80 replies to this topic

[Cey42]

Easy: M 46, NGC 1999, M 108
Moderate: NGC 4889, NGC 3718, NGC 1435
Challenging: ARP 316, ARP 1 (NGC2857), 3C 232
Extra Challenging: LB 2126

 

 

My theme for this month is two for one. Each primary object listed above will also have one or more other objects that are within 30’ of the primary. These secondary objects are an optional challenge to get in the same image as the primary. They are marked in the images.

 

 

Images with C8 @ F/6.3. Bortle 7 skies.

 

 

Easy

M 46(NGC 2437): Open cluster in Puppis
Secondary: NGC 2438: Planetary nebula
Distance between the two: 0’
https://en.wikipedia...wiki/Messier_46
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_2438
ZWO 294MC. 50x6s. Optolong Lpro Filter
M46 is rich open cluster about 4,900 ly away with about 500 stars. The planetary nebula, NGC 2438, appears to be northern edge of the cluster. But it is only about 1,400 ly away and not part of it.

 

 

NGC 1999: Reflection Nebula in Orion
Secondary: Herbig-Haro objects 1/2
Distance between the two: 4.4’
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_1999
https://en.wikipedia...big–Haro_object
ZWO 294MC. 101x6s. Optolong Lpro Filter
NGC 1999 is interesting nebula because what looks like dark dust lanes is actually a hole in the nebula. Herbig–Haro objects are nebulosity associated with newborn stars. I had read about these but did not expect to able to capture them in an image.

 

 

M 108 (NGC 3556): Elliptical galaxy in Leo
Secondary: SBS 1108+560: Quasar.
Distance between the two: 7’
M 108 is a bared spiral galaxy with intricate looking dust lanes. Just to the North is SBS 1108+560, a quasar, at a distance of 7.1 billion ly and a magnitude of 16.5.
https://en.wikipedia...iki/Messier_108
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasar
ZWO 294MM. 25x12s

 

 

Moderate

 

NGC 4889 (C 35): Elliptical galaxy in Coma Berenices
Secondary: Too many galaxies in FOV to list. How many can you see?
Distance between the two: lots within 15’
This will be a good opportunity to use the annotation feature in either AsiAir, SharpCap, ASTAP or http://nova.astrometry.net/ . The image below has about 50 galaxies with lots still unlabeled. I want to capture this again and use SharpCap’s annotation along with PGC catalog.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_4889
ZWO 294MM. 25x12s

 

 

NGC 3718 (ARP 214): Spiral Galaxy in Ursa Major
Secondary: NGC 3729, HCG 56 (PGC 35631, PGC35609, PGC35620, PGC35618, PGC35615)
Distance between the two: 12’
NGC 3718 is a s-shaped warped galaxy. This may be due to gravitational interaction with NGC 3729. HCG 56 composed of 5 small (.8’) and faint galaxies (Mag 15).

https://en.wikipedia...culiar_Galaxies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_3718
ZWO 294MM. 25x12s

 

 

 

NGC 1435: Reflection Nebula in Taurus
Secondary: IC349: Nebula
Distance between the two: 0’
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_1435
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IC_349
ZWO 294MC. 101x6s. Optolong Lpro Filter
NGC 1945(Merope Nebula) is a nice blue reflection nebula within the Pleiades star cluster. IC 349(Barnard's Merope Nebula) is very close to the star Merope and a challenge to image.

 

 

 

Challenging

ARP 316(NGC 3187, 3190, 3193): Galaxies in Leo
Secondary: HCG 44(NGC 3185, 3187, 3190,3193)
Distance between the two: 16’
https://en.wikipedia...wiki/Hickson_44
NGC 3190 reminds me of a small Sombrero Galaxy (M 108). NGC 3187 is interesting with the wildly extended arms. HCG 44 adds NGC 3185, a near face on spiral, to ARP 316.
No image

 

 

 

ARP 1 (NGC2857): Spiral galaxy in Ursa Major
Secondary: ARP 285 (NGC 2856, NGC 2854): Galaxies
Distance between the two: 10’
ARP 1 is a face on spiral galaxy with nice looking arms. ARP 285 is two smaller distorted spiral galaxies at 6 o’clock.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_2857
https://en.wikipedia...n_Compact_Group
No image.

