AZ Remote #10, March 2023

NGC 2903

Here is the 1st published image captured using my EdgeHD 9.25 scope, running at 1645mm with the 0.7x reducer. This is galaxy NGC 2903, a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Leo. This is a perfect example of a target that is just too small to capture with decent detail using my 4 inch refractor telescope (with its 580mm focal length). This image is made from 7 hours and 42 minutes of RGB data using 3 minute long subframes. From Wikipedia: NGC 2903 is an isolated barred spiral galaxy in the equatorial constellation of Leo, positioned about 1.5° due south of Lambda Leonis.[10] It was discovered by German-born astronomer William Herschel, who cataloged it on November 16, 1784. He mistook it as a double nebula, as did subsequent observers, and it wasn't until the nineteenth century that the Third Earl of Rosse resolved into a spiral form.[5] J. L. E. Dreyer assigned it the identifiers 2903 and 2905 in his New General Catalogue; NGC 2905 now designates a luminous knot in the northeastern spiral arm.[11] This field galaxy[12] is located about 30[3] million light-years away from the Milky Way, and is a member of the Virgo Supercluster.[4] Equipment: ZWO ASI1600MM-C Camera @ -10C and Gain:139 Offset:21 Software Bisque MyT Mount Celestron EdgeHD 9.25 SCT with 0.7x reducer, 1645mm @ f/7 Software: Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8 Lightroom CC Photoshop CC Light Frames: Red: 48 x 180 secs (2 hrs 24 mins) Green: 58 x 180 secs (2 hrs 54 mins) Blue: 48 x 180 secs (2 hrs 24 mins) 7 hrs 42 mins total Dark Frames: 10 x 180 secs, RGB (30 mins) Bias Frames: 60 Flat Frames: 10 each filter

Lunar Surface Lucky Imaging

My first real attempt at imaging the close up Moon using lucky imaging techniques.

Bode's Galaxy (M81)

Here is a third image of this wonderful galaxy, and the 2nd 'close-up' version. The previous high magnification image is one of my least favorite, taken on my last astroimaging trip in 2018, dodging lots of clouds, and with some tracking and focus issues as well. I think this version came out much better, even showing some of the faint wispy IFN (intergacatic flux nebulae) that seems to be prevalent in deeper images of the area around M81. Equipment: ZWO ASI1600MM-C Camera @ -10C and Gain:139 Offset:21 Software Bisque MyT Mount Celestron EdgeHD 9.25 SCT with 0.7x reducer, 1645mm @ f/7 Software: PHD2 Guiding Software NINA Astroimaging Software Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8 Software Bisque TheSkyX Lightroom CC Photoshop CC Light Frames: Red: 75 x 180 secs (3 hrs 45 mins) Red: 42 x 30 secs (21 mins) Green: 76 x 180 secs (3 hrs 48 mins) Green: 42 x 30secs (21 mins) Blue: 76 x 180 secs (3 hrs 48 mins) Blue: 42 x 30 secs (21 mins) 12 hrs 24 mins total Dark Frames: 10 x 180 secs, RGB (30 mins) 10 x 30 secs, RGB (5 mins) Bias Frames: 60 Flat Frames: 10 each filter

M51, The Whirlpool Galaxy

This iconic target is one of the most mesmerizing objects in the night sky. First discovered by Charles Messier in 1773, M51 contains 2 interacting galaxies, the larget NGC 5194 face on spiral, and the smaller NGC 5195 galaxy (the yellow object to the right of the spiral in this image). These objects are bright enough to be detected with binoculars under dark skies, and reside approximately 31 million light years distant in the Canes Venatici constellation. This was imaged in LRGB filters with additional Hα data added in to accentuate the reddish pink star forming regions. Equipment: ZWO ASI1600MM-C Camera @ -10C and Gain:139 Offset:21 (LRGB) Gain:200 Offset:50 (Hα) Software Bisque MyT Mount Celestron EdgeHD 9.25 SCT with 0.7x reducer, 1645mm @ f/7 Software: PHD2 Guiding Software NINA Astroimaging Software Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8 Software Bisque TheSkyX Lightroom CC Photoshop CC Light Frames: Luminance: 27 x 180 (1 hr 21 mins) Red: 32 x 300 secs (2 hrs 40 mins) Red: 32 x 30 secs (16 mins) Green: 32 x 300 secs (2 hrs 40 mins) Green: 32 x 30secs (16 mins) Blue: 30 x 300 secs (2 hrs 30 mins) Blue: 32 x 30 secs (16 mins) Hα: 37 x 420 secs (4 hrs 19 mins) 14 hrs 18 mins total Dark Frames: 10 x 30 secs, RGB (5 mins) 10 x 180 secs, RGB (30 mins) 10 x 300 secs, RGB (50 mins) Bias Frames: 60 Flat Frames: 10 each filter

