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Messier Objects { 346 images } Created 19 Feb 2011

This Gallery contains objects (nebulas, star clusters and galaxies) in the catalogue of Charles Messier, the 18th century comet hunter and pioneering deep-sky observer. The catalogue serves as a list of many of the sky's best and brightest deep-sky objects. Most of these images will also appear in the other Deep-Sky Galleries under Nebulas, Star Clusters, etc.

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Andromeda (50mm 5DII).jpg
$A wide-field framing of the famous Andromeda Galaxy, aka M31 showing it above the two "guidestars," Mu (bottom) and Nu Andromedae that are used to star hop to the galaxy. Above M31 is one of its companion galaxies, M110, while below it on the edge of M31 is the nearly starlike (at this scale) M32, its other companion galaxy. North is to the upper left in this orientation. The field of view is similar to that of binoculars. This is a stack of 14 x 8-minute exposures with the Canon R6 camera at ISO 800, on the SharpStar 61mm apo refractor with its flattener/reducer for f/4.5. Only an Astronomik UV/IR Cut filter was employed. I had LENR turned on with the R6 to eliminate the amp glow flaw of the camera. Autoguided and dithered with the MGEN3 stand-alone autoguider. Stacked and aligned with Photoshop. Luminosity mask adjustments with Lumenzia helped bring out the outer structures. A high pass filter and the Starizona Galaxy Enhance action snapped up the dust lanes.$

Andromeda Galaxy Above Mu Andromedae...jpg
$Time for my annual image of the Andromeda Galaxy! This is M31, the spiral galaxy in Andromeda, with its two companion elliptical galaxies, the very small M32 below, and larger M110 above. North is up in this framing, in a set of images taken from home September 6, 2021. I shot this as a test of the Canon R6 mirrorless camera. It is a stack of 8 x 8-minute exposures at ISO 800, blended with a stack of 8 x 2-minute exposures at ISO 400 for the core, to prevent it from overexposing too much, all with the SharpStar 76mm apo refractor at f/4.4 with its field flattener/reducer, and autoguided with the MGEN3 autoguider, with interframe dithering applied, and no darks or LENR employed. It was on the Mach 1 mount. Some light haze added mild star glows. The faint arms and outer glows were brought out with luminosity masks created with Lumenzia and Zone System Express 7. All stacking, alignment and blending with Photoshop.$

Andromeda Galaxy, M31, with Canon R6...jpg
Andromeda & M31+M33 Finder (6x7 ...jpg
Antares Area of Scorpius (Bino Field...jpg
Antares Region (200mm 5DII).jpg
Auriga (50mm 5DII - Vertical).jpg
$The field of clusters and nebulosity in Auriga, with — from left to right — Messier 37, Messier 36, and Messier 38, as the main open star clusters here. Below M38 is NGC 1907. The nebulosity at right is IC 410 and IC 405, the Flaming Star Nebula. In between them is the colourful asterism known as the Little Fish. Messier 38 is also known as the Starfish Cluster while Messier 36 is called the Pinwheel Cluster. The bright red nebula at top is Sharpless 2-235. The litttle nebulas at centre are NGC 1931 and IC 417. The field is similar to that of binoculars. This is a stack of 5 x 3-minute exposures with the Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and 200mm Canon L-Series lens at f/2.8. Taken with the Fornax Lightrack tracker as part of testing. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools actions. Taken from home on a rare fine and mild winter night, January 4, 2019.$

Auriga Clusters and Nebulas (200mm 5...jpg
Auriga Clusters M36, M37, M38 (Bino ...jpg
Auriga Nebulas (RedCat 51 + EOS Ra w...jpg
$The area around the Belt of Orion, with the Horsehead and Flame Nebulas at bottom flanking the bright star Zeta Orionis, aka Alnitak, with Messier 78 at upper left. Taken from home, on a slightly hazy and frosty night, Feb 7, 2013, using the Hutech modified Canon 6D at ISO 800 and the TMB 92mm apo refractor at f/4.8 for a stack of 6 x 7 minute exposures.$

