| LATEST IMAGES FROM LAND OF OZ OBSERVATORY (Click on thumbnail image for full-size image) |
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M-20 (NGC-6514) The "Trifid" Nebula in Sagittarius. One of the best bright nebulae in the summer sky.
This object lies just 1 1/2 degrees north of M-8, the "Lagoon" nebula, and the two of them are framed nicely
in the field of 11X80 binoculars. Through the 11-inch SCT telescope, using an Oxygen III filter, the nebula is
bright and the three dark lanes appear dark and have much detail.
NOTE: This image was captured on the morning of July 24th, 2009 through an 80mm (3.1") aperture
refractor and a focal reducer to shoot at f/3.75. The image is an integration of sixteen 40-second exposures
using an Orion one shot color CCD camera. The images were combined and processed using Nebulosity
2.1, with additional post-processing using Photoshop CS levels & curves, Carboni's Astronomy Tools, and
Noiseware.
This object lies just 1 1/2 degrees north of M-8, the "Lagoon" nebula, and the two of them are framed nicely
in the field of 11X80 binoculars. Through the 11-inch SCT telescope, using an Oxygen III filter, the nebula is
bright and the three dark lanes appear dark and have much detail.
NOTE: This image was captured on the morning of July 24th, 2009 through an 80mm (3.1") aperture
refractor and a focal reducer to shoot at f/3.75. The image is an integration of sixteen 40-second exposures
using an Orion one shot color CCD camera. The images were combined and processed using Nebulosity
2.1, with additional post-processing using Photoshop CS levels & curves, Carboni's Astronomy Tools, and
Noiseware.
NGC-7000 (The "North American" Nebula): This is a vast cloud of mixed nebulosity, dust, and stars. It lies
approximately 3 degrees east of Deneb (Alpha Cygni), and is considered one of the outstanding features of
the northern Milky Way. The object is quite large (over 1 1/2 degrees in diameter) and is best seen using
large binoculars or smaller, short focus (f/6 or shorter) telescopes. On very dark transparent nights, its
distinctive shape can be seen even without nebular filters. This cloud of gas and dust lies about 1600 light
years distant. This image frames the "southern US and Mexico" area of the nebula.
NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of August 22nd, 2009, and is an integration of twelve 60
second exposures through an 80mm (3.1") refractor, using a focal reducer to shoot at f/3.75. The images
were captured and combined in Nebulosity 2.1, with further post-processing using Photoshop CS levels &
curves, Carboni's AstroTools, and Noiseware.
approximately 3 degrees east of Deneb (Alpha Cygni), and is considered one of the outstanding features of
the northern Milky Way. The object is quite large (over 1 1/2 degrees in diameter) and is best seen using
large binoculars or smaller, short focus (f/6 or shorter) telescopes. On very dark transparent nights, its
distinctive shape can be seen even without nebular filters. This cloud of gas and dust lies about 1600 light
years distant. This image frames the "southern US and Mexico" area of the nebula.
NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of August 22nd, 2009, and is an integration of twelve 60
second exposures through an 80mm (3.1") refractor, using a focal reducer to shoot at f/3.75. The images
were captured and combined in Nebulosity 2.1, with further post-processing using Photoshop CS levels &
curves, Carboni's AstroTools, and Noiseware.
M-22 (NGC-6656): The large spectacular globular cluster in Sagittarius. It is located just above the "teapot"
approximately 2 degrees NE of Lambda Sagittarii. In total light it ranks in 3rd place among all the globulars
in the sky, exceeded only by Omega Centauri and 47 Tucanae, both southern sky objects. It lies at a distance
of approximately 22,000 light years from earth. Visually it is approximately 17 arcminutes in size (over half
the diameter of the full moon), and is noticeably oval in shape, elongated east to west, as can be seen in
this image.
NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of August 22nd, 2009, through an 80mm (3.1") refractor
at f/3.75. It is an integration of seventeen 20-second exposures. The images were captured and combined
using Nebulosity 2.1, with post-processing in Photoshop CS, AstroTools and Noiseware.
approximately 2 degrees NE of Lambda Sagittarii. In total light it ranks in 3rd place among all the globulars
in the sky, exceeded only by Omega Centauri and 47 Tucanae, both southern sky objects. It lies at a distance
of approximately 22,000 light years from earth. Visually it is approximately 17 arcminutes in size (over half
the diameter of the full moon), and is noticeably oval in shape, elongated east to west, as can be seen in
this image.
NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of August 22nd, 2009, through an 80mm (3.1") refractor
at f/3.75. It is an integration of seventeen 20-second exposures. The images were captured and combined
using Nebulosity 2.1, with post-processing in Photoshop CS, AstroTools and Noiseware.
