Our Latest Images

Images From our July 2008 Trip to Spain
We are back in Spain and it is hot. Currently unable to run the camera lower than -10C. We also have a new laptop which we are breaking in, and are battling with the latest version of TheSky, which seems to have field diagrams that bear no relationship whatsoever to actual star patterns in the real sky. But we are making progress. Hope you enjoy all the images.
	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)
	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)
	Arp 111 in Canes Venatici.
	Arp 288 in Virgo.
	Arps 33 and 326 in Virgo.
	NGC 7331 in Pegasus. An interesting galaxy with several small companions. Full resolution image (2.7Mb)
	Arp 18 in Ursa Major.
	Arp 239 in Ursa Major.
	Arp 240 in Virgo.
	Arp 254 in Libra.
	NGC 6369 (the Little Ghost nebula) in Ophiuchus. Note the little FLIERS at either end of the ring. Full resolution image (3.8Mb)
	Arp 23 in Canes Venatici.
	Arp 24 in Ursa Major.
	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)
	Even more interesting is this very faint shell of material surrounding NGC 6826 and only visible when the blue or green images are highly stretched. This is probably material ejected at an earlier phase of development of the nebula.
	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)
	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)
Some of the Best Images from our Recent Visits
	NGC 5128 in Centaurus. While we were down in the low southern sky we decided to image this fascinating object with the C14 and ST10-XME. It is a pair of colliding galaxies and also the source of one of the most powerful radio emissions in the sky - Centaurus A. This is a 40 minute luminance. Full resolution image (1.9Mb)
	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)
	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)
	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)
	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)
	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)
	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)
	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)
	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
	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
	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.
	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.