B33 Horsehead & M78 in Orion (92...jpg
Belt and Sword of Orion (135mm 6D).jpg
$The Belt and Sword region of Orion, with the Orion Nebula, Messiesr 42 and 43, at bottom. Below the left star of the Belt, Alnitak, is the famous Horsehead Nebula, while above it is NGC 2024, aka the Flame Nebula. The field is filled with faint red emission and blue reflection nebulas. The large loose open cluster Collinder 70 surrounds the middle star of the Belt, Alnilam. The field is similar to that of binoculars. This is a stack of 5 x 2.5-minute exposures with the filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1250 and 200mm Canon L-Series lens at f/2.8. Some light haze passing through in some exposures added the natural star glows. I left those in as part of the stack to add the glows. I did not take shorter exposures to blend in for the core of the Orion Nebula. Next time! Taken with the Fornax Lightrack tracker as part of testing. Taken from home on a rare fine and mild winter night, January 4, 2019. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools. Main images stacked with Median stack mode to eliminate satellite trails from geosats that populate this area of sky.$

Belt and Sword of Orion (200mm 5DII).jpg
$The Belt and Sword region of Orion, with the Orion Nebula, Messiesr 42 and 43, at bottom. Below the left star of the Belt, Alnitak, is the famous Horsehead Nebula, while above it is NGC 2024, aka the Flame Nebula. At very top left is Messier 78, while part of Barnard’s Loop arc across the field at left. The field is filled with other faint red emission and blue reflection nebulas. The large loose open cluster Collinder 70 surrounds the middle star of the Belt, Alnilam. The field is similar to that of binoculars. This is a stack of 16 x 2- to 3-minute exposures with the filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 to 1250 and 200mm Canon L-Series lens at f/2.8. Taken with the Fornax Lightrack tracker as part of testing. Taken from home on January 8, 2019 in a clear couple of hours between haze patches, and while battling dying batteries for the drive and camera. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools. Main images stacked with Median stack mode to eliminate satellite trails from geosats that populate this area of sky.$

Belt and Sword of Orion with Barnard...jpg
Belt & Sword of Orion (135mm 5DI...jpg
California to Pleiades (85mm EOS Ra).jpg
Cassiopeia Clusters (SS76 R5).jpg
$The starfield in eastern Cassiopeia containing an abundance of open star clusters. The most prominent is NGC 663, aka the Letter S Cluster, at bottom. Above it is NGC 654; to its right is NGC 659. At centre is Messier 103. At far right is NGC 457, the ET or Owl Cluster. Above it is NGC 463. The star at far left is Epsilon Cass; the star at right of centre is Delta Cas, aka Ruchba. The 7.5 x 5° field is close to a binocular field of view. This is a stack of 15 x 4-minute exposures with the SharpStar 61mm apo refractor at f/4.5 and with the Canon R6 at ISO 800. Taken from home Oct. 1, 2021. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools actions.$

Cassiopeia Clusters with M103 (SS61 ...jpg
Centre of Galaxy Mosaic (135mm 5DII).jpg
Centre of the Galaxy on Horizon (Jun...jpg
$This area in Cygnus that contains the circular Cocoon Nebula, aka IC 5146, located at the end of the long dark nebula called the Dark Cigar but officially is Barnard 168. The nebulas are flanked by two open star clusters: NGC 7209 at far left just over the border in Lacerta, and Messier 39 at far right. NGC 7209 barely stands out amid the rich starfield here, just below an orange star, while M39 is bright but sparse at right. The clusters and dark nebula stand out well in binoculars but the Cocoon Nebula is a challenge to see in telescopes. This is a stack of 6 x 6-minute exposures with the William Optics RedCat 51mm astrographic refractor at f/5 and the Canon EOS Ra at ISO 800 with LENR on as it was the warmest night of the summer, August 18, 2020. Aligned, stacked and median combined in Photoshop to eliminate some satellite trails. Autoguided with the ZWO ASIAir and ASI120MM guide camera with the RedCat on the Astro-Physics Mach1 mount. No filters employed here.$

