Astronomy Photos - Al Takeda, Vol 2

(click image to view & discuss)	North America Nebula and Pelican Nebula North America Nebula (NGC7000) and Pelican Nebula (IC5070). This ionized Hydrogen region in Cygnus is next to the star Deneb and covers a region greater then 3-degrees. Interstellar dust and dark gas clouds give the nebula its shape. Takahashi E-180, SBIG STL6303E CCD camera (First light); RGB= 30:33:36 minutes – 3 minute sub frames. Chester, Vermont. 24 May 2009. Submitted by Al Takeda on 11/17/2010 13:32:19
(click image to view & discuss)	Sadr region in Cygnus Sadr region in Cygnus. Even though the transparency was poor, I initiated a short imaging run of the Gamma Cygni area. Hydrogen-alpha filter (5nm) Total= 18 minutes, 6 minute unbinned sub frames. Takahashi E-180, SBIG STL6303E CCD camera, ATMoB Clubhouse.11 September 2010. Submitted by Al Takeda on 11/17/2010 13:41:41
(click image to view & discuss)	Veil Nebula Veil Nebula, Supernova remnant in Cygnus, Takahashi Epsilon-180, SBIG  STL-6303E, RGB: 28:20:20 minutes, Total= 68 minutes, Chester, Vermont, 25 May 2009 Submitted by Al Takeda on 12/06/2010 17:30:54
(click image to view & discuss)	M17 (NGC 6618) The Swan Nebula (also called the Omega Nebula, Checkmark Nebula, Horseshoe Nebula and the Lobster Nebula (in the southern hemisphere) is a star forming region whose hydrogen gas is being excited by hot young stars. Narrowband H-a:O-III:S-II - 35:30:15 minutes, 5-minute unbinned sub frames. Takahashi Epsilon-180, SBIG STL6303E CCD camera, ATMoB Clubhouse. 13 August 2010. Submitted by Al Takeda on 02/03/2011 11:15:24
(click image to view & discuss)	NGC 2264 - Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster Region This is an H II region in the constellation of Monoceros (Greek for Unicorn). The cone shape is a dark absorption nebula of cold molecular hydrogen and dust in front of an emission nebula. The peak of the Christmas Tree is the star (SAO 114264) above the Cone's tip. The base of the tree is the bright variable type O7 star 15 Monocerotis (or S Monocerotis). Hydrogen-alpha filter (5nm) Total= 60 minutes. 10 images, 6-minute unbinned subframes. Takahashi Epsilon-180, SBIG STL6303E CCD camera, ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA. 13 November 2010. Submitted by Al Takeda on 02/17/2011 12:40:19
(click image to view & discuss)	IC 348 / IC 1985 This image shows a 7th magnitude star cluster, it's reflection nebula, an extended diffuse nebula and Barnard Dark Nebulae. The bright star at the top is omicron Persei (Atik). The cluster next to Atik is a star forming region with as many as 300 stars  ranging from the brightest at B5 to low mass brown dwarfs. IC 348's reflection nebula is produced by scattered dust and gas and it is about 650 light years (LY) away. The obscuring dark areas are the Barnard Dark Nebulae 1 through 4. This region is located in Perseus between the California nebula and the Pleiades star cluster. 5nm Narrowband filters; H-a:O-III:S-II - 30:42:36 minutes x 6-minute unbinned subframes. Takahashi Epsilon-180, SBIG STL6303E, Chester, Vt, 10 October 2010. Submitted by Al Takeda on 03/14/2011 12:26:01
(click image to view & discuss)	Lagoon Nebula, Trifid Nebula and the NGC 6559 Complex The summer Milky Way brings with it the bright Messier nebulas of M8 (Lagoon) and M20 (Trifid) as well as the NGC 6559 Nebula Complex in Sagittarius. The Lagoon takes its name from the dark nebula that bisects the nebula. The Trifid is a combined emission and reflection nebula that is trisected by the dark nebula, Barnard 85. The NGC 6559 complex (upper left nebulosity) consists of the emission and reflection nebulas of IC1275, IC1274, IC4681 and IC4685. The meandering dark nebula of Barnard 303 also snakes it’s way though the complex. 5nm Hydrogen-alpha filter, Total= 48 minutes, 8 x 360-second unbinned sub frames. Takahashi Epsilon -180 – f/2.8, SBIG STL6303E CCD camera, ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA. 03 July 2010. Submitted by Al Takeda on 04/25/2011 10:37:36
(click image to view & discuss)	Lagoon Nebula, Trifid Nebula and the NGC 6559 Complex – Negative Image This negative view of the previous image highlights the dark nebulas in the region. Same acquisition data as the previous image: 5nm Hydrogen-alpha filter, Total= 48 minutes, 8 x 360-second unbinned sub frames. Takahashi Epsilon -180 – f/2.8, SBIG STL6303E CCD camera, ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA. 03 July 2010. Submitted by Al Takeda on 04/25/2011 11:12:57
