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  • Home
  • Deep Space Images
  • Equipment
  • Observatory Construction
  • DIY Projects
  • Early Deep Sky Images
  • Observatory Tech & Tips

Deep Sky Shots

M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy

M81 & M82 - Bodes Galaxy & The Cigar Galaxy

M81 & M82 - Bodes Galaxy & The Cigar Galaxy

One of my first attempts at gathering almost 3 hours of data...unfortunately, it's one the first signals that my camera doesn't like working in the heat. The night temperature was around 30 C and the camera introduced so much thermal noise into the image that it was difficult to process.

Looking forward to visiting this target again from the pristine dark skies of Canfield Junction


UPDATE: Shot this target again for first light of the observatory….see below

Find out more about The Whirlpool Galaxy

M81 & M82 - Bodes Galaxy & The Cigar Galaxy

M81 & M82 - Bodes Galaxy & The Cigar Galaxy

M81 & M82 - Bodes Galaxy & The Cigar Galaxy

My first success with long exposures...this is almost 2 hours worth of sub-frames, taken from my (former) light-polluted skies on the lower east side of Hamilton. 


Note the amp-glow of the camera in the lower regions of this image. Currently working on solutions for this bane until I progress to a cooled camera (camera cooler box project) to reduce or eliminate this occurance that happens while using a DSLR for long exposure astrophotography...patience, grasshopper,,,

Find out more about Bodes & Cigar Galaxies

M27 - The Dumbell Nebula

M81 & M82 - Bodes Galaxy & The Cigar Galaxy

M42 & NGC 1977 - The Orion Nebula & The Running Man Nebula

First light/ first night with a scope out at the new place. Forgot to install my focal reducer/ flattener, but after fighting the incredible dew and other issues, I decided to just roll with it

Find out more about the dumbell nebula

M42 & NGC 1977 - The Orion Nebula & The Running Man Nebula

NGC 2024 & Barnard 33 - The Flame Nebula & The Horsehead Nebula

M42 & NGC 1977 - The Orion Nebula & The Running Man Nebula

My most recent and longest exposure compilation to date, just over 4 hours total integration time. The detail and reduced signal-to-noise ratio that comes with very long exposures is incredible...definitely worthy of the effort

Find out more about the Orion Nebula

NGC 2024 & Barnard 33 - The Flame Nebula & The Horsehead Nebula

NGC 2024 & Barnard 33 - The Flame Nebula & The Horsehead Nebula

NGC 2024 & Barnard 33 - The Flame Nebula & The Horsehead Nebula

Pretty obvious which is which, and why they were named as such.

This target is one of the reasons why I decided to pursue this fascinating hobby. The first time I saw an image of this target I knew I had to do what it takes to capture it myself. This is about the 4th edit of this capture, but planning on re-visiting this target once I begin shooting with my mono cam and Ha (Hydrogen Alpha) to reveal even more detail

Find out more about the Horsehead Nebula

M31 - The Andromeda Galaxy

NGC 2024 & Barnard 33 - The Flame Nebula & The Horsehead Nebula

NGC 2024 & Barnard 33 - The Flame Nebula & The Horsehead Nebula

The first image that blew me away. The long exposure time brought out so much detail in this target compared to my previous attempts, just over 3 hours worth. Again, I intend to re-visit this large bright target in the future to acquire even more details

Find out more about Andromeda

M104 - The Sombrero Galaxy

M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy - Re-Visited

M104 - The Sombrero Galaxy

This is an image from the lower east side of Hamilton, Ontario...lots of light pollution. Looking fo

This is an image from the lower east side of Hamilton, Ontario...lots of light pollution. Looking forward to re-visiting this target again

Find out moreabout the Sombrero Galaxy

M57 - The Ring Nebula

M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy - Re-Visited

M104 - The Sombrero Galaxy

I have only seen this  semi-difficult target (for viewing) through a 16" Dobsonian  at a dark sky st

I have only seen this  semi-difficult target (for viewing) through a 16" Dobsonian  at a dark sky star-party  many years ago.

Once my go-to telescope revealed it in my  light-polluted yard  in east Hamilton, I decided to jump into astrophotography, both feet first.

Not a great pic...but for one of my firsts...this convinced me that I was on the right path...

