291 replies to this topic

[Cey42]

Welcome to the September 2023 challenge! I gathered a wide variety of objects for you to enjoy. Several of these are new to the challenge.

 

September 2023 Objects

Double Stars: Albireo, 61 Cygni
Open Cluster: NGC 7160
Globular Cluster: M 2, M 71
Planetary Nebula: NGC 6826, NGC 6905, NGC 7026
Emission Nebula: IC 1396A/LBN 452, NGC 6992
Dark Nebula: Barnard 143

 

 

More Information
A lot of the objects this month are in Cygnus. A constellation with lots of great objects in it, which includes my favorite double star (Albireo) and my favorite wide FOV object (Veil Nebula).

 

Double Stars
Albireo, in Cygnus, makes its first appearance to the EAA challenge. Albireo is a beautiful colored optical double star. The main star Beta Cygni A (mag 3.2) is yellow in color while the Beta Cygni B (mag 4.7) is blue. To capture these colors use low gain and short exposure. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albireo

 

61 Cygni is also a first in the EAA challenge. This pair of yellow stars are of similar magnitude of 5.2 & 6.0 look like a pair of headlights. These stars are interesting for several reasons. In 1792, it was discovered that these are a pair of high proper motion stars. With an annual proper motion of 5.28” these are the seventh ranked stars for proper motion. I hope to come back to this one over the years to see if we can see the motion. In 1838, these stars became the first stars (other than our Sun) to have a distance estimated of 10.3 light-years close to our current value of 11.4 light-years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/61_Cygni

 

 

Open Cluster
NGC 7160 – Another first appearance to the EAA challenge. Both William and John Herschel each only viewed it once, not a popular cluster with the Herschels. There is a fun asterism here called the Alligator Cluster, which is why I added it. Two stars are the nostrils, two bright stars the eyes, and then several stars forming the body. Do you see it? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_7160

 

Globular Clusters
M 2 – This compact globular cluster, in Aquarius, is one of the richest known with between 100,000 and 150,000 stars. https://en.wikipedia.../wiki/Messier_2

 

M 71, in Sagitta, makes its first appearance to the EAA challenge. Until the 1970s, M71 was classified as packed open cluster. This is in a dense star field. https://en.wikipedia...wiki/Messier_71

 

 

Planetary Nebula

NGC 6826 (Blinking Planetary Nebula) – We make our way back to Cygnus with NGC 6826. This is a lovely planetary nebula 36” in diameter but one should be able to capture the structure. For those using SharpCap, it may help to move the mid-line way right to see the structure. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_6826

 

NGC 6905 (Blue Flash Nebula), a small nebula in Delphinus, makes its first appearance to the EAA challenge. My images of this one reminds me of a blue-green version of NGC 40. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_6905

 

NGC 7026 (Cheeseburger Nebula) – Another newcomer to the EAA Challenge. NGC 7026, in Cygnus, is a bipolar nebula showing quite a bit of structure. Discovered in 1873 by Sherburne Burnham an amateur astronomer who worked as a court reporter by day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_7026

 

 

Other Nebula
IC 1396A/LBN 452 Elephant Trunk Nebula, in Cepheus, is an elongated globule of dust and gas within IC 1396. The nebula hides young protostars that are forming. https://en.wikipedia...'s_Trunk_Nebula

 

NGC 6992 East Veil Nebula – Last month we observed the Western part of the supernova remnant and this month I wanted to focus on the other side. The East Veil Nebula is composed of NGC 6992, NGC 6995 and IC 1340. If your FOV is not big enough for all three, focus on NGC 6992 on the North end. The supernova is believed to have exploded 5,000 years ago. https://en.wikipedia...iki/Veil_Nebula

 

Barnard 143 (LDN 694) is a dark nebula in Aquila. Living in Bortle 7 skies, I have a hard time capturing dark nebula. This is one of the few that have come out well for me. I hope it is the same for you. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Nebula

 

 

Here is the SkySafari observing list.

 CN Sept 2023.skylist   2.17KB   50 downloads

 

 

 

Thank you and I hope you enjoy the collection this month.

[alphatripleplus]

Nice selection, Cey. Looks like you are correct that this is M71's debut in the monthly challenge. 

[roelb]

Thanks Cey for this nice selection. i know what to do

[tbhausen]

This is an exciting list! Such a bummer to miss August... I really need my camera--the Swan holds so many treasures!

[BrentKnight]

Lot's of darks - thanks Cey!

[Tfer]

Hopefully, I’ll be able to spend an evening or two grabbing these.  Thanks Cey.

 

Your addition of the SkySafari list is invaluable as always. 

[gun4hire]

Here we go!!! I was fighting the fullish moon rising and getting brighter by the minute...It won in the end! Bad seeing to add to the problems. I was impatient, since I got a new Optolong Ultimate filter. I picked the objects best suited for my ASKAR FMA180 (and 2 that were not ). The new filter was great! It killed some stars, but nice white stars!!!

