changed significantly. With the ongoing bad weather I was happy to have an evening with reasonably clear skies and set up the Baby Tak on the Vixen Polarie with the D750a using an L-enhance filter. While the camera capturing 30s exposures I used another scope on the big mount to photograph Mars.

NGC7000, 182x30s, Nikon D750a, Takahashi FS-60CB, Vixen Polarie, Optolong L-enhance Filter
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M16 – The Eagle nebula

M16 has become famous with the famous image of the Hubble telescope showing the pillars of creation. They are also visible in the center of the image below.

This was a first, quick test with the 0,75x reducer (27TVPH) – but I think focus was not good, so my judgement about the quality of the image the focuser delivers is not final yet.

The Eagle Nebula – M16 30x120s, Nikon D750, Astro-Physics 127mm f/8 with 0,75x reducer., reprocessed using using BlurXTerminator and Noise XTerminator
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NGC4565 – a springtime favourite

NGC 4565 the Needle Galaxy, Astro-Physics 127mm f/8 refractor, QHY163c, Meade LXD650 mount, 30×180 sec., darks, flat, processed in Deep Sky Stacker, Fitswork, Photoshop and Lightroom

I find edge-on galaxies especially pleasing, I guess this is the reason while I return to NGC4565 so often.

While the images were captured, the Starlink satellites which launched yesterday passed almost through the Zenith. They were still very closely grouped, and changed dramatically in brightness when the culminated almost in the Zenith. Here are some images of that pass:

Soon after reaching their highest point in the sky, they entered Earth’s shadow and became unobservable.

IC405 – the flaming star nebula

IC405, IC 417, M38, NGC 1893, NGC 1907, 80x120s, ISO 1600, Nikon Z6, Takahashi FS-60CB, Optolong L-enhance Filter.

The flaming star nebula IC405 is visible at the upper right in this image, it is a cloud of glowing hydrogen excited by the very hot O-type star AE Aurigae. AE Aurigae is believed to be a former member of a multiple star in the trapezium of Orion. When two binary stars got too close to each other, AE Auriga and presumably also Mu Columbae got ejected. It is now a high velocity star just passing through this gaseous region in the constellation Auriga.

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