Eagle Nebula

Well here's tonights projects. I was finally able to get dark and clear enough skys to get these photos.

SkyWatcher 10" reflector on EQ5 pro mount, Meade DSI IIc camera 20 images @ 15 secs per. Minor color corrections and sharpening with Photoshop elements.







The Eagle Nebula (catalogued as Messier 16 or M16, and as NGC 6611) is a young open cluster of stars in the constellation Serpens, discovered by Jean-Philippe de Cheseaux in 1745-46. Its name derives from its shape which is resemblant of an eagle. It is the subject of a famous photograph by the Hubble Space Telescope, which shows pillars of star-forming gas and dust within the nebula.

Local Fires

Sorry for the lack of posts in the last few days. The fires in and around Los Angeles have been keeping our sky's filled with a light coating of smoke. Just enough to keep our light polluted sky filtered where I haven't attempted to set up the telescope. Planning on this weekend sometime.

Mt Wilson observatory has been threatened by the fires but so far the firefighters have been able to keep it safe. This actually sound pretty good as of this morning. If the winds stay away and the humidity stays up it may make it through this.

M8 Lagoon Nebula

Here's my 1st attempt at M8. I found I'm just a wee bit out of focus so will try harder next time (need to make a "Hartmann Mask" for the new scope).

Sky-Watcher SW254N with EQ5 pro mount, Meade DSI IIc camera 20 images @ 15 sec each.

The Lagoon Nebula (catalogued as Messier 8 or M8, and as NGC 6523) is a giant interstellar cloud in the constellation Sagittarius. It is classified as an emission nebula and as an H II region.

The Lagoon Nebula was discovered by Guillaume Le Gentil in 1747 and is one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the naked eye from mid-northern latitudes. Seen with binoculars, it appears as a distinct oval cloudlike patch with a definite core. A fragile star cluster appears superimposed on it.

My Telescope Setup

Thought I would post some photos of my normal setup for the evening.

New Ring Nebula photo

I was able to capture a new and better photo of the Ring Nebula last night. New Skywatcher telescope is working very well... Think I finally have everything dialed-in. Still learning the methods with the Meade DSI IIc camera so would hope photos will be getting better and better.







Sky-Watcher SW254N with EQ5 pro mount, Meade DSI IIc camera set on 15 sec Fits3P photos total of 30 images stacked. Very minor "tweeking" with Meade Image pro program.

M27 Dumb Bell Nebula

M27 Dumb Bell Nebula

The Dumbbell Nebula (also known as Messier 27, M 27, or NGC 6853) is a planetary nebula (PN) in the constellation Vulpecula, at a distance of about 1,360 light years.

This object was the first planetary nebula to be discovered; by Charles Messier in 1764. At its brightness of visual magnitude 7.5 and its diameter of about 8 arcminutes, it is easily visible in binoculars, and a popular observing target in amateur telescopes.

Sky-Watcher SW254N with EQ5 Pro

DSI IIc

Single 5 sec image

M57 Ring Nebula

Finally got the Sky-Watcher telescope aligned correctly. Here's 1st photo of M57.


The famously named "Ring Nebula" is located in the northern constellation of Lyra, and also catalogued as Messier 57, M57 or NGC 6720. It is one of the most prominent examples of the deep-sky objects called planetary nebulae (singular, planetary nebula), often abbreviated by astronomers as simply planetaries or PN.








Sky-Watcher SW254N with EQ5 pro
Meade DSI IIc
single 5 sec exposure.