NGC 5033, Holmberg VIII, and NGC 5014

Sometimes one's astrophotography composition is controlled by the camera rotation, and in my case of operating remotely, that is often the case. On this image my main target was NGC 5033, the large irregular spiral in the lower left of the frame. I also wanted to get NGC 5005 in the frame, but my orientation was not optimal and I was not ready to set up for a 4 x 4 mosaic to make that happen. By sliding NGC 5033 to the corner of the frame I was able to include a couple of other objects though. The bluish patch in the lower right is irregular galaxy Holmberg VIII (also designated as UGC 8303) and the small galaxy in the upper right is NGC 5014, which has a barely detectable dust lane that bisects the galaxy vertically instead of horizontally. This is an image made in RGB with luminance data added in. I also took some Hα data but it did not seem to amount to much so I did not try to add it in. Total integration time was 11 hours and 31 mins. Shorter frames were taken for the star data and added back in at the end of the processing of the galaxies. Equipment: ZWO ASI1600MM-C Camera @ -10C and Gain:139 Offset:21 Software Bisque MyT Mount Celestron EdgeHD 9.25 SCT with 0.7x reducer, 1645mm @ f/7 Software: PHD2 Guiding Software NINA Astroimaging Software Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8 Software Bisque TheSkyX Lightroom CC Photoshop CC Russell Croman BlurXterminator Russell Croman StarXterminator Russell Croman NoiseXterminator Light Frames: Luminance: 24 x 240 secs (1 hr 36 mins) Red: 57 x 180 secs (2 hrs 51 mins) Red: 57 x 30 secs (28 mins 30 secs) Green: 57x 180 secs (2 hrs 51 mins) Green: 57 x 30secs (28 mins 30 secs) Blue: 56 x 180 secs (2 hrs 48 mins) Blue: 56 x 30 secs (28 mins) 11 hrs 31 mins total Dark Frames: 10 x 180 secs, RGB (30 mins) 10 x 30 secs, RGB (5 mins) Bias Frames: 60

M106

Here is a close up of Messier 106, located in the Canes Venatici constellation. This amazing galaxy was discovered in 1781 and is one of the largest and brightest galaxies located nearby, having a size roughly equivalent to the Andromeda Galaxy. It harbors a very active supermassive black hole in its center. The small galaxy directly below is NGC 4248. This was imaged in LRGB with shorter RGB exposures used for the stars. Additional Hα data was also taken to accentuate some of the active star forming regions. Equipment: ZWO ASI1600MM-C Camera @ -10C and Gain:139 Offset:21 (LRGB) Gain:200 Offset:50 (Hα) Software Bisque MyT Mount Celestron EdgeHD 9.25 SCT with 0.7x reducer, 1645mm @ f/7 Software: PHD2 Guiding Software NINA Astroimaging Software Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8 Software Bisque TheSkyX Lightroom CC Photoshop CC Russell Croman BlurXterminator Russell Croman StarXterminator Russell Croman NoiseXterminator Light Frames: Hα: 53 x 420 secs (6 hrs 11 mins) Luminance: 30 x 360 secs (3 hrs) Red: 54 x 300 secs (4 hrs 30 mins) Red: 20 x 30 secs (10 mins) Green: 52 x 300 secs (4 hrs 20 mins) Green: 18 x 30secs (9 mins) Blue: 52 x 300 secs (4 hrs 20 mins) Blue: 18 x 30 secs (9 mins) 22 hrs 49 mins total Dark Frames: 10 x 420 secs, Hα (1hr 10 mins) 10 x 300 secs, RGB (50 mins) 10 x 30 secs, RGB (5 mins) Bias Frames: 60

