Straddling the boundary of Taurus and Auriga, is the giant supernova remnant (SNR) Simeis-147 AKA SH2-240 or the Spaghetti Nebula. It is believed that the stellar explosion that created Simeis-147 occurred some 40,000 years ago, leaving behind a rapidly spinning neutron star or pulsar at the core of the now complex, expanding SNR; the nebulous area has an almost spherical shell consisting of numerous filamentary structures. With an apparent diameter of 3o the SNR spans some 160 light-years, making it a very large astrophotography target.
I’ve long admired the spectacular SNR Simeis-147 AKA Spaghetti Nebula, which I first imaged with my standard William Optics GT81 scope in January 2022. The outcome (see image below) was pleasing but with the limited FOV it had to be just a nibble of this large object – something of an appetiser you might say. Therefore, ever since putting my Samyang rig together last summer I’ve had only one object in mind with this excellent widefield set-up, which had to be the full menu version of Simeis-147!
Apart from its size, Simeis-147 is very faint, making long exposure time essential, which is always difficult in the UK. However, a rare spell of cold, clear nights this January provided sufficient opportunity over five nights to obtain just over 20-hours integration and a complete image of this truly magnificent SNR.
Notwithstanding the favourable conditions and long-time achieved – a record for me at this location – the faint nature of this object made image processing difficult too. After experimenting, I eventually adopted a tone mapping technique: pre-processing each individual wavelength stack before removing the stars, stretching and processing each of the starless Ha and OIII images before combining using Pixel Math in the ratio: R – (Ha*1.70) + G – (OIII*0.80)+(Ha*0.20) + B- (OIII*0.80)+(Ha*0.20).
With further processing of the HOO starless combination I was able to obtain the desired result of marvellous SNR detail, together with pleasing Ha (red) and especially OIII (blue/green) colours, that altogether with the addition of the stars and some final tweaking produced a striking image with good depth. Moreover, I feel the widefield setting achieved using the Samyang 135 lens produces a striking setting for this fascinating object.
IMAGING DETAILS
Object
Simeis 147 / SH2-240 AKA Spaghetti Nebula
Constellation
Taurus
Distance
3,000 light-years
Size
Approx. 3.0o
Apparent Magnitude
Extremely faint
Scope / Lens
Samyang 135 @f2.8
Mount
SW AZ-EQ6 GT + EQASCOM computer control & Cartes du Ciel
Guiding
Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50ED
+ Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2 camera & PHD2 guiding
Camera
ZWO1600MM-Cool mono CMOS sensor
FOV 7.5o x 5.67o Resolution 5.81”/pix Max. Image Size 4,656 x 3,520 pix
As our closest galactic neighbour, I’ve imaged M31 the Andromeda Galaxy five times since beginning my personal astrophotography journey in 2014, each time using my William Optics GT81 apo refractor – first with a DSLR, then a ASI1600mm-Cool and most recently ASI294MM cameras. Andromeda is perhaps the perfect object for my equipment, as it just fits the field-of-view of the aforesaid set-up, which produces something of an up-close-and-personal image of this alluring galaxy. But despite the success of these images, perhaps there’s an alternative view?
This year, I therefore deployed my Samyang 135 + ASI1600MM-Cool rig to capture 6 ½ hours of Andromeda, the result of which shows a whole new perspective of M31. The widefield format of this lens produces greater context than previous images, whilst still obtaining excellent details and colours of the galaxy itself. As a result, this final image (see above) better reveals the galaxy in its true glory deep in space, which in some ways I believe can be more powerful than the more popular close-up renditions of this impressive object (M31 with star reduction applied to the image below).
IMAGING DETAILS
Object
M31 Andromeda Galaxy
Constellation
Andromeda
Distance
2.5 million light-years
Size
3.2o x 1o or 220,000 light-years
Apparent Magnitude
+3.44
Scope / Lens
Samyang 135 @f2.8
Mount
SW AZ-EQ6 GT + EQASCOM computer control & Cartes du Ciel
Guiding
Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50ED
+ Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2 camera & PHD2 guiding
Camera
ZWO1600MM-Cool mono CMOS sensor
FOV 7.5o x 5.67o Resolution 5.81”/pix Max. Image Size 4,656 x 3,520 pix
The Cygnus constellation is rich in potential astrophotography targets and since the return of astronomical darkness I’ve bagged three objects from this area with my new widefield Samyang 135 rig: Cygnus Loop, Sadr Region & Crescent Nebula, and the Western Veil & Pickering’s Triangle. As the Cygnus season now draws to a close – in my case disappearing northwards behind my house – I was ready to snap one final Cygnus object using my main William Optics GT81 rig but then looked closer and realised using the Samyang 135 rig with careful framing there was another a more ambitious possibility.