Cocoon Nebula and Clusters (RedCat E...jpg
$This is a wide-field framing of the heart of the Coma-Virgo cluster of galaxies in the northern spring sky, with galaxies galore in the frame, including a dozen Messier objects. The field is 7.5° by 5°, so similar to binoculars. The faintest galaxies here are about 12th magnitude. Just below the centre is the Marakarian's Chain of galaxies including the Messier galaxies M84 and M86. The giant elliptical M87 (famous for having its central black hole imaged) is below and to the left of the Chain. There are many other Messier objects in the field — At top right around the blue star 6 Comae is the trio of M98 (at the far edge), M99 (below and right of 6 Comae) and M100 (at top). At left are M88, M91, M90 amd M89. At bottom left is M58 and M59. M60 just squeaks onto the frame. This is a stack of 10 x 6 minute exposures with the SharpStar 61 EDPH II refractor at f/4.5 and the Canon EOS Ra at ISO 100. This is a single framing, not a mosaic. Taken from home April 24, 2022. Haze moving in spoiled exposures taken after this set. Dithered with MGEN3 autoguider; no darks applied.$

Coma-Virgo Galaxies (SS61 Ra).jpg
$A wide-field image of the Coma-Virgo Galaxy Cluster including the Messier galaxies around the star 6 Comae at top right, down to the galaxies of Markarian’s Chain at bottom left, including several other Messiers. The field is about 4 degrees high and 6 degrees wide. This is a stack of 5 x 8-minute exposures through the SharpStar 76mm EDPH refractor and with the SharpStar flattener/reducer for f/4.5, and with the Canon EOS Ra at ISO 800. An additional exposure taken through light cloud layered in added the star glows. Clouds prevented more exposures.$

Coma-Virgo Galaxies (SS76 EOS Ra).jpg
Coma-Virgo Galaxy Field (200mm 6DII).jpg
Coma-Virgo Galaxy Field (WO51 EOS Ra...jpg
Comet PanSTARRS (C2017 T2) and M81-M...jpg
Cor Caroli and M94 in Canes Venatici...jpg
$The Eagle Nebula at top (aka M16) and the Swan Nebula (aka M17), straddling the Serpens-Sagittarius border. The star cluster below M17 is M18, while the small cluster above M16 is Trumpler 32. The Swan Nebula is also called the Omega or the Checkmark Nebula. The Eagle Nebula contains the dark towers called the Pillars of Creation made famous in the Hubble images. This is a blend of a stack of 9 x 8-minutes at ISO 3200 through the Optolong L-eNhance dual-band nebula filter, with a stack of 6 x 5-minutes at ISO 800 with no filter, all through the SharpStar 94mm refractor at f/4.4 and with the Canon EOS Ra camera. I used the AstroHutech filter drawer/adapter to aid swapping out the filter. Autoguiding was with the MGEN3 stand-alone autoguider. All images stacked, aligned and blended with Photoshop. I shot this set on June 14/15 on one short night a week before summer solstice from home at latitude 51° N, so the sky was never fully dark, making colour correction a challenge, resulting in a somewhat monochromatic look. In addition, the time to shoot was only 2 hours or so, limiting the number of sub-frames. Plus this field is low in the south from my latitude. Also taken on a very warm +24° C night for my western Canadian location, all without darks or LENR thermal noise reduction, as a test, just with frame-to-frame dithering to reduce thermal speckling which was abundant on the filtered high-ISO shots. Stacking with a median stack mode eliminated most, though not all, of the speckling.$

Eagle & Swan Nebulas M16 & M...jpg
Eclipsed Moon Below Pleiades - Nov 1...jpg
$A portrait of the complex of emission nebulas in central Cygnus near the bright star Gamma Cygni (at left). The field includes the IC 1318 complex around Gamma Cygni itself and the Wolf-Rayet arc of nebulosity, NGC 6888, aka the Crescent Nebula, at right. The sparse star cluster Messier 29 is at bottom. This was through the SharpStar 94mm apo refractor at f/4.4 and with the Canon EOS Ra. It is a blend of 6 x 6-minute exposures at ISO 1600 through an Astronomik UV-IR-Cut filter for the base image, and a stack of 4 x 12-minutes at ISO 3200 through IDAS NB1 and Optolong L-eNhance filters for the enhanced red nebulosity, plus 6 x 12-minutes at ISO 3200 through Optolong L-eXtreme and IDAS NBZ filters which contribute only the enhanced cyan OIII emission, all taken as part of testing the filters. Normally, using four filters would not be required! Autoguided and dithered on this warm summer night with the Lacerta MGEN3 autoguider. No darks or LENR applied as the dithering effectively eliminated the thermal noise speckling which was prominent on the individual sub-frames. Taken from home August 13, 2021. All stacked, aligned, and blended in Photoshop.$