M-16 (NGC-6611): Commonly called the "Eagle Nebula", this is a large star cluster involved in extensive
nebulosity. It lies approximately 3 degrees north of M-17, the Swan Nebula. At the center of the nebulosity is the
complex of dark lanes made famous by the Hubble Telescope as "the pillars of creation".
NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of August 22nd, 2009 and is an integration of twenty 60-second
exposures through the 80mm (3.1") refractor. Captured and combined in MaximDL Essentials with post-
processing in Photoshop CS levels & curves.
nebulosity. It lies approximately 3 degrees north of M-17, the Swan Nebula. At the center of the nebulosity is the
complex of dark lanes made famous by the Hubble Telescope as "the pillars of creation".
NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of August 22nd, 2009 and is an integration of twenty 60-second
exposures through the 80mm (3.1") refractor. Captured and combined in MaximDL Essentials with post-
processing in Photoshop CS levels & curves.
The "Leo Trio" (M-65, M-66 and NGC-3628) Galaxy group in LEO: This image was captured on the morning
of April 7th, 2010, and is an integration of twenty-five 90 second exposures through an 80mm APO Refractor
at f/3.75. The image was captured using Maxim DL Essentials, and was processed in Nebulosity v 2.1. Post
processing was done using Photoshop CS levels & curves, Carboni's Astronomy Tools, and NoiseWare.
of April 7th, 2010, and is an integration of twenty-five 90 second exposures through an 80mm APO Refractor
at f/3.75. The image was captured using Maxim DL Essentials, and was processed in Nebulosity v 2.1. Post
processing was done using Photoshop CS levels & curves, Carboni's Astronomy Tools, and NoiseWare.
M-101 (NGC-5457) A large beautiful face-on spiral galaxy in Ursa Major, located above the handle of the Big Dipper.
The most recent red-shift analysis by Alan Sandage puts the distance to M-101 at about 15 million light years. At this
distance, the galaxy's apparent diameter of 20 arcminutes corresponds to an actual diameter of 90,000 light years.
NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of July 2, 2010 through the 80mm Refractor at f/3.75. It is an
integration of twenty-five 60 second exposures. Captured in Maxim DL, and processed in Nebulosity v.2.1, with
post-processing in Photoshop CS, levels & curves, Carboni's Astronomy Tools, and NoiseWare.
The most recent red-shift analysis by Alan Sandage puts the distance to M-101 at about 15 million light years. At this
distance, the galaxy's apparent diameter of 20 arcminutes corresponds to an actual diameter of 90,000 light years.
NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of July 2, 2010 through the 80mm Refractor at f/3.75. It is an
integration of twenty-five 60 second exposures. Captured in Maxim DL, and processed in Nebulosity v.2.1, with
post-processing in Photoshop CS, levels & curves, Carboni's Astronomy Tools, and NoiseWare.
M-4 (NGC-6121) A large, loosely structured globular cluster in Scorpius, located about 1.3 degrees west of Antares.
It is one of the closest globular clusters, being approximately 6200 light years from Earth. Its most prominent feature is
a "bar" or string of 11th magnitude stars bisecting the core of the cluster. This feature is easily seen visually even in
a small telescope. NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of July 14, 2010 through the 80mm Refractor at
f/3.75. It is an integration of fifteen 40 second exposures. Captured in Maxim DL, and processed in Nebulosity v2.1,
with post-processing in Photoshop CS, levels & curves, Carboni's Astronomy Tools and NoiseWare.
It is one of the closest globular clusters, being approximately 6200 light years from Earth. Its most prominent feature is
a "bar" or string of 11th magnitude stars bisecting the core of the cluster. This feature is easily seen visually even in
a small telescope. NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of July 14, 2010 through the 80mm Refractor at
f/3.75. It is an integration of fifteen 40 second exposures. Captured in Maxim DL, and processed in Nebulosity v2.1,
with post-processing in Photoshop CS, levels & curves, Carboni's Astronomy Tools and NoiseWare.
M-17 (NGC-6618) A bright diffuse nebula in Sagittarius, located northwest of the tip of the "teapot". It is sometimes
called the "Omega" or "Swan" nebula. It lies at a distance of approximately 5700 light years from Earth.
NOTE: This image was captured on the morning of July 15, 2010 through the 80mm Refractor at f/3.75. It is an
integration of fifteen 30 second exposures. Captured in Maxim DL, and processed in Nebulosity v 2.1, with
post-processing in Photoshop CS, levels & curves, Carboni's Astronomy Tools and Noiseware.
called the "Omega" or "Swan" nebula. It lies at a distance of approximately 5700 light years from Earth.
NOTE: This image was captured on the morning of July 15, 2010 through the 80mm Refractor at f/3.75. It is an
integration of fifteen 30 second exposures. Captured in Maxim DL, and processed in Nebulosity v 2.1, with
post-processing in Photoshop CS, levels & curves, Carboni's Astronomy Tools and Noiseware.