The original object in question was SH2-119 AKA the Clamshell nebula, an emission nebula somewhat overlooked by photographers. Nevertheless, imaged in narrowband there’s plenty of structure to see throughout the nebulosity that makes up the two ‘shells’, whilst the bright magnitude +5 star 68 Cygni might be likened to the pearl at the centre, which would work well with the 81mm William Optics field-of-view. But deploying with care the much wider field-of-view of the Samyang 135 and it’s possible to include the North America and Pelican nebulae as well, just!
With some difficulty (weather) I finally managed to obtain 13-hours integration time over 6-nights, which has resulted in a pleasing SHO image (see main image at the top of the page – below is a dynamic version processed using PI PixelMath), once again demonstrating the capacity of this small but powerful lens. Personally, I find bringing all three objects together within a much larger field-of-view creates greater context, resulting in a more interesting image overall – in football parlance you might call it a hat-trick of nebulae!
IMAGING DETAILS
Objects
North America Nebula (NGC7000) + Pelican Nebula (IC5070 & IC5067) + Clamshell Nebula (SH2-119)
Constellation
Cygnus
Distance
approx. 2,600 light-years
Size
3.0o
Apparent Magnitude
approx. +4 to 8
Scope / Lens
Samyang 135 @f2.8
Mount
SW AZ-EQ6 GT + EQASCOM computer control & Cartes du Ciel
Guiding
Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50ED
+ Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2 camera & PHD2 guiding
Camera
ZWO1600MM-Cool mono CMOS sensor
FOV 7.5o x 5.67o Resolution 5.81”/pix Max. Image Size 4,656 x 3,520 pix
Hitherto, most of my astrophotography has concentrated on a variety of specific objects that work within the 2.65o x 2.0o field-of-view provided by the combination of my William Optics GT81 refractor and ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool camera. After recently pairing the aforesaid ZWO mono camera with a Samyang 135 lens (often marketed elsewhere as the Rokinon 135) my astrophotography world has expanded dramatically to an enormous 7.50o x 5.67o, some x8 larger than before. As a result, this excellent lens that also captures great detail, provides new opportunities to image some of the very large features that abound throughout the Universe without having to resort to a mosaic imaging; this a great advantage when working in UK weather conditions which usually provides less imaging time than required.
Above, Cygnus-X Region & notable nearby objects: The red box appproximately outlines the image area, which in this plan is presented upside-down compared to the main image. The numerous red shapes define the location of the HII objects that make up the DWB catalogue (19 is the Crescent nebula). Just beyond to the left is the North America Nebula (NGC7000) and below the SNR Cygnus Loop, AKA the Veil Nebula (NGC 6960 & 6992).
In this case I chose to frame the image in such a way as to encompass some familiar objects, such as the Butterfly Nebula (IC1318) and the Crescent Nebula (NGC6888) anchored by Sadr, the yellow-white supergiant star that stands out from within the very large Cygnus-X region. Processed here in HOO, with 6-hours integration time and full calibration (darks, flats & flat darks), the final image provides a magnificent view of this large, interesting region that augurs well for future widefield imaging with this new rig. I’m particulalry intrigued by the bluish feature at about 8.0 o’clock of the Crescent Nebula, which I now believe to be associated with WR-134: a bubble-like structure some 50 light-years in diameter consisting of OIII rich light formed by an intense wind emanating from the Wolf-Rayet star at it’s centre. The breadth of view it provides can encompass myriad of objects in exceptional detail, thereby providing a wider context that is simply awe-inspiring to see – it’s just like shrinking the Universe!