Find out more about the Ring Nebula

M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy - Re-Visited

M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy - Re-Visited

M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy - Re-Visited

M51 - Re-visited

First light of the new observatory build, and also first images since moving to my new DSLR, a Canon EOS T3i. A few steps ahead of my first astro cam, a modified (IR filter removed) Canon EOS Xsi/ 450d. Compared to what I acquired previously, this is hands down a night and day difference.

This galaxy is interacting with a neighbouring galaxy, NGC 5195, and with my recent image, you can see some of the effects of these two galaxies interacting

Find out more about The Whirlpool Galaxy

The Bubble Nebula - NGC 7635

The Bubble Nebula - NGC 7635

M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy - Re-Visited

Not an easy target, but thought I'd try my luck for something that was in a good portion of the sky, factoring in the rising almost-full moon, the positon in the sky and the light.  pollution from neighbouring cities. Although not a lot from my location, this being a relatively dim and small target requires all the help I can get.

Find out more about the Bubble Nebula

The iris Nebula - NGC 7023

The Bubble Nebula - NGC 7635

The Triangulum Galaxy - M33

NGC 7023 - The Iris Nebula

NGC 7023 is a reflection nebula, known to have clouds of interstellar dust that usually reflects light from nearby stars.

As I only have about 3 hours of exposure time on this gem, I'm intending to collect at least another 7 hours of time to reveal all the faint details that in this image merely cover the light from surround stars...the black that surrounds this nebula isn't really, well...black. Stay tuned on the progress of this ongoing project...

Find out more about the Iris Nebula

The Triangulum Galaxy - M33

The Bubble Nebula - NGC 7635

The Triangulum Galaxy - M33

M33, The Triangulum Galaxy

2.73 million light years from earth, and a diameter of approximately 60 000 light years!

This image is one of the first captured after getting my guiding figured out. A total of 6 hours exposure time, captured in the fall of 2019 over 3 nights.

Find out more about the Triangulum Galaxy

The Heart Nebula - IC 1805, Sharpless I-190

Barnard 33, The Horsehead Nebula, and NGC 2024 The Flame Nebula

Barnard 33, The Horsehead Nebula, and NGC 2024 The Flame Nebula

One of the first images using a guide scope, guide cam and PHD2 (Push Here Dummy V2).

This program is relatively easy to set up, but is a challenge to fine tune. Getting there...

Find out more about the Heart Nebula

Barnard 33, The Horsehead Nebula, and NGC 2024 The Flame Nebula

Barnard 33, The Horsehead Nebula, and NGC 2024 The Flame Nebula

Barnard 33, The Horsehead Nebula, and NGC 2024 The Flame Nebula

Barnard 33, The Horsehead Nebula, and NGC 2024, The Flame Nebula

Guiding is awesome!

Re-visited this beauty after my first good shots in October 2018. Guiding is allowing me to get 5 minute sub-exposures with no star trailing. The fine detail that this reveals is becoming obvious. I'm sure my processing skills have come a long way as well

Just wish I would have started guiding a long, long time ago...

Find out more about the Flame Nebula

Different Edits

M81 & M82 - Re-visited October 2018

M27 - The Dumbbell Nebula - Re-visited August 2019

M27 - The Dumbbell Nebula - Re-visited August 2019

M81 & M82...again. This is my second attempt at capturing this beautiful pairing...

M27 - The Dumbbell Nebula - Re-visited August 2019

M27 - The Dumbbell Nebula - Re-visited August 2019

M27 - The Dumbbell Nebula - Re-visited August 2019

Had another go at this colourful target. A bit more detail, but still not totally thrilled with the end result. Still getting bugs out of the new set-up in the observatory. More to come on this beauty.

Running Man & Horsehead Nebulae - 3rd Re-Edited

Running Man & Horsehead Nebulae - 3rd Re-Edited

Running Man & Horsehead Nebulae - 3rd Re-Edited

3rd Edit...managed to pull out more blue and kill more of that nasty thermal noise

Andromeda Galaxy - Re-Edited

Running Man & Horsehead Nebulae - 3rd Re-Edited

Running Man & Horsehead Nebulae - 3rd Re-Edited

A different colour palette  while editing....not quite as dramatic, but more detail

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