ZWO 294 all cropped a tiny bit at least to get out some of the amp glow..Flats and darks. Apparently not done totally correct. I have an ASKAR 107PHQ coming, so I will save a few challenge objects for it!!

 

 

 

Elephant Nebula--60 frames 30 minutes

 

 

Eastern Veil--40 frames 20 minutes

 

 

NGC7160--10 frames 10 minutes cropped a lot

 

 

Albireo-- 8 frames 4 minutes cropped extreme. 

Edited by gun4hire, 01 September 2023 - 09:58 AM.

[dob45]

ngc 6826 and ngc 7026 are two PNs with similar characteristics: small and with high surface brightness. Has anyone ever tried to shoot them with a 2x or even 3x Barlow? or is it crazy?

[GazingOli]

Thanks for the selection. First time for me to try on dark nebulae.

 

CS.Oli

[BrentKnight]

Here we go!!! I was fighting the fullish moon rising and getting brighter by the minute...It won in the end! Bad seeing to add to the problems. I was impatient, since I got a new Optolong Ultimate filter. I picked the objects best suited for my ASKAR FMA180 (and 2 that was not ). The new filter was great! It killed some stars, but nice white stars!!!

ZWO 294 all cropped a tiny bit at least to get out some of the amp glow..Flats and darks. Apparently not done totally correct. I have an ASKAR 107PHQ coming, so I will save a few challenge objects for it!!

 

 

 

Elephant Nebula--60 frames 30 minutes

 

 

Eastern Veil--40 frames 20 minutes

 

 

NGC7160--10 frames 10 minutes cropped a lot

 

 

Albireo-- 8 frames 4 minutes cropped extreme. 

Nice captures.  I mounted my L-Ultimate, but no chance to use it yet.  Maybe this weekend.  You are going to love the 107PHQ!

[Maximumron]

Great list, Cey! I see some real challenge objects in there. Can't wait to get at it!

[bigbangbaby]

Thanks, Cey! Great list. 

[Cey42]

@gun4hire Nice captures. The narrowband filter really does help with Eastern Veil Nebula and the Elephant Nebula. I see a nice alligator and that you split Albireo.

[Clouzot]

ngc 6826 and ngc 7026 are two PNs with similar characteristics: small and with high surface brightness. Has anyone ever tried to shoot them with a 2x or even 3x Barlow? or is it crazy?

 

It's not crazy at all, but it really depends on what OTA/camera combo you'll be using. The usual "astrograph-like" Newton with f/D < 5, a more substantial Dob with a longer focal length, or even a Mak?

 

The thinking here is that the usual planetary techniques can apply to PNs, albeit with some adaptations.

 

Take for example the usual rule-of-thumb that says: for planetary imaging, the pixel size (in µm) should be between one third and one sixth of the f/D ratio of your telescope. One third to be used when the seeing is not optimal, and one sixth when the sky cooperates.

If you need a Barlow for the pixel size to be between 1/3 x fD and 1/6 x fD, then install it and don't look back

I did shoot 6826 a long time ago at my C9's native focal length (f/D=10, 2350mm) and an ASI183 (whose pixel size is 2.4µm, so well inside the above "bounds")

I think a good way to grab details and structure is to use the shortest possible exposures that still allow Sharpcap to detect stars and align your frames. In my case, 8s was the absolute minimum, because the old Sharpcap wasn't that good at detecting faint stars, and seeing degraded details a lot, but I'm sure one can do much, much better now.

 

 

(thanks Cey for this month's selection. It's a very nice list)

[PeterAB]

I got out under the very bright moon early morning September 1.  I was working on my Astro League open cluster project.   Star clusters are great objects when the moon is out.   I added the two challenge globular to my observation list for the night.   Seeing was unusually good.    No wildfire smoke!  This is my first completely clear night all summer.    Transparency reduced m3.5 naked eye because of the moon.   Cool temperatures and light wind made for a very nice out.

 

Astro Tech 102EDL f7 refractor, Sky Rover 1.0x flattener, asi294mc, IR/UV cut.  Sharpcap 4.1 with darks, flats, and color noise reduction.   Gain 130.   Exposure guided.    Guiding was working unusually well with my old CG5 ASGT mount,  seeing maybe?     All views north up, east left 1.5x1 degrees.

 

M2 (NGC 7089).  345 seconds (23x15s).   A very tiny galaxy, IC1391, is hiding out in the northeast.   Best seen in the live view and uncompressed saved image.

M71 (NGC 6838).  540 seconds (36x15s).   Globular cluster with old yellow stars in a rich milky way foreground star field. 

 

IC1396.  180 seconds (12x15s).    This observation was also for my open star cluster project.   I stretched the live view a lot for this image.   I  just got the dark nebula.   I do my open cluster program observations without a dual band filter to bring out the stars vs the nebula.   I like the star view, but, I think I will try a second view with a dual band filter.