Astrometry image plan
IMAGING DETAILS
Object
Sadr Region
Constellation
Cygnus
Distance
+5,000 light-years
Size
Full FOV – see below
Apparent Magnitude
+/- 7.0
Scope / Lens
Samyang 135 @f2.8
Mount
SW AZ-EQ6 GT + EQASCOM computer control & Cartes du Ciel
Guiding
Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50ED
+ Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2 camera & PHD2 guiding
Camera
ZWO1600MM-Cool mono CMOS sensor
FOV 7.5o x 5.67o Resolution 5.81”/pix Max. Image Size 4,656 x 3,520 pix
It’s been nearly two years since acquiring my Samyang 135 lens but since then it’s unfortunately only had limited use in combination with my modded 550D DSLR. Whilst impressed with the results from this set-up, my main objective has always been to combine it with my ASI1600 mono camera for some serious widefield astrophotography but as that was being used with my William Optics refractor it just didn’t happen, until now. After upgrading to a ASI294MM Pro camera in May, at last I was finally able spend the early part of this summer working on a new Samyang 135 + ASI1600 rig and now that astronomical darkness is (just) back I recently managed to catch a few photons with this new set-up of the large SNR Cygnus Loop.
I originally purchased a x2-ring Astrokraken 3D-printed clamping system for the lens + DSLR combination from Philippe in France but since then he’s tweaked the design. In particular x3 built-in M4 nuts have been incorporated on either side of each of the two main lens clamping rings, for the purpose of attaching ancillary equipment, which for me has been a game changer. I therefore bought a new x3-ring Astrokraken bracket, with the said bolt holes, around which to build my new rig:
The two main clamping rings that hold the lens have a shoe immediately above the lens, to which I’ve fitted a Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50ED guidescope (not yet working), with the rear third ring holding the ASI1600 mono camera & EFW.
I swapped the Canon lens bayonet adapter for a bespoke M42 screw adapter, in order to ensure a more secure attachment, thus reducing any potential lens-camera movement at this critical point of the image train.
I’m continuing to use the excellent Astrokraken micro-focuser, which consists of a ring that clamps onto to the lens’ focus ring, with two small bolts above that make contact with either side of the guidescope shoe, so that when turned the focus ring can be adjusted either way to obtain focus, which is then locked when completed. So far I’ve found the micro-focuser to work very well with this lens, assisted by the addition of an Astrokraken Bahtinov mask which is inserted into the front of the lens casing.
Using this lens with the ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool camera and EFW, the backfocus guideline is 44mm, which I was able to achieve by adding an Altair T2 variable locking extension ring set to 17.5mm = 44mm minus 26.5 (camera + EFW).
With my Chroma filters now being used with the new ASI294MM Pro camera, I purchased another ZWO 31mm x8 EFW and brought my ZWO 31mm filters out of retirement.
Finally, using the new M4 nut holes I’ve added a Baader SkysurferIII RDF on the left-hand side of the Astrokraken bracket system to help with sky navigation and framing.
After bolting the Astrokraken with the lens, camera and said components to a Losmandy plate it makes a very nice compact rig, that is easy to handle and store. Notwithstanding, as they say – the proof of the pudding is in the eating: SEE top-of-the page for original image & below for 50% crop.
Whilst the recent heatwave produced clear skies, it was far from ideal here for astronomy and was further hampered by a full moon. However, with only just over two hours integration time and a few Dark calibration files, I’m still impressed with the outcome of this quite amazing lens. It is very pleasing to capture the entire Cygnus Loop comfortably sitting within the lens’ FOV – for information on this FOV and comparisons go to this previous WTSM blog HERE. For me context is important with astrophotography and in this regard the astronomical perspective this lens produces is outstanding, no wonder it is so popular. I just love working with this FOV and can’t wait for better conditions for greater integration time and more widefield targets to point this wicked little lens at.
