Description

NGC 6820 is a small reflection nebula near the open cluster NGC 6823 in Vulpecula. The reflection nebula and cluster are embedded in a large faint emission nebula called Sh 2-86. The whole area of nebulosity is often referred to as NGC 6820. M27, the Dumbbell Nebula, is found three degrees to the east, and α Vulpeculae three degrees to the west. Open star cluster NGC 6823 is about 50 light years across and lies about 6000 light years away. The center of the cluster formed about two million years ago and is dominated in brightness by a host of bright young blue stars. Outer parts of the cluster contain even younger stars.It forms the core of the Vulpecula OB1 stellar association.

Equipment and processing

Telescope: GSO 8” RC CF

Mount: Losmandy G11 with Onstep

Camera: ST 8300M

Filters: Baader HGB

Guiding: PHD2

Processing: PixInsight

Capture software: CCDCiel

Exposures: Ha: bin1 20x1200 GB: bin1 15x300

Location: Parsippany,NJ

Description

The Sadr region, or IC 1318, is the diffuse emission nebula surrounding Sadr at the center of Cygnus's cross. The Sadr region is one of the surrounding nebulous regions; others include the Butterfly Nebula and the Crescent Nebula. It contains many dark nebulae in addition to the emission diffuse nebulae.

Equipment and processing

Telescope: Orion 8 inch F5

Mount: Losmandy G11 with Onstep

Camera: ST 8300M

Filters: Baader HGB

Guiding: PHD2

Processing: PixInsight

Capture software: CCDCiel

Exposures: Ha: bin1 31x600 GB: bin1 25x300

Location: Parsippany,NJ

Description

"The solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, dubbed ""The Great American Eclipse"" by the media, was a total solar eclipse visible within a band across the entire contiguous United States, passing from the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts. I observed it from Shohone WY."

Equipment and processing

Telescope: ES102CF

Mount: LXD75

Camera: Canon T2i

Filters: None

Guiding: None

Processing: None

Capture software: None

Exposures: None

Location: Shohone,WY

Description

The Whirlpool Galaxy (also known as Messier 51, M51, or NGC 5194) is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleu in the constellation Canes Venatici. Recently it was estimated to be 23 million light-years from the Milky Way, but different methods yield distances between 15 and 35 million ly. Messier 51 is one of the best known galaxies in the sky. The galaxy and its companion (NGC 5195) are easily observed by amateur astronomers, and the two galaxies may even be seen with binoculars. The Whirlpool Galaxy is also a popular target for professional astronomers, who study it to further understand galaxy structure (particularly structure associated with the spiral arms) and galaxy interactions.

Equipment and processing

Telescope: AT6RC

Mount: Orion Atlas

Camera: ST 8300M

Filters: Baader LRGB

Guiding: PHD2

Processing: PixInsight

Capture software: CCDCiel

Exposures: L: bin1 100x300 RGB: bin1 15x300

Location: Parsippany,NJ

Description

NGC 2403 (also Caldwell 7) is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Camelopardalis. NGC 2403 is an outlying member of the M81 Group, and is approximately 8 million light-years distant. It bears a striking similarity to M33, being about 50,000 light years in diameter and containing numerous star-forming H II regions. The northern spiral arm connects it to a Star forming region NGC 2404. NGC 2403 can be observed using 10×50 binoculars

Equipment and processing

Telescope: AT6RC

Mount: Orion Atlas

Camera: ST 8300M

Filters: Baader LRGB

Guiding: PHD2

Processing: PixInsight

Capture software: CCDCiel

Exposures: L: bin1 30x300 RGB: bin1 15x300

Location: UACNJ

Description

The Pelican Nebula (also known as IC 5070 and IC 5067) is an H II region associated with the North America Nebula in the constellation Cygnus. The gaseous contortions of this emission nebula bear a resemblance to a pelican, giving rise to its name. The Pelican Nebula is located nearby first magnitude star Deneb, and is divided from its more prominent neighbour, the North America Nebula, by a molecular cloud filled with dark dust. The Pelican is much studied because it has a particularly active mix of star formation and evolving gas clouds. The light from young energetic stars is slowly transforming cold gas to hot and causing an ionization front gradually to advance outward. Particularly dense filaments of cold gas are seen to still remain, and among these are found two jets emitted from the Herbig–Haro object 555. Millions of years from now this nebula might no longer be known as the Pelican, as the balance and placement of stars and gas will leave something that appears completely different.

Equipment and processing

Telescope: ES102CF

Mount: Orion Atlas

Camera: ST 8300M

Filters: Baader Ha 7nm, RGB

Guiding: PHD2

Processing: PixInsight

Capture software: CCDCiel

Exposures: Ha: bin1 25x1200 RGB: bin1 15x300

Location: Parsippany,NJ