M92

I took an hour of total exposure of this beautiful globular cluster. M92 is one of the brighter globular clusters in the northern hemisphere, but it is often overlooked by amateur astronomers because of its proximity to the even more spectacular Messier 13. It is visible to the naked eye under very good conditions.

It was discovered by Johann Elert Bode in 1777, then published in the Jahrbuch during 1779. The cluster was independently rediscovered by Charles Messier on March 18, 1781 and added as the 92nd entry in his catalogue. M92 is at a distance of about 26,700 light-years away from Earth and has a magnitude of 6.5.

Exposure of this image is:
                          L             =   10 * 180"
                          RGB       =     5 * 120"
                          TOTAL   =    1 hr

Full size in Astrobin

Cocoon Nebula with Ha

I took 4,5 hrs of Ha to boost the nebulosity and some extra RGB to add some color.

Processing was quite difficult because the tonemapped Ha was so strong that the colors were lost in the nebula. I think I added only 30% of Ha to the red channel and combined the L+Ha for luminance. So it's basically LHa(HaR)GB combination...

Total exposure is now 10 hrs:
                                    L        = 10 * 900"
                                    Ha     = 9 * 1800"
                                    RGB  = 12 * 300" (bin2*2)

Full size again on Astrobin

M57, The Ring Nebula

I tried this one with bigger scope! Last one was quite small one with short exposures.

Here's 6,5 hr of exposure Ha(HaR)GB (300:30:30:30).

BIG one again on Astrobin

IC5146, the Cocoon Nebula

This was my secondary target after the Draco Dwarf settled down in the sky.

Only 2,5 hrs of Luminance and no Ha. I may continue this one later...

Total exposure of 5h 30 min:
                                                  L        = 10*900" (bin1*1)
                                                  RGB  = 12*300" (bin2*2)

Draco Dwarf finalized

I took some more shots for this faint one...

Total exposure is 11h 20min (485:60:60:75)
                        L        = 3*1800" + 10*1200" +  13*900" (bin 1*1)
                        RG     = 12*300" (bin2*2)
                        B        = 15*300" (bin2*2)

Full size on Astrobin

The Draco Dwarf galaxy, UGC10822

After I got my ServoCAT back I imaged this galaxy from our local group. Even though the magnitude of this is 10.9 the surface brightness is very low and I didn't manage to get the halo of the galaxy out. The moisture in the air (and the surface fog) didn't help at all...

"Recent studies have indicated that the galaxy may potentially hold large amounts of dark matter. Having an absolute magnitude of -8.6[c] and a total luminosity of only 2×10⁵ L☉, it is one of the faintest companions to our Milky Way." (wikipedia)

Total exposure of this image is 8h 35min:
                                 L          =         6h 35min
                                 RGB     =        2h (40:40:40)

Full size on Astrobin

Back in business

I received my ServoCAT last week and it's working again!! Huge thanks to Gary from Stellarcat who was very helpful and responds very fast to my emails.

The USB chip in the ServoCAT was broken... Gary said this was the first one failed he has seen. And the reason remains uncertain, but the most probable cause was a lightning. I took all the power cables off during summer but didn't even think to disconnect the USB cable. But surely will remember that next summer...