 

 

3C 232: Quasar in Leo.
Secondary: NGC 3067: Spiral Galaxy
Distance between the two: 2’
Quasar 3C 232 is at distance of 5.5 billion ly and a 15.8 magnitude. NGC 3067 is a spiral galaxy that resembles M 108.
ZWO 294MC. 10x12s. Optolong Lpro Filter

 

 

Very Challenging
LB 2126: Quasar in Ursa Major
Secondary: SBS 1151+548: Quasar
Distance between the two: 22’
Quasar LB 2126 is at distance of 8.2 billion ly and a 16.1 magnitude. Quasar SBS 1151+548 is at distance of 4.8 billion ly and a 16.5 magnitude.

No image.

 

 

Wishing you clear skies!

 

[Cey42]

Here is the SkySafari observing list.

 CN Mar22.skylist   2.09KB   59 downloads

 

 

For SharpCap users, here is a quasar catalog.

 Quasar.csv   22.63KB   25 downloads

[alphatripleplus]

I'm looking forward to trying these.Thanks, Cey!.

[herseycart]

Here is the observation list of this months challenge targets for use in KStars:

 

 CN-032022-EAA.txt   4.57KB   9 downloads

 

I tried to attach it as exported but the forum would not allow the extension .obslist.  So download the text attachment, change the extension to .obslist and then open in the KStars Observation Planner.

 

Definitely some interesting objects this month. Looking forward to hunting for them. 

 

----Update----

Should work now.

Edited by herseycart, 01 March 2022 - 03:41 PM.

[alphatripleplus]

Here are some of the targets from last night's EAA back yard EAA session. Set-up was my AT130EDT reduced to f/5.5, ASI290MM mini at 300 gain with ASILive, no binning and no filters. 

 

First up is M108 in this 2.5 minute total exposure. The quasar SBS 1108+560 is just barely visible a touch below the top( north) edge of the frame, directly above M108. (Click to zoom):

 

M108 & SBS 1108+560; 10 x 15 sec

 

 

 

Next up is the quasar 3C 232 and NGC3067 in this 1.5 minute total exposure. The quasar is mid way between NGC3067 and the the top of the frame:

 

3C 232 & NGC3067; 6 x 15 sec

 

[alphatripleplus]

Continuing with some Arps and the same set-up..

 

Here's Arp316 in Leo, which I think is a very attractive grouping. I just managed to squeeze in NGC3185 at the bottom (south) to complete the four galaxy Hickson 44 group in this 5 minute total exposure:

 

Arp316;  20 x 15 sec

 

 

Last, is a 5 minute total exposure of the beautiful face-on spiral Arp 1 (NGC2857), which I offset to include the two nearby spirals NGC2856 and NGC2854 to the south:

 

Arp1 (NGC2857); 20 x 15 sec

 

[MarMax]

I was saving PNG's and FITS last night and it's interesting that most of the FITS turned out pretty decent except for the Hickson 44 group but luckily the PNG turned out reasonably well except for way too much red. Seeing 3/5, transparency 4/5 and an SQM-L of 18.10.

 

Hickson 44 Group (Arp 316)
C11, Hyperstar v3, QHY183C with IDAS-LPS-D3 filter
15 second exposures, 16 minutes total
Gain =18, Offset = 50

 

I also liked the way NGC 1435 turned out but it really needed post-processing. So here is the post-processed linky.

 

NGC 1435 (same setup as above)

8 second exposures, 18 minutes total

 

[BrentKnight]

What a wild galaxy this one is.  NGC 3718, NGC 3729 and HCG 56.  I got a good bit of drift with the mount so had to do an aggressive crop.  I don't know if it will show here on CN, but there are at least another dozen faint galaxies in this field not annotated by SharpCap (but verified on Aladin).

 

 

Celestron C8 + ASI533MC-Pro. 90 minutes (12s subs/Gain 350)

[BrentKnight]

Here are a couple more with the same rig:

 

M46/NGC 2438 (12'/12"@350)

 

 

 

 

 

[BrentKnight]

NGC 1999 (7'/12"@350)

 

M76/Little Dumbbell (30'/15"@350)

[Cey42]

Brent, nice captures. In NGC 1999 you did manage to get HH1/2. Very nice!

[BrentKnight]

I did not notice that - thanks for pointing it out!

[alphatripleplus]

Here's a grainy one from last night of NGC3718 and the other galaxies in the field of view , NGC3719 and Arp322. Same set-up as in the previous posts. As Brent mentions, there are a bunch of faint galaxies scattered around, including a few along the north (top) edge of the frame, to the west (right) of NGC3719 that I can see in this 5 minute total exposure.

 

Arp214, Arp322 and NGC3719; 20 x 15 sec

 

[BrentKnight]

Wow!  5 minutes vs. 90 minutes, and yours still brings out more of the outer arms.  I might have to try mono one of these days.