Gamma Cygni & NGC 6888 (SS94 EOS...jpg
$The field of clusters and nebulosity in Gemini, with Messier 35 the main open star clusters here. Below M35 is NGC 2158. The nebulosity at left between Mu and Eta Geminorum is IC 443, a supernova remnant, aka the Jellyfish Nebula. The nebula at bottom is IC 2174, just over the border in Orion and aka the Monkeyhead Nebula. The field is similar to that of binoculars. This is a stack of 10 x 3-minute exposures with the filter-modified Canon 5D MkII at ISO 800 and 200mm Canon L-Series lens at f/2.8. Some light haze passing through in some exposures added the natural star glows. I left those in as part of the stack to add the glows. Taken with the Fornax Lightrack tracker as part of testing. Taken from home on a rare fine and mild winter night, January 4, 2019. Diffraction spikes added with Astronomy Tools.$

Gemini Clusters and Nebulas (200mm 5...jpg
Gemini Nebulas Mosaic (HNT150 EOS Ra...jpg
IC 443 & M35 in Gemini (92mm 6D).jpg
IC 4665 Cluster.jpg
Lagoon to Eagle Nebula Mosaic.jpg
La Superba and M106 (WO51mm EOS Ra).jpg
$This wide-field image frames the main stars of Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs — Cor Caroli at bottom, and Chara at right of centre — and to also include in the frame the red star La Superba, aka Y Canum Venaticorum at top. Also in the field are the galaxies M94 below centre, M63 the Sunflower Galaxy at left, and NGC 4490 the Cocoon Galaxy at right above Chara. They are small on this image scale but the image serves for a finder chart illustration of the location of these galaxies relative to the stars of Canes Venatici, and the location of Y Can Ven. The red star La Superba was given its name by Fr. Angelo Secchi, and is one of the best examples of a red carbon star. It is one of the reddest stars in the sky. The field is 10° x 15°, so wider than binoculars. Cor Caroli is a double star but is not resolved at this scale. This is a stack of 8 x 1-minute exposures with the Canon EF 135mm lens stopped down to f/2.8 (thus the diffraction spikes on the stars) on the Canon Ra at ISO 1600, all on the Star Adventurer 2i tracker.$

La Superba Field in Canes Venatici (...jpg
$This wide-field image frames the end stars of the Big Dipper's handle — Mizar at top, and Alkaid at bottom — and to also include in the frame the bright galaxies Messier 101 (at left) and Messier 51 (at lower right, aka the Whirlpool Galaxy). They are small on this image scale but the image serves for a finder chart illustration of the location of these galaxies relative to the Handle. The famous double star Mizar and Alcor is also obvious at top, as is the red giant star 83 Ursa Majoris. The field is 10° x 15°, so wider than binoculars. This is a stack of 8 x 1-minute exposures with the Canon EF 135mm lens stopped down to /2.8 (thus the diffraction spikes on the stars) on the Canon Ra at ISO 1600, all on the Star Adventurer 2i tracker.$

M101, M51 and Mizar in Big Dipper Ha...jpg
$Messier 101, the Pinwheel Galaxy in Ursa Major, a classic face-on spiral galaxy, large and obvious in binoculars. The odd galaxy at bottom is NGC 5474. This is a stack of 9 x 10-minute exposures with the Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 800 through the Astro-Physics 130mm apo refractor at f/6 with the 6x7 field flattener lens.$

M101 Pinwheel Galaxy (130mm EOS Ra).jpg
$Taken April 23, 2006 with 5-inch apo refractor at f/4.5 and Canon 20Da camera at ISO400. Four 10-minute exposures average-stacked.$

M101 Pinwheel Galaxy (5in f4.5).jpg
M101, the Pinwheel Galaxy (200mm 6DI...jpg
$Messier 102, aka NGC 5866 and the Spindle Galaxy, (at right) and the edge-on galaxy NGC 5907, called the Splinter Galaxy, at left, in Draco. NGC 5866 is often labelled as M102, but #102 on Messier’s list is usually considered to be a mistaken re-observation of M101. The smaller galaxies NGC 5908 (left) and NGC 5905 are at lower left. North is up. This is a stack of 8 x 9 minute exposures at f/6 with the 130mm Astro-Physics apo refractor and Canon 6D at ISO 1600. Taken from home on April 19, 2015.$

