Fireworks Galaxy (NGC6946) and open cluster (NGC6939) in constellation Cepheus

This is a photo taken from a less popular region in constellation Cepheus. On the bottom right is the spiral galaxy NGC6946 also known as Fireworks Galaxy. On the top left is an open cluster with the great name NGC6939. The seeing was ok but could have been better… like most of the time 🙂 For more details on the equipment take a look at the equipment page. For stacking the images I used DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 with Kappa-Sigma Clipping.

Date2012/10/17
LocationBöblingen / Germany
ObjectM33 (Triangulum Galaxy‎)
CameraAtik383L+
Guidingyes, QHY5-II Mono via OAG
Telescope8" GSO Newtonian
Barlow lensnone
MountEQ6Syntrek
Cooling-15°C
Luminance7x, 600s, bin: 1x1
Red4x, 150s, bin: 2x2
Green3x, 150s, bin: 2x2
Blue4x, 150s, bin: 2x2
Dark10x
Flat10x
Total exposure~1h37m

Clear skies!

Last updated: June 16, 2022 at 22:30 pm

A quick visit at Saturn

While I was observing the moon I decided to quickly step by at Saturn. The image got better than I expected and so I am sharing it here 🙂 The Cassini Division (the thin black line in the ring) is clearly visible even at this low image resolution. The raw data was recorded with a DMK31AU03.AS camera and then post-processed with Registax.

Clear skies!

Last updated: June 16, 2022 at 22:53 pm

Imaging the Cocoon Nebula (IC5146)

Tonight I imaged the Cocoon Nebula (IC5146) – a reflection / emission nebula in constellation Cygnus. The cluster is about 4,000 ly away. The seeing was great and the guiding with PHD worked perfectly well. I was a fantastic summer night.

For stacking I used DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 with Kappa-Sigma Clipping. The picture is also available in full resolution here.

Date2015/07/21
LocationBöblingen / Germany
ObjectIC5146 (Cocoon Nebula)
CameraAtik383L+
Guidingyes, QHY5-II Mono via OAG
Telescope8" GSO Newtonian
Barlow lensnone
MountEQ6Syntrek
Cooling-15°C
Luminance8x, 600s, bin: 1x1
Red11x, 150s, bin: 2x2
Green11x, 150s, bin: 2x2
Blue11x, 150s, bin: 2x2
Dark10x
Flat10x
Total exposure~2h42min.

Clear skies!

Last updated: June 16, 2022 at 23:20 pm

NGC6914 – The dark monster of Cygnus

Behind the unspectacular name NGC6914 a nice emission nebula in constellation Cygnus is hiding. To me the nebula looks a little like a dark monster with two deep blue eyes in the center of the picture 😀

The picture is also available in full resolution here.

Date2015/07/15
LocationBöblingen / Germany
ObjectNGC6914 (Emission Nebula)
CameraAtik383L+
Guidingyes, QHY5-II Mono via OAG
Telescope8" GSO Newtonian
Barlow lensnone
MountEQ6Syntrek
Cooling-15°C
Luminance7x, 600s, bin: 1x1
Red5x, 150s, bin: 2x2
Green5x, 150s, bin: 2x2
Blue5x, 150s, bin: 2x2
Dark10x
Flat10x
Total exposure~1h50min.

Clear skies!

Last updated: June 16, 2022 at 23:19 pm