the Cigar Galaxy (M82) in HαRGB

This dramatic edge on galaxy is M82, known as the Cigar Galaxy. It is a starburst galaxy, with intense star formation occurring at rates ~10 times higher than in our own Milky Way Galaxy. The starburst activity is thought to be from interactions with nearby M81. M82 is thought to be at a distance of approximately 12 million light years from Earth. Like many galaxies it also harbors a super massive black hole at its center. This image is the result of 11 hours and 50 mins worth of data collected in R,G,B and Hα. Shorter exposure RGB data was added back in for the stars. Equipment: ZWO ASI1600MM-C Camera @ -10C and Gain:139 Offset:21 (LRGB) Gain:200 Offset:50 (Hα) Software Bisque MyT Mount Celestron EdgeHD 9.25 SCT with 0.7x reducer, 1645mm @ f/7 Software: PHD2 Guiding Software NINA Astroimaging Software Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8 Software Bisque TheSkyX Lightroom CC Photoshop CC Russell Croman BlurXterminator Russell Croman StarXterminator Russell Croman NoiseXterminator Light Frames: Hα: 26 x 420 secs (3 hrs 02 mins) Red: 33 x 300 secs (2hrs 45 mins) Red: 29 x 30 secs (14 mins 30 secs) Green: 32 x 300 secs (2 hrs 40 mins) Green: 29 x 30secs (14 mins 30 secs) Blue: 32 x 300 secs (2 hrs 40 mins) Blue: 29 x 30 secs (14 mins 30 secs) 11 hrs 50 mins 30 secstotal Dark Frames: 10 x 420 secs, Hα (1hr 10 mins) 10 x 300 secs, RGB (50 mins) 10 x 30 secs, RGB (5 mins) Bias Frames: 60

M27, The Dumbbell Nebula

M27, The Dumbbell Nebula, located in the constellation Vulpecula, was the first planetary nebula to be discovered, in 1764. Estimates of the nebula's age have been capped at ~14,600 years, with a 1970 study yielding an age of 9,800 years. The nebula was imaged in narrowband, with RGB stars from separate shorter exposures added back in. This 'mix' shows the structure of the nebula in a common orange/blue palette. Equipment: ZWO ASI1600MM-C Camera @ -10C and Gain:139 Offset:21 (LRGB) Gain:200 Offset:50 (Hα) Software Bisque MyT Mount Celestron EdgeHD 9.25 SCT with 0.7x reducer, 1645mm @ f/7 Software: PHD2 Guiding Software NINA Astroimaging Software Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8 Software Bisque TheSkyX Lightroom CC Photoshop CC Russell Croman BlurXterminator Russell Croman StarXterminator Russell Croman NoiseXterminator Light Frames: Ha - 20 x 600 secs ( 3 hrs 20 mins) OIII - 20 x 600 secs ( 3 hrs 20 mins) SII - 28 x 600 secs ( 4 hrs 40 mins) Red: 24 x 30 secs (12 mins) Green: 23 x 30 secs (11 mins 30 secs) Blue: 23 x 30 secs (11 mins 30 secs) 11 hrs 55 mins total Dark Frames: 10 x 30 secs (5 mins) 10 x 600 secs (1 hr 40 mins) Flat Frames: 10, each filter Bias Frames: 60

M27, Dumbbell Nebula, Alternate Palette

This is an alternate palette mix for M27, showing off a more magenta look. Equipment: ZWO ASI1600MM-C Camera @ -10C and Gain:139 Offset:21 (LRGB) Gain:200 Offset:50 (Hα) Software Bisque MyT Mount Celestron EdgeHD 9.25 SCT with 0.7x reducer, 1645mm @ f/7 Software: PHD2 Guiding Software NINA Astroimaging Software Pixinsight Commercial Version 1.8 Software Bisque TheSkyX Lightroom CC Photoshop CC Russell Croman BlurXterminator Russell Croman StarXterminator Russell Croman NoiseXterminator Light Frames: Ha - 20 x 600 secs ( 3 hrs 20 mins) OIII - 20 x 600 secs ( 3 hrs 20 mins) SII - 28 x 600 secs ( 4 hrs 40 mins) Red: 24 x 30 secs (12 mins) Green: 23 x 30 secs (11 mins 30 secs) Blue: 23 x 30 secs (11 mins 30 secs) 11 hrs 55 mins total Dark Frames: 10 x 30 secs (5 mins) 10 x 600 secs (1 hr 40 mins) Flat Frames: 10, each filter Bias Frames: 60