M102 & NGC 5907 (130mm 6D).jpg
$NGC 663 (left of centre) and M103 (bottom right) open clusters in Cassiopeia. NGC 654 is at upper centre and NGC 659 bottom centre. Faint cluster IC 166 is at far left. Taken Nov 5, 2010 with 105mm A&M apo refractor at f/5 with Borg .85x flattener/reducer and Canon 5DMkII at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 10 minute exposures, Median combined. Used Celestron CGEM mount and Sky-Watcher SynGuider on William Optics 66mm guidescope. All seemed to work well.$

M103 & NGC 663 (105mm 5DII).jpg
$NGC 663 (left of centre) and M103 (bottom right) open clusters in Cassiopeia. NGC 654 is at upper centre and NGC 659 bottom centre. Faint cluster IC 166 is at far left. Taken Nov 5, 2010 with 105mm A&M apo refractor at f/5 with Borg .85x flattener/reducer and Canon 5DMkII at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 10 minute exposures, Median combined. Used Celestron CGEM mount and Sky-Watcher SynGuider on William Optics 66mm guidescope. All seemed to work well.$

M103 & NGC 663 (105mm 5DII) with...jpg
M103 & NGC 663 Cass Clusters (92...jpg
$M104, the Sombrero Galaxy, in Virgo. Taken April 23, 2012 on a hazy night with M104 low in altitude from my home location. This is a stack of six 8-minute exposures at f/6 with the 130mm Astro-Physics apo refractor and the Canon 7D at ISO 800. Median combined to eliminate satellite trails and dust spots.$

M104, Sombrero Galaxy (130mm 7D).jpg
$The classic edge-on spiral, the Sombrero Galaxy, Messier 104, in Virgo. This object is always low in my home sky so tough to get a clean, sharp image of it, but this night, April 20, 2020, was as good as it gets for me. It looks like there is a little asteroid trail to the left of M104. I left it in. This is a stack of 6 x 10-minute exposures with Astro-Physics 130mm apo refractor at f/6 (with the 6x7 field flattener) and Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 800.$

M104 Sombrero Galaxy (130mm EOS Ra).jpg
M104 Sombrero Galaxy (Evolux 82 Ra).jpg
$M105 with NGC 3371 (left) and NGC 3373 (below), a galaxy triplet in Leo. Taken from home, with the 130mm AP apo refractor at f/6 and Canon 7D at ISO 800 for a stack of 5 x 8 minute exposures, the last in moonlight after moonrise.$

M105 (130mm 7D).jpg
$M105 with NGC 3371 (left) and NGC 3373 (below), a galaxy triplet in Leo. Taken from home, with the 130mm AP apo refractor at f/6 and Canon 7D at ISO 800 for a stack of 5 x 8 minute exposures, the last in moonlight after moonrise.$

M105 (130mm 7D).jpg
M106 (5in f4.5).jpg
$The large and bright galaxy Messier (M) 106, in Canes Venatici in the northern spring sky. This is a fine example of a spiral galaxy accompanied by many companion galaxies in the galaxy-ruch northern spring sky. At left is the edge-on galaxy NGC 4346; at top right is another edge-on NGC 4220; while at lower right is yet another edge-on NGC 4217 amid a nice field of colourful stars. The galaxy just to the right of M106 is NGC 4248. The faintest galaxies here are about 15th magnitude. This is a stack of 20 x 6-minute exposures at ISO 1600 with the Canon EOS Ra through the Astro-Physics 130mm EDT apo refractor at f/6 with the 6x7 field flattener. Starizona's Galaxy Enhance action applied overall to the image. Taken from home April 14/15, 2021. Slight high haze added some star glows.$

M106 in Canes Venatici (130mm EOS Ra...jpg
M106 in Canes Venatici (200mm 6DII).jpg
$M109, spiral galaxy in Ursa Major, off the bright Bowl star of the Big Dipper, Gamma Ursa Majoris, aka Phecda. This is a stack of 4 x 10 minute exposures at ISO 800 with the Canon 60Da on the Astro-Physics 130mm apo refractor at f/6.$

M109 in Ursa Major (130mm 60Da).jpg
$Messier 10 globular cluster in Ophiuchus taken July 30, 2011 from home with 130mm Astro-Physics refractor and Canon 7D camera, for stack of 5 x 5 minute exposures at ISO 1600 and f/6. Some trailing. Object was low in southwest.$