[BrentKnight]

Here are a couple more from last evening with the C8 + ASI533MCP.  I'm leaving the black slider more to the left to try getting more of the fainter stuff, but I'm still not loving it.

 

M108 | 22'/12"@350 with darks and flats

 

M108 with SBS 1108+560 (and not even close to the faintest object in the field)

 

NGC 3190 and lots of friends | 103'/12"@350 with darks and flats

 

 

NGC 4889 and lots and lots of friends | 85'/12'@350 | My god...it's full of galaxies

 

SkySafari 6 Pro screen capture (for some reason, SharpCap could not do a platesolve on this one.

[BrentKnight]

A couple more from last night with the C8 f/6.3 reducer, UV-IR and the ASI533MC-Pro

 

All were 12s subs at 350 gain.

 

LB 2126 | 12'/12"

 

NGC 2857 and friends | 97'/12"

 

SharpCap annotated screenshot

 

[herseycart]

The weather did not look promising last night, but it stayed clear long enough for me to knock out a few from this month's challenge.

 

I just got my new ZWO ASI294MC Pro camera (like 2 days ago) and I am still learning and tinkering with it.  Had a lot of fun observing these objects.

 

M46 - 60 x 10 seconds @ 200 gain Bin 2x2

 

M108 - 60 x 10 seconds @ 200 gain Bin 2x2

 

NGC 1999 - 60 x 10 seconds @ 200 gain Bin 2x2

 

More from last night can be found here: http://www.suffolksk...lusters-nebula/

 

In for a few nights of clouds but hope to hunt down some of the more challenging objects on this month's list next time the skies are clear.

[steveincolo]

The weather did not look promising last night, but it stayed clear long enough for me to knock out a few from this month's challenge.

 

I just got my new ZWO ASI294MC Pro camera (like 2 days ago) and I am still learning and tinkering with it.  Had a lot of fun observing these objects.

 

M46 - 60 x 10 seconds @ 200 gain Bin 2x2

 

 

M108 - 60 x 10 seconds @ 200 gain Bin 2x2

 

 

NGC 1999 - 60 x 10 seconds @ 200 gain Bin 2x2

 

 

More from last night can be found here: http://www.suffolksk...lusters-nebula/

 

In for a few nights of clouds but hope to hunt down some of the more challenging objects on this month's list next time the skies are clear.

Nice star colors on the open cluster!

[Cey42]

I agree nice color with the stars in M46. I also see that you have NGC 2438 in there.

[Cey42]

I captured those that I did not originally have and got some improved images.

 

 

Equipment

• Celestron 8” SCT @ F/6.3 on Celestron Advanced VX mount
• Darks/Flats applied
• Bortle 7 (red zone).  Seeing OK.
• 14% Moon at low altitude
• Live Stacked.  Screen Saved (Cropped and Resized)
• ZWO ASI294MM, 300 gain, no filter

 

 

ARP 316(NGC 3187, 3190, 3193)
Also captured NGC 3185 to complete HCG 44. I was to capture the dust lanes of NGC 3190. I barely can see the wild arms of NGC 3187.
75x6s=7.5min

 

 

ARP 1 (NGC2857)
Also capture ARP 285 (NGC 2856, NGC 2854). NGC 2857 is a cute face on spiral. ARP 285 came out surprisingly well. Especially the arms of NGC 2854.
77x6s=7.7min

 

3C 232
Got a better image of NGC 3067
39x6s=3.9min

 

LB 2126 (on right)
With some maneuvering of the FOV, I was able to get both quasars: SBS 1151+548 (on left).
36x6s=3.6min

 

 

SharpCap's annotation feature was really handy on helping verify that I had the quasars.

[PeterAB]

I got to see the easy objects last night.   I found the secondary objects as well.  I had to look closely in the case of M108 and NGC 1999.

 

It was clear and not too cold (-1C).   Seeing good.   Transparency allowed me to see naked eye stars just under m4.   The waxing crescent moon was out hurting transparency along with light pollution.

 

Meade 2080 8" SCT with a 0.63 reducer on the original tracking fork mount.   ZW0 ASI294mc camera with a IR-UV cut filter.    Bin 2.   Gain 130.   15 second exposures.    SharpCap live stacked.   Darks and flats applied.    Flats are a work in progress and are not perfect yet.    Still way better than no flats using this SCT and camera.   All North up and east left.   file size reduced.