 

Peter

Edited by PeterAB, 01 September 2023 - 10:13 PM.

[PeterAB]

One more challenge open cluster from early morning September 1.   Same conditions and equipment as above.

 

NGC 7160 (Alligator Cluster, Bruce Lee Cluster).   360 seconds.   This is not on my open cluster program list.   It is on Don Pensack's 500 best deep sky object list that I am working through.   An attractive cluster in a rich star field.

 

 

Peter

Edited by PeterAB, 01 September 2023 - 10:56 PM.

[bigbangbaby]

The second evening getting acquainted with narrowband EAA was mostly unproductive, though I managed to get one image for the September challenge. 

 

8" f/4 Newtonian + Nexus .75 reducer

ASI294MM Pro @ 0 deg C

PHD2 guiding with 50 mm Orion guide scope and ASI224 camera.

AM5 mount

 

Eastern Veil, NGC 6992; 10x30 sec each of SII, OII and HA

 

Edited by bigbangbaby, 02 September 2023 - 09:26 AM.

[dob45]

It's not crazy at all, but it really depends on what OTA/camera combo you'll be using. The usual "astrograph-like" Newton with f/D < 5, a more substantial Dob with a longer focal length, or even a Mak?

 

The thinking here is that the usual planetary techniques can apply to PNs, albeit with some adaptations.

 

Take for example the usual rule-of-thumb that says: for planetary imaging, the pixel size (in µm) should be between one third and one sixth of the f/D ratio of your telescope. One third to be used when the seeing is not optimal, and one sixth when the sky cooperates.

If you need a Barlow for the pixel size to be between 1/3 x fD and 1/6 x fD, then install it and don't look back

I did shoot 6826 a long time ago at my C9's native focal length (f/D=10, 2350mm) and an ASI183 (whose pixel size is 2.4µm, so well inside the above "bounds")

I think a good way to grab details and structure is to use the shortest possible exposures that still allow Sharpcap to detect stars and align your frames. In my case, 8s was the absolute minimum, because the old Sharpcap wasn't that good at detecting faint stars, and seeing degraded details a lot, but I'm sure one can do much, much better now.

 

 

 

(thanks Cey for this month's selection. It's a very nice list)

thanks for the advices !
I'll try to apply them to my 18" f/4.2 dobsonian....

[dob45]

I had observed  some of the objects on the list in recent months:

 

18" f/4,2  self-made dobson, ASI 178MM , Bortle 8 ,  resize, crop, no dark, no flat, bin 2

 

ngc 6905 (106x2s=212 seconds)

 

 

 

M71 (40x2s = 80 seconds)

 

 

 

vdB142-LBN 452 Elephant Trunk Nebula (75x4s = 300 seconds)

 

 

 

 

[kaymann]

Awesome list let's get it Pinned to the top

[gun4hire]

The second evening getting acquainted with narrowband EAA was mostly unproductive, though I managed to get one image for the September challenge. 

 

8" f/4 Newtonian + Nexus .75 reducer

ASI294MM Pro @ 0 deg C

PHD2 guiding with 50 mm Orion guide scope and ASI224 camera.

AM5 mount

 

Eastern Veil, NGC 6992; 10x30 sec each of SII, OII and HA

 

 

Looks like we are standing there!!! sweet and scary looking at the same time!

[Cey42]

PeterAB, I like your wide FOV shot of M71. A nice contrast of the yellow stars of the GC and the rest of the FOV.

 

Dob45, I took a double take on your image of NGC6905. Your really looks like NGC 40 to me. Nice capture of the structure.

[bigbangbaby]

Looks like we are standing there!!! sweet and scary looking at the same time!

Thanks, gun4hire. I plan to capture it in LRGB to see how it looks compared with OSC images posted here. 

[GazingOli]

with the 'help' of The Moon, I did the first objects of this month's Challenge:

 

 

NGC 6992 East Veil Nebula 43 frames x 16 s (click to enlarge)

 

 

IC 1396 Elephant Trunk Nebula 86 frames x 16 s (click to enlarge)

unfortunately I missed the chance to do flats yesterday afternoon...

 

 

61 Cyg 21 frames x 4 s

 

 

Albireo 22 frames x 4 s

 

 

M 2 32 frames x 4 s

 

M 71 (first time ever) 44 frames x 4 s

 

 

NGC 7160 31 frames x 4 s

 

 

all images captured with
Selfmade apo refractor 80 / 480 'Olifraktor' on Celestron Evolution mount with wedge
ZWO ASI 533 camera, darks applied, Baader UV/IR Cut-L Filter (Item No 2459207A)
images captured and stacked with SharpCap 4, Location Stuttgart, Germany

 

 

CS.Oli

Edited by GazingOli, 03 September 2023 - 02:36 AM.

[Bob_Stan]

Managed to get out early before the moon rose above the trees.

NGC 6905

C11 f/10 

ASI 294 MCPro

12x20 secs bin 2x2

Cropped