M10 Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus (1...jpg
M11 & Scutum Starcloud (135mm Bi...jpg
M11 Wild Duck Cluster (105mm 5DII).jpg
$Messier 11, the Wild Duck Cluster in Scutum. This is a stack of 4 x 4 minute exposures at ISO 800 with the Canon 7D and 130mm Astro-Physics refractor at f/6 with the 6x7 field flattener. Taken at the SSSP 2012 in Cypress Hills.$

M11 Wild Duck Cluster (130mm 7D).jpg
$Messier 11, the Wild Duck Cluster in Scutum. This is a stack of 4 x 4 minute exposures at ISO 800 with the Canon 7D and 130mm Astro-Physics refractor at f/6 with the 6x7 field flattener. Taken at the SSSP 2012 in Cypress Hills.$

M11 Wild Duck Cluster (130mm 7D).jpg
$M11 Wild Duck open cluster in Scutum. Taken with 5-inch AP Traveler apo refractor at f/4.5 with Canon 20Da camera at ISO 400 for stack of 3 x 8 minute exposures. Taken from home, July 23, 2007.$

M11 Wild Duck Cluster (5in f4.5 20Da...jpg
$The globular cluster Messier 13 (M13) in Hercules, with the small galaxy NGC 6207 above it. The very tiny galaxy IC 4617 is just visible between NGC 6207 and M13. M13 is generally considered the finest globular cluster in the northern half the sky (north of the celestial equator). This is a stack of just two images, each 6 minutes at ISO 800 with the Canon EOS Ra and Astro-Physics EDF 130mm f/6 apo refractor with the 6x7 field flattener. The images were the last two in the sequence of 10, and were the sharpest of the set. Earlier images were softer due to poorer seeing?$

M13 Globular Cluster (130mm EOS Ra).jpg
M13, globular in Hercules (200mm 6DI...jpg
M13 Hercules Cluster (5in f6 7D).jpg
$Messier 14, a globular cluster in Ophiuchus. This is a stack of 8 x 4 minute exposures at ISO 1600 with the Canon 7D and 130mm Astro-Physics refractor at f/6 with the 6x7 field flattener. Taken at the SSSP 2012 in Cypress Hills.$

M14 Globular Cluster (130mm 7D).jpg
$Messier 14, a globular cluster in Ophiuchus. This is a stack of 8 x 4 minute exposures at ISO 1600 with the Canon 7D and 130mm Astro-Physics refractor at f/6 with the 6x7 field flattener. Taken at the SSSP 2012 in Cypress Hills.$

M14 Globular Cluster (130mm 7D).jpg
$M15 globular cluster in Pegasus. A 5 x 8-minute image stack with the Canon 7D at ISO 800 and 130mm Astro-Physics refractor at f/6, on AP 600E mount and SG4 autoguider.$

M15 Globular (130mm 7D).jpg
M1 (5in f6).jpg
$The globular cluster M15 in Pegasus, taken Dec 5, 2020 from home with the object in the southwest. This is a stack of 10 x 8-minute exposures with the 130mm f/6 AP reffractor and Canon 6D MkII with LENR on and with 6x7 field flattener..$

M15 in Pegasus (130mm 6DII).jpg
M16 (105mm 5DII).jpg
M16 Eagle & M17 Swan Nebulas (77...jpg
$M16 Eagle Nebula, taken with 4-inch Astro-Physics Traveler refractor at f/6 with 6x7 field flattener and Hutech-modified Canon 5D camera for stack of 4 x 7 minute exposures at ISO 800. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia, April 23, 2007. Taken with scope aimed almost straight up, creating some wobble and guiding error, so slight trailing visible.$

M16 Eagle Nebula (4in f6 5D).jpg
$M16 and M17 with 4-inch Astro-Physics Traveler apo refractor at f/6, with Hutech-modified Canon 5D at ISO800 for 7 minutes, stack of two exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, Queensland, July 2006.$

M16 & M17 (4in f6 5D).jpg
$M16 and M17 Nebulas, taken with 77mm Borg astrogrpahic refractor at f/4.3 and Hutech-modified Canon 5D camera for stack of 4 x 10 minute exposures at ISO 400. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia, April 17, 2007. Scope aimed straight up and so mount wandering somewhat with guiding errors. Focus slightly soft from temperature change thru the night (this was taken at the end of the night).$

