Comet Lovejoy C/2014 Q2

A new comet discovered by Terry Lovejoy in August 2014 from Australia is a great comet to view because of its path through the sky.  It is high up and excellent position for cameras and telescopes.  I took this image from Zodiac Ranch near Fort Davis, TX on the night of January 18, 2015.  It is at its maximum brightness and orbits the sun every 11,000 years. 

Lovejoy C/2014 Q2
(L) 3min X 2
(R) 3 min X 2
(G) 3 min X 2
(B) 3 min X 2
Camera: QSI683wsg at F/5
Telescope: Takahashi FSQ106
Mount: Celestron CGE Pro
Location: Fort Davis, TX
Dates: January 18, 2015
Captured with Nebulosity and guided with PHD guiding.
Processed with MaxIm DL 5 and photoshop.

 The smaller image is a widefield image using a Canon 5D Mark II that is modified for deep sky astrophotography.  It is a single 3-minute exposure piggybacking on my scope.

NGC 1499

NGC 1499, California Nebula
(Ha) 20min X 10
(R) 10 min X 4
(G) 10 min X 4
(B) 10 min X 4
Camera: QSI683wsg at F/5
Telescope: Takahashi FSQ106
Mount: Celestron CGE Pro
Location: Fort Davis, TX
Dates: Multiple nights on December 19 and 20, 2014
Captured with Nebulosity and guided with PHD guiding.
Processed with MaxIm DL 5 and photoshop.

Crab Nebula

The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant and in the constellation Taurus.   Located at a distance of about 6,500 light years from Earth,  the nebula has a diameter of 11 light years. At the center of the nebula lies a neutron star about 20km across spinning about 30 times per second.  When a star dies it throws out a wave of gas and dust known as a supernova nebula.

M1, Crab Nebula
(L)15 min X 2
(Ha) 15 min X 13
(R) 15 min X 2
(G) 15 min X 2
(B) 15 min X 2
Camera: QSI683wsg at F/7
Telescope: 11" Edge HD
Mount: Celestron CGE Pro
Location: Lubbock, TX
Dates: Multiple nights on November 25-29, 2014
Captured with Nebulosity and guided with PHD guiding.
Processed with MaxIm DL 5 and photoshop.

NGC 7331

NGC 7331 with neighbors
(L)20min X 14
(R) 20min X 4
(G) 20min X 4
(B) 20min X 4
Camera: QSI683wsg at F/7
Telescope: 11" Edge HD
Mount: Celestron CGE Pro
Location: Lubbock, TX
Dates: Multiple nights on October, 23, 24, and 25, 2014
Captured with Nebulosity and guided with PHD guiding.
Processed with MaxIm DL 5 and photoshop.

Dumbbell Nebula (M27)

At a distance of 1,360 light years away, the Dumbbell Nebula is located in the constellation Vulpecula.  It's more of a summer time object, however, I started imaging this object on August 29, 2014 with a Hydrogen Alpha filter for Luminance and completed a set of images with a red filter.  I wanted to complete the image using green and blue filters, however, the wind and the weather were a factor the next night, so I had to wait until September.  September came around and I was unable to find any clear skies due to tropical storm Odile that was placed over Lubbock, TX.  Yes, you read right, the remains of a tropical storm gave Lubbock 10 inches of rain within a week.  So October finally came around and I was able to complete the image using more Hydrogen Alpha data, red data, and completed the green and blue data on October 16 and 17, 2014.  Processed on Saturday October 18, 2014.

Dumbbell Nebula
(Ha)15min X 12
(R) 10min X 4
(G) 10min X 4
(B) 10min X 4
Camera: QSI683wsg at F/7
Telescope: 11" Edge HD
Mount: Celestron CGE Pro
Location: Lubbock, TX
Dates: Multiple nights on August 29, 2014, October 16 and 17, 2014.  Imaged over several nights.
Captured with Nebulosity and guided with PHD guiding.
Processed with MaxIm DL 5 and photoshop.

Trifid Nebula

The Trifid Nebula is located in the constellation Sagittarius located approximately 5200 light years away.  It's a star forming region with numerous dark dust lanes creating lots of dark filaments. 

Trifid Nebula
(L)10min X 12
(R) 10min X 4
(G) 10min X 4
(B) 10min X 4
Camera: QSI683wsg at F/7
Telescope: 11" Edge HD
Mount: Celestron CGE Pro
Location: Lubbock, TX
Dates: Early morning, July 25 and 26, 2014.  Imaged over several nights.
Captured with Nebulosity and guided with PHD guiding.
Processed with MaxIm DL 5 and photoshop.

Lagoon and Trifid Nebula

Lagoon and Trifid Nebula!
Took this last week at the Texas Star Party.
Lagoon and Trifid
5min X 20 RGB
Camera: QHY8 F/5
Telescope: Takahashi FSQ106 guided
Mount: Celestron CGE Pro
Location:Zodiac Ranch
Dates: Early morning, May 29, 2014
Captured with Nebulosity and guided with PHD guiding.
Processed with MaxIm DL 5 and photoshop.