 

M 46(NGC 2437): Open cluster in Puppis with NGC 2437.  210 seconds (14x15s).  54'x37'.

 

NGC 1999: Reflection Nebula in Orion.  525 seconds (35x15s).  Cropped.  27'x21'.

 

M 108 (NGC 3556): Elliptical galaxy in Ursa Major 1033 (69x15s).  54'x37'

 

Peter

[SC_astro]

Thanks Cey for the great selections for this month's challenge! I really love that I get to observe objects that I would have never otherwise even heard of. Here is my first group of images.

All images taken in my driveway with Bortle 5 sky with Celestron C8 Edge / .7 FR / Asi294mc / AVX mount / Sharpcap 4 Pro / Phd2.

 

 

My absolute favorite object this month is NGC4889. I love the way Sharpcap annotates all the galaxies in real time.  I am in awe of all that I can see in this image.

NGC 4889 42 frames at 22 sec each.

 

NGC 2857,   31 frames at 25 sec each. Cropped

 

M108,   15 frames at 25 sec each. Cropped

 

NGC 3190,  14 frames at 25 sec each. Cropped

 

NGC 3718,  28 frames at 25 sec each. Cropped

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by SC_astro, 09 March 2022 - 02:42 PM.

[bmcclana]

Had the Scope out on the 3rd and 4th and captures some of this months objects.

 

C5 with Optec 0.33x reducer, PlayerOne Mars-C with ~450nm low pass filter installed (removes blue). riding on the AZGTi in Eq mode. the addition to this session was a 30mm F5.7 guide scope with the SV305 camera used as an eFinder and guider. 

 

The blue cut filter helps with the CA from the Optec 0.33 since this old version isnt as well corrected into the blue. this camera is SO much more sensitive without an IR cut.  the galaxies jump out of the background so much faster.  the trade off is it acts like a mono camera for IR, so it really washes out the color and makes white balancing tricky. hence purple galaxies....

 

I'm trying out the guider due to the relatively large periodic error in this mount. I don't have a precise measure of it but it is larger than 35" peak to peak. one time it measured above 70", but I think I had something else going on that session. 

 

LB2126, but not its friend. (guided)

 

 

M108 and SBS 1108+560 (guided)

 

 

NGC3190 and friends using IDAS LPS-D2

 

 

NGC3190 and friends without the LPS filter and upside down after the meridian flip

 

 

NGC3718 and friends (guided)

 

 

NGC4889 and lots of others

 

 

NGC4889 with Sharpcap Annotation

Edited by bmcclana, 09 March 2022 - 10:59 PM.

[Eclipsed]

Had a go at some of the challenge targets last night, March 9th.  I don't really have a Deep Space camera but its always worth a shot.  Seeing was okay but it was somewhat hindered by the 42% lit Moon! Temp 32F/0C, little to no wind.  Small FOV meant that in most cases I couldn't fit all of the multiple targets in the image.  These are all livestacks and a lot grainy because I used plenty of histogram stretch.

 

Gear:

Celestron Evo 8, on Wedge, 0.7x Reducer

ASI178MC Camera, no filters

Tracked but not guided.

SharpCap 4.0 Livestacks. Darks subtracted.   Images compressed in size to allow adding to post.

 

1. NGC 1999 - The Herbig-Haro objects not visible.  50 x 5s (250s total), Bin 2, Gain 360.

 

2. M108 + Quasar SBS 1108+560.  51 x 11.8s (602s total), Bin 1, Gain 400.

 

3. NGC 3189 + NGC 3187 + NGC 3193.  101 x 15s (1,515s total), Bin 1, gain 400.

 

4. NGC 3067 + Quasar 3C232.  66 x10s (660s total), Bin 1, gain 360.

[GoFish]

Nice list!  Thanks very much, cey42.

 

Last night (10-March, can you say “moon”?) I found and observed all but the 3 objects in the southern skies in Taurus, Orion and Puppis.  I’ll look for those first thing after dark tonight while they should still be within my unobstructed window. 
 

I enjoyed them all, but got a special kick out of Arp 316. I zoomed my tablet display and grabbed a screenshot after 45 subs at 30s each. The grab includes NGC 3187, NGC 3190, and NGC 3193. 
 

ASI294MC cooled to -10C, gain 120, no filters. Dark, dark flat, and flat calibration frames applied real-time. ASIAir Pro mount computer, Atlas mount, 8” f/5 Newt OTA.  Images viewed and captured on iPad (remotely  ).

 

Edited by GoFish, 11 March 2022 - 11:44 AM.