M16 & M17 (77mm 5D).jpg
M17 and M18 (105mm 5DII).jpg
$M17 Swan or Omega Nebula and M18 cluster below. Taken with 4-inch Astro-Physics Traveler apo refractor at f/6 with 6x7 field flattener, and Hutech-modified Canon 5D camera at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 7 minute exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia, April 23, 2007. Some trailing from scope pointing straight up and causing guiding errors as scope wandered from being too in balance.$

M17 Swan & M18 (4in f6 5D).jpg
$Taken with 4-inch Traveler AP refractor at f/4.5 for 4 x 4-minute exposures at ISO800. Taken from Coonobarabran, Australia, July 26, 2006. Taken with Canon 20Da camera.$

M17 Swan Nebula (4in f4.5 20Da).jpg
$M19 globular cluster, in rich Milky Way star field of Ophiuchus near Antares. Shot May 5, 2013 from home with object very low in south in pre-dawn hours. This is a stack of just 2 exposures, 2 x 6 minutes at ISO 800 with the Canon 60Da and 130mm Astro-Physics refractor at f/6.$

M19 Globular in Ophiuchus (130mm 60D...jpg
$M20 Trifid Nebula and M21 star cluster above it, taken with 4-inch Astro-Physics Traveler refractor at f/6 with 6x7 field flattener and Hutech-modified Canon 5D camera for stack of 4 x 8 minute exposures at ISO 800. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia, April 24, 2007. Some trailing from scope aimed straight up and axes wandering -- some guiding error introduced that fattened stars and some passing thin cloud added glows to stars.$

M20 & M21 (4in f6 5D).jpg
$M22 Globular cluster. Taken with 4in Astro-Physics refractor at f/6 with field flattener and Hutech-modified Canon 5D camera at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia, April 23, 2007.$

M22 (4in f6 5D).jpg
$M22 globular cluster in Sagittarius taken with it low in the sky from Cypress Hills, August 2012. This is a stack of 3 x 4 minute exposures at ISO 800 with the Canon 7D and 130mm AP refractor.$

M22 Globular in Sagittarius (130mm 7...jpg
$M22 globular cluster in Sagittarius taken with it low in the sky from Cypress Hills, August 2012. This is a stack of 3 x 4 minute exposures at ISO 800 with the Canon 7D and 130mm AP refractor.$

M22 Globular in Sagittarius (130mm 7...jpg
$M22 (left) and M28 (right) globular clusters. Taken with 77mm Borg refractor at f/4.3 and Hutech-modified Canon 5D camera at ISO 400 for stack of 5 x 6 minute exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, April 18, 2007.$

M22 & M28 (77mm 5D).jpg
$M23 open cluster. Taken with 4in Astro-Physics refractor at f/6 with field flattener and Hutech-modified Canon 5D camera at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, April 23, 2007.$

M23 (4in f6 5D).jpg
$Messier 23, a bright star cluster in Sagittarius, shot from home on a very clear night, August 4, 2019, with the object low in the south. This is a stack of 5 x 8-minute exposures with the Astro-Physics Traveler 105mm apo refractor at f/6 and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 800. I used the AP 6x7 field flattener here. LENR darks subtracted in camera. Diffraction spikes added for artistic effect with Astronomy Tools actions.$

M23 in Sagittarius (105mm 6DII).jpg
M24 Small Sagittarius Star Cloud (20...jpg
M24 Small Sagittarius Starcloud (Bin...jpg
M24 to M16 (RedCat EOS Ra).jpg
$M25 open cluster. Taken with 4in Astro-Physics refractor at f/6 with field flattener and Hutech-modified Canon 5D camera at ISO 800 for stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, April 23, 2007.$

M25 (4in f6 5D).jpg
$Messier 25, a bright star cluster in Sagittarius, shot from home on a very clear night, August 4, 2019, with the object low in the south. This is a stack of 6 x 8-minute exposures with the Astro-Physics Traveler 105mm apo refractor at f/6 and Canon 6D MkII at ISO 800. I used the AP 6x7 field flattener here. LENR darks subtracted in camera. Diffraction spikes added for artistic effect with Astronomy Tools actions.$