(click image to view & discuss)	Cocoon Nebula IC 5146 + Sharpless 125 is a cluster (80 members) with an emission and reflection nebula that surrounds the star BD +46°3474 and is 3900 light years away in the constellation of Cygnus. The B-Type star BD +46°3474 that illuminates the region, is a foreground object to the large molecular cloud complex. The dark regions trailing away from the Cocoon are the Lynd's Dark Nebula 1035 and 1045 (LDN 1962). The dark nebula was also catalogued as Barnard 168. This image records a 2.5-degree field. 5nm Narrowband filters; H-alpha: O-III: S-II - 30:30:30 minutes x 6 minute subframe, binned 1x1. Takahashi Epsilon-180, SBIG STL-6303E CCD camera, Losmandy Gemini G-11 EQ mount, ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA, 5 September 2010. Submitted by Al Takeda on 06/22/2011 12:02:42
(click image to view & discuss)	California Nebula The California Nebula (NGC1499) is an emission nebula in the constellation Perseus that is more then 2.5-degrees in size. The glow is produced by the recombination of electrons stripped away by the radiation of the hot O-class star Xi Persei, which is located at the top center edge of this image. The nebula is about 1000 light years away. 5nm Narrowband filters; H-alpha: O-III: S-II - 60: 60: 80 minutes x 10 minute subframe, Total= 3-hrs 20-minutes, binned 1x1. Takahashi Epsilon-180, SBIG STL-6303E CCD camera, Gemini G-11 EQ mount, ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA, 22 October 2011. Submitted by Al Takeda on 12/20/2011 12:01:50
(click image to view & discuss)	Crescent Nebula Also called NGC 6888, Caldwell 27 and Sharpless 105, this emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus is being formed by the stellar wind created by the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136. Wolf-Rayet stars are hot massive stars that are shedding its outer layers. The area is surrounded by patches of emission nebula. Above the Crescent are the Lynd's Bright Nebulae LBN 215, to the right is the filamentary LBN 208 and below is LBN 193. Hubble Palette, 5 nm Narrowband filters, S-II (Red Channel): H-alpha (Green Channel): O-III (Blue Channel) - 30: 55: 40 minutes, 5 minute subframe, binned 1x1, Total= 125 minutes, Takahashi Epsilon-180, SBIG STL-6303E CCD camera, ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA, 13 August 2010. Submitted by Al Takeda on 01/25/2012 13:20:14
(click image to view & discuss)	Soap Bubble Planetary Nebula and Crescent Nebula This enlargement of the Crescent Nebula image allows us to see the Soap Bubble Nebula (PN G75.5+1.7), (left-center of picture). A planetary nebula is formed when a star’s outer shell of gas is shed into space as the core collapses into a white dwarf. The planetary was discovered on July 6, 2008 by amateur astronomer Dave Jurasevich. Hubble Palette, 5 nm Narrowband filters, S-II (Red Channel): H-alpha (Green Channel): O-III (Blue Channel) - 30: 55: 40 minutes, 5 minute subframe, binned 1x1, Total= 125 minutes, Adobe Photoshop blue enhancement to highlight the nebula, Takahashi Epsilon-180, SBIG STL-6303E CCD camera, ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA, 13 August 2010 Submitted by Al Takeda on 01/25/2012 13:21:12
(click image to view & discuss)	Tadpole Emission Nebula and the Flaming Star Nebula The constellation of Auriga harbors the cluster NGC 1893 which contains the Tadpole Nebula (IC 410). These 10 light-years long dense streamers are being pushed outward from the central region and may have star forming regions embedded within them. The surrounding hydrogen cloud is over 100 light-years across. On the right side of this image the irregular variable star AE Auriga is lighting up the interstellar gas and dust that is surrounding it.  The star is so energetic that it knocks the electrons to a higher energy state and when it recombines with a proton the classic red emission nebula is formed (SH 2-229 or Caldwell 31). The Flaming Star Nebula, IC 405, is the magenta/purplish area and is the reflection portion of this nebulous region. 5nm Narrowband filters; H-alpha: O-III: S-II - 60: 60: 40 minutes x 600-second sub frames, Total= 2-hours 40-minutes, binned 1x1. Takahashi Epsilon-180, SBIG STL-6303E CCD camera, Gemini G-11 EQ mount, ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA, 28 January 2012. Submitted by Al Takeda on 02/29/2012 09:38:32
