NGC7023 Iris Nebula
Reflection nebula in Cepheus

Integration time (running total):
* OSC 624 X 60s (624m)
* Total: 10h24m
'Sing to the Moon and the stars will shine'
Reflection nebula in Cepheus
Integration time (running total):
* OSC 624 X 60s (624m)
* Total: 10h24m
Planetary nebula in Vulpecula
Integration time (running total):
* OSC 81 X 60s (81m)
* Total: 1h21m
Seeing index: Ave (3)
Jet stream: Ave (16 m/s)
Transparency: Ave (3)
Integration time (running total):
* OSC 21 X 300s (105m)
* Total: 1h45m
Integration time target
* Target: 6 hours
* Progress: 29%
Seeing index: OK/Poor (3/2)
Jet stream: Average (11 m/s)
Transparency: OK (3)
Integration time (running total):
* OSC 37 X 120s (74m)
* Total: 1h14m
Integration time target
* Target: 6 hours
* Progress: 25%
Seeing index: OK (3)
Transparency: Good (4)
A visual comparison of five clusters in the Messier list
Integration time (running total):
* OSC Between 30 and 60 X 60s per image
Seeing index: Poor (2)
Jet stream: Ave/Good (12 m/s)
Transparency: Good (4)
Integration time (running total):
* OSC 75 X 120s (150m)
* Total: 2h30m
Seeing index: Poor/average (1/2)
Jet stream: Poor (30 m/s)
Transparency: Average (3)
Integration time (running total):
* OSC 5 X 300s (30m)
* Total: 0h30m
Between the clouds the other day I squeezed in 30 minutes of exposure time on the border between Cassiopeia and Cepheus, a region full of interesting objects. The view in the photo is wide field - 6.6 x 4.8 degrees. Due to the short exposure the H alpha clouds are mainly colourless (e.g. the Lobster Claw Nebula) and the resolution is somewhat poor but I thought it quite an interesting exercise to point the…
Integration time (running total):
* OSC 365 X 60s (365m)
* Total: 6h05m
Integration time target
* Target: 6 hours
* Progress: 100%
Seeing index: Excellent 5/4
Jet stream: Poor (32m/s)
Moon phase: 80%
Transparency: Poor
Integration time (running total):
* OSC 139 X 120s (278m)
* Total: 4h38m
Integration time target
* Target: 12 hours
* Progress: 39%
The bright supernova SN2023IXF currently visible in M101, the Pinwheel Galaxy.
Integration time (running total):
* OSC 11 X 120s (22m)
* Total: 0h22m
Integration time target
* Target: 2 hours
* Progress: 18%
This is another experiment on the feasibility of using an F12 scope for deep sky imaging. I have deliberately chosen an object close to the zenith which should remain visible for some time with the aim of completing a multi-night image before the end of galaxy season. The altitude will decline as we enter the month of June so the next two…
Integration time:
* OSC 33 X 120s (66m)
* Total: 1h06m
This evening was unexpectedly clear though with a thin layer of high, semi-tramsparent cloud which affected guiding and visibility. Around half the gathered frames were discarded. The clouds got thicker around 1 am so I closed the observatory roof and left the calibration frames for the morning. As has been the case recently, calibration frames have been very problematic but I did finally resolve two outstanding issues: