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First deep-sky image from Astronomy Magazine Observatory

Posted Fri, Mar 19 2010 11:21 AM by David Eicher

The Orion Nebula (M42) imaged by Gene Turner with the 14-inch SCT at Astronomy Magazine Observatory, a Hyperstar correcting lens system, and a Canon XTI DSLR camera. It‘s a composite of five 15-second exposures at f/2.

On Wednesday night, March 17, Gene Turner of Rancho Hidalgo shot the first deep-sky images using Astronomy Magazine Observatory. Previously, the telescopes had been used to shoot planetary images. On Wednesday Gene concentrated on short-exposure tests of the Orion Nebula (M42), and Omega Centauri (NGC 5139). The first image of M42, published here, is a simple, raw, unguided shot — yet it’s pretty nice overall and shows the incredible nature of the dark sky at Hidalgo. It‘s a composite of five 15-second exposures!

Enjoy the opening salvo in what will be a stream of many more images to come, and let us know if you have favorite deep-sky objects you would like the editors to image and share with you in the future.

[PostIcon]http://cs.astronomy.com/asycs/blogs/astronomy/Deep%20sky%20objects/OrionSTKtest%20small.jpg[/PostIcon]

Filed under: David J. Eicher, deep sky, imaging

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Gaviin wrote re: First deep-sky image from Astronomy Magazine Observatory

on Tue, Mar 23 2010 07:58 PM

Excellent! Looking forward to more. Just a question though. What processing caused the light area the drifts across the pic? Even looks as though there was a shadowing effect spoking off to the left.

Visus wrote re: First deep-sky image from Astronomy Magazine Observatory

on Tue, Mar 30 2010 05:35 PM

OK! I'm an amateur at this - but I think that part of the lighting is due to the filters used during the imaging and exposure time along with specific emission gases. I may be way off.

Michael Bakich wrote re: First deep-sky image from Astronomy Magazine Observatory

on Wed, Mar 31 2010 09:18 AM

Hi, Gaviin.

The imager didn't use any post-processing. All he did was combine five short exposures. The light and shadowing effects you mention are all part of the wonderful composition of the Orion Nebula itself. I've spent many hours observing M42 through all types of telescopes and at all magnifications. It's so bright that details like the ones you mention are easy to see, and they show up even better on photographs.