(click image to view & discuss)	Jellyfish Nebula (IC443) – Narrowband Color The Jellyfish Nebula (IC443) or Sharpless 248 (Sh2-248) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Gemini. Located at the feet of the “Twins” and near 7 – Eta Geminorum or Propus (Greek for “forward foot”) the nebula is 5000 light years away. The nebula is an extended object with an angular diameter of 50 minutes of arc. The head of the Jellyfish is thought to be produced by a fast shock wave that is plowing into less dense neutral hydrogen. 5nm Narrowband filters; H-alpha: O-III: S-II - 50: 60: 60 minutes x 600-second sub frames, binned 1x1, Total= 2-hours 50-minutes. Takahashi Epsilon -180, f/2.8 hyperbolic astrograph, SBIG STL-6303E CCD camera, Losmandy Gemini G-11 EQ mount. Image acquisition by CCD Soft V5. Processing by CCD Stack and Adobe Photoshop. ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA, 24 December 2011. Submitted by Al Takeda on 05/14/2014 15:02:54
(click image to view & discuss)	Jellyfish Nebula (IC443) – Narrowband Hydrogen-alpha While testing a new coupler/adapter for the STL6303E CCD camera, I imaged the Jellyfish supernova remnant using a 5nm narrowband Hydrogen-alpha filter. The bright star near the “head” is 7 – Eta Geminorum. 5nm Narrowband H-alpha filter, 10 images x 600-second sub frames, binned 1x1, Total= 1 hour and 40 minutes. TMB 92 APO refractor, f/5.5 using a field flattener. SBIG STL-6303E CCD camera, Losmandy Gemini G-11 EQ mount. Image acquisition by CCD Soft V5. Processing by CCD Stack and Adobe Photoshop. ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA, 23 March 2014. Submitted by Al Takeda on 05/14/2014 15:05:01
(click image to view & discuss)	Veil Nebula - Supernova Remnant The Veil Nebula is a supernova remnant located in the Cygnus constellation. Part of the visible portion of the Cygnus loop, it was  discovered by William Herschel on September 5, 1784. It is comprised of ionized gas and dust and is about 2,500 light-years away, according to the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer data. It is a result of one or more supernove explosions that occurred more than 15,000 years ago. The entire Veil Nebula covers an area more than 3 degrees, which is 6 times the diameter of the full moon. This image was used in my "Deep Sky Imaging with Small Scopes" talk at the Stellafane convention. 5nm Narrowband Hydrogen-alpha filter: 10 images x 600-second sub frames, binned 1x1, Total= 1-hour. AstroTech AT66, 66mm, f/5 ED Refractor using an AstroTech flat field corrector, SBIG STL-6303E monochrome CCD camera, Losmandy Gemini G-11 EQ mount. Image acquisition by CCD Soft V5. Processing by CCD Stack and Adobe Photoshop. ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA, 16 July 2015. Submitted by Al Takeda on 09/24/2015 13:03:02
(click image to view & discuss)	Veil Nebula - Supernova Remnant (with labels) This image is annotated with a few labels marking the brighter areas of the Veil Nebula. 5nm Narrowband Hydrogen-alpha filter: 10 images x 600-second sub frames, binned 1x1, Total= 1-hour. AstroTech AT66, 66mm, f/5 ED Refractor using an AstroTech flat field corrector, SBIG STL-6303E monochrome CCD camera, Losmandy Gemini G-11 EQ mount. Image acquisition by CCD Soft V5. Processing by CCD Stack and Adobe Photoshop. ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA, 16 July 2015. Submitted by Al Takeda on 09/24/2015 13:06:00
(click image to view & discuss)	North America and the Pelican Nebula (Imaged during the Full Moon) The North America (NGC 7000) and the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) is an emission complex consisting of ionized hydrogen gas and dust. Located about 3 degrees east of the star Deneb, in the constellation of Cygnus, it subtends an area more than 3 degrees. Current estimates place the nebula's region at around 1,800 light years away. It is possible to see this cloud using the unaided eye under dark skies and using an ultra high contrast (UHC) filter. This series of images was acquired during the full moon. 7nm Narrowband Hydrogen-alpha filter: 12 images x 240-second sub frames, binned 1x1, Total= 48 minutes. AstroTech AT66, 66mm, f/5 ED Refractor using an AstroTech flat field corrector, SBIG STF-8300 monochrome CCD camera, Losmandy Gemini G-11 EQ mount. Image acquisition by CCD Soft V5. Processing by CCD Stack and Adobe Photoshop. ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA, 31 July 2015. Submitted by Al Takeda on 09/25/2015 12:11:55