Region around the star Deneb

Acquisition
Date/Time: 2023/06/20 @ 22:33 EDT (2023/06/20 02:33 UTC).


Light Frames
100 frames x 90 seconds @ 1600 ISO (total = 150 minutes)


Dark Frames
15 frames x 90 seconds @ 1600 ISO (total = 22.5 minutes)


Bias Frames
16 frames x 1/4000 seconds @ 1600 ISO


Flat Frames
20 frames


Instruments
Optics: Canon T5i (modified for H-alpha), Canon lens 75-300 @ 75mm
Filters: Optolong l-eNhance (dual band H-alpha O-III).


Processing
DeepSky Stacker & Gimp.


Location
Saint-Lambert, QC, Canada (Bortle 9).

M16 - The Eagle Nebula (The Pillars of Creation)

M16

Acquisition
Date/Time: 2013/06/27 @ 23:33 EDT (2013/06/28 03:33 UTC).

Light Frames
9 frames x 120 seconds @ 400 ISO (total = 18:00 minutes)

Dark Frames 
10 frames x 240 seconds @ 400 ISO (yeah I know, not optimal.. things didn't go quite as planned)

Flat frames
10 frames x 1/4000 seconds @ 400 ISO (same comment)

Instruments
Instrument: Celestron 8 @ f/6.3 (Hirsch Focal Reducer), Canon Rebel Xs (not modified).
Filtering: Lumicon Deep-Sky Filter
Guiding Instrument: Orion 80 Short Tube @ f/5,  Orion StarShoot Auto-guider and PHD Guiding software
Location: Hemmingford, QC, Canada (LO = -73 35 12  LA = 45 03 01).

Conditions
Transparency: 4/5
Turbulence: 4/5
(superb night, Milky Way visible almost to the horizon)

Processing
Processed with DeepSky Stacker, The Gimp and Neat image.

Notes
I am returning there tonight to, hopefully, catch more light and make something stunning! ;)

M27 - The Dumbbell Nebula

M27

Acquisition
Date/Time: 2013/06/28 @ 00:28 EDT (2013/06/28 04:28 UTC).

Light Frames
17 frames x 120 seconds @ 1600 ISO (total = 34:00 minutes)
1 frame x 78 seconds @ 1600 ISO (total = 1:18 minutes)
TOTAL: 35:18 minutes

Dark Frames
10 frames x 240 seconds @ 400 ISO (yeah I know, not optimal.. things didn't go quite as planned)

Flat frames
10 frames x 1/4000 seconds @ 400 ISO (same comment)

Instruments
Instrument: Celestron 8 @ f/6.3 (Hirsch Focal Reducer), Canon Rebel Xs (not modified).
Filtering: Lumicon Deep-Sky Filter
Guiding Instrument: Orion 80 Short Tube @ f/5,  Orion StarShoot Auto-guider and PHD Guiding software
Location: Hemmingford, QC, Canada (LO = -73 35 12  LA = 45 03 01).

Conditions
Transparency: 4/5
Turbulence: 4/5
(superb night, Milky Way visible almost to the horizon)

Processing
Processed with DeepSky Stacker, The Gimp and Neat image.

Cropped and enhanced version

M45 - The Pleiades

M45

Acquisition
Date/Time: 2013/10/11 @ 21:12 EDT (2013/10/11 01:12 UTC).

Light Frames
55 frames x 30 seconds @ 400 ISO (total = 27:30 minutes).
16 frames x 240 seconds @ 400 ISO (total = 64 minutes).
TOTAL 91:30 minutes

Dark Frames 
5 frames x 240 seconds @ 400 ISO

Instruments:
Instrument: Orion 80 Short Tube @ f/5, Canon Rebel Xs (not modified).
Filtering: Lumicon Deep-Sky Filter
Guiding Instrument: Celestron 8 @ f/6.3 (Hirsch Focal Reducer),  Orion StarShoot Auto-guider and PHD Guiding software
Location: Hemmingford, QC, Canada (LO = -73 35 12  LA = 45 03 01).

Conditions
Transparency: 3/5
Turbulence: 3/5

Processing
Processed with DeepSky Stacker and Gimp.

Notes

I had many guiding problems at first. I had to update to PHD Guiding v1.14 "on the fly" (thx for the good 3G connection!!). That explains the series of 30-seconds shots. 

Once I had corrected those problems and tweaked the polar alignment I was good to go. I still had some problems with the guiding, though after 7-8 into a series of shots. I think that this was due to the usage of the Celestron 8 (even at f/6.3) for the guiding. For one thing, I didn't have many choices for guiding stars and, secondly, I think that this was too precise an instrument for my CG-5 mount and that resulted in overshooting that PHD always tried to compensate for.

During the next session, I will make further tests with the Orion 80 for guiding to see if I have the same problems.

Instagram's and iPhone's auto adjusters

I started playing over the week-end with Instagram with the pictures I have taken in the past. I figured it would be cool to publish them there. However, I failed to realize how good the auto adjuster on it (and on the iPhone!) is good. Just as an example, see the three pics below! Wow! Either Instagram is good or I need to brush up on how to use Gimp and DeepSky Stacker to process my images once they are combined. Anyway, food for thought. Astro-photography can benefit from the latest technologies.

M104 - Sombrero Galaxy

M104 


Acquisition
Date/Time: 2012/05/19 @ 23:56 EDT (2012/05/20 03:56 UTC).


Light Frames
20 frames x 180 seconds @ 400 ISO (total = 60 minutes).
1 frames x 70 seconds @ 400 ISO (total = 1:10 minutes).
1 frames x 151 seconds @ 400 ISO (total = 2:31 minutes).
TOTAL 63:41 minutes


Dark Frames 
8 frames x 180 seconds @ 400 ISO


Instruments:
Instrument: Celestron 8 @ f/6.3 (Hirsch Focal Reducer), Canon Rebel Xs (not modified).
Filtering: Lumicon Deep-Sky Filter
Guiding Instrument: Orion 80 Short Tube @ f/5, Orion StarShoot Auto-guider and PHD Guiding.
Location: Hemmingford, QC, Canada (LO = -73 35 12  LA = 45 03 01).


Conditions
Transparency: 3/5
Turbulence: 3/5



Processing
Processed with DeepSky Stacker & The Gimp.

Under the stars

Went to la Rosette last Saturday. Just chilled and did visual observation. Took the opportunity to play around with my camera and do some 'concept' picture. Only one was good in the end. 30 seconds exposure at ISO 400.