M25 in Sagittarius (105mm 6DII).jpg
$Messier 26 open star cluster, at right, a bright binocular/telescopic star cluster, along with the fainter and small globular star cluster NGC 6712 at upper left, which itself is paired with the faint planetary nebula IC 1295, the greenish spot left of NGC 6712. All are in the constellation of Scutum, embedded in the rich Scutum Starcloud. The bright red star at top is S Scuti. This is a stack of 8 x 6 minute exposures at f/4.4 with the Canon 6D at ISO 800 and TMB 92mm Apo refractor with the Borg 0.85x flattener/reducer. Taken from the winter home near Silver City, New Mexico.$

M26 & NGC 6712 (92mm 6D).jpg
$Messier 26 open cluster in Scutum, amid the rich Scutum starcloud, taken Aug 1, 2011 from home with 130mm Astro-Physics refractor and Canon 7D camera, for stack of 4 x 8 minute exposures at ISO 800 and f/6. Some cloud passing through.$

M26 Open Cluster in Scutum (130mm 7D...jpg
$This is the field in Vulpecula the Fox that contains the famous planetary nebula, the Dumbbell Nebula aka Messier 27, at left, but also the faint emission nebulas NGC 6820 at right and Sharpless 2-88 above it. The small star cluster below centre is NGC 6830. A small star cluster, NGC 6823, lies embedded in NGC 6820. The field is yellowed by the interstellar dust reddening distant objects. This is a blend of filtered and unfiltered stacks: 18 x 6-minutes at ISO 2500 through the IDAS NB1 dual narrowband filter, and 16 x 3-minutes at ISO 1000 with no filter, all through the SharpStar 61 EDPHII apo refractor at f/4.6 with its reducer/flattener, and with the red-sensitive Canon Ra, all on the Star Adventurer GTi mount/tracker, autoguided with the Lacerta MGENIII autoguider, taken as part of testing the mount. No darks or LENR applied here, but the autoguider applied some dithering offset between each frame, to cancel out thermal noise hot pixels when the sub-frames were aligned and stacked. Taken Sept. 24/25, 2022 from home in Alberta on a very clear cool night. Shooting and then blending filtered with unfiltered shots provides the best of both worlds: the reddish nebulosity set in a sky preserving natural coloured stars and background tints. Nebulosity was brought out with DM1 and DM2 luminosity masks created with the Lumenzia plug-in panel for Photoshop. Finishing touches with a Paint Contrast layer added with TK Actions panel, and a mild application of the Nebula Filter from the PhotoKemi action set both boosted the nebulosity a bit more. All stacking, aligning and blending done in Adobe Photoshop.$

M27 and NGC 6820 Area (SS61 Ra).jpg
M27 Dumbbell (5in f6 7D).jpg
$M27 the Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula, taken in brightening morning twilight, June 16, 2012, from home with the Astro-Physics 130mm apo refractor at f/6 with the 6x7 field flattener, for a stack of 3 x 6 minute exposures at ISO 800 with the Canon 60Da.$

M27 Dumbbell Nebula (130mm 60Da).jpg
$M27, taken Oct 8, 2007 with 5-inch Astro-Physics apo refractor at f/6 with Canon 20Da camera at ISO 400 for stack of 3 x 15 minute exposures. With 6x7 field flattener. Guided with Meade DSI/66mm guidescope and PHDGuide sofware. Some minor dec trailing.$

M27 Dumbbell Nebula (5in f6 20Da).jpg
M27, the Dumbbell Nebula.jpg
M27, the Dumbbell Nebula.jpg
M27 with Celestron 8HD & 6DII.jpg
$M29 open cluster in Cygnus with central Cygnus nebulosity. Taken Oct 30, 2010 with 105mm A&M apo refractor at f/5 with Borg .85x flattener/reducer and Canon 5DMkII at ISO 800 for stack of 5 x 10 minute exposures, Median combined. Used Celestron CGEM mount and NexGuider on William Optics 66mm guidescope. All seemed to work well.$

M29 (105mm 5DII) with Spikes.jpg
$M29 open cluster in Cygnus with central Cygnus nebulosity. Taken Oct 30, 2010 with 105mm A&M apo refractor at f/5 with Borg .85x flattener/reducer and Canon 5DMkII at ISO 800 for stack of 5 x 10 minute exposures, Median combined. Used Celestron CGEM mount and NexGuider on William Optics 66mm guidescope. All seemed to work well.$

M29 in Cygnus (105mm 5DII).jpg