IMAGING DETAILS
Object
Cygnus Loop
Constellation
Cygnus
Distance
2,400 light-years
Size
3.0o
Apparent Magnitude
+7.0
Scope / Lens
Samyang 135 @f2.8
Mount
SW AZ-EQ6 GT + EQASCOM computer control & Cartes du Ciel
Guiding – Not Used
Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50ED
+ Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2 camera & PHD2 guiding
Camera
ZWO1600MM-Cool mono CMOS sensor
FOV 7.5o x 5.67o Resolution 5.81”/pix Max. Image Size 4,656 x 3,520 pix
Just northeast of the Pleiades star cluster within the northern Milky Way, lies the dark region of the Taurus Molecular Cloud (TMC), which at 430 light years is the nearest star-forming region to Earth. Consisting of hundreds of solar masses of primordial hydrogen and helium gas, as well as heavier elements, this vast area of dense stardust obscures almost all light from behind. As such it forms an alluring target for astrophotography, with the complex rift-like dark structure of the TMC set against the broad starry background of the Taurus constellation.
Approximate Image Location
Notwithstanding, perhaps because of the more popular objects that abound throughout its neighbour the Orion constellation, the TMC is somewhat neglected by astronomers; to be fair the TMC is also a more challenging imaging target than many of those found in Orion. Early this year, for the first time I decided to image the dark nebula Barnard 22, an iconic section of the TMC formed by a complex mass of dark stardust that appears to hang within the vast surrounding starfield.
Approaching the new moon in late January I obtained almost 11 hours of LRGB subs, though sadly was unable to incorporate another 6-hours of 10-minute luminance exposures which proved to be too bright to use: note-to-self– check settings for new objects before embarking on long imaging programme! To achieve a balance between the large black smudge that is B 22 and the brilliance of the surrounding stars processing was tricky but the final outcome satisfying. Also noteworthy in the image, just off centre is the small flame-shaped reflection nebula IC 2087, the light from which just manages to emerge from behind the otherwise dominant, though beguiling form of Barnard 22, which like night itself seems to casts a dark veil over the cosmos.
IMAGING DETAILS
Objects
Barnard 22 dark nebula & IC 2087 reflection nebula
Constellation
Taurus
Distance
Approx.. 430 light years
Size
–
Apparent Magnitude
Varies
Scope
William Optics GT81 + Focal Reducer FL 382mm f4.72
Mount
SW AZ-EQ6 GT + EQASCOM computer control & Cartes du Ciel
Guiding
William Optics 50mm guide scope
+ Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2 camera & PHD2 guiding
Camera
ZWO1600MM-Cool mono CMOS sensor
FOV 2.65o x 2.0o Resolution 2.05”/pix Max. image size 4,656 x 3,520 pix
EFW
ZWOx8 EFW & 31mm Chroma LRGB filters
Capture & Processing
Astro Photography Tool + PHD2 + Deep Sky Stacker, PixInsight v1.8.8-12, Photoshop CC, Topaz AI DeNoise
Image Location & Orientation
Centre RA 04:39:00.365 DEC +26:00:13.426 Lower Left = North
Exposures
120 x 180 sec L, 19 x 300 sec R, 20 x 300 sec G & B Total Integration Time: 10hr 55 min
@ 139 Gain 21 Offset @ -20oC
Calibration
10 x 60 sec Darks 15 x LRGB Flats & Dark Flats @ ADU 25,000
Location & Darkness
Fairvale Observatory – Redhill – Surrey – UK Typically Bortle 5-6
Date & Time
27th 29th 31st January + 4th & 6th February 2022 @ +18.30h
Every year since 2014 I’ve published a retrospective blog of my astrophotgraphy year just ending called Reflections. It’s been a useful task that enables me to bring together the best and sometimes the worst of my images, in order to consider the good and bad points + progress made + set some objectives for the coming year. Eight years on, after which I believe I’ve now reached at least a respectable level of imaging and processing, I’ve decided to stop this format for the time being.
Notwithstanding, at this time of the year I also produce an astrophotography calendar for members of my family, which consists of the better images from the year just ending; I think they like them and certainly all use the calendar during the coming year. Moreover, I also recently started to compile a video of the said calendar images set to appropriate music, which we all watch together prior to seeing the actual calendar. It’s a great way to present the images, which look really stunning on today’s large Smart TV’s and is fun to watch with the family too.
The video for this last year 2021 can be viewed on YouTubeHERE and below is a brief very general overview of each image. More detailed background information and imaging details for those interested can be found in relevant blogs posted on this site during the past year.
2022 CALENDAR
A new set of filters, improved processing techniques and access to data from a telescope at a dark sky site in New Mexico, USA (shown by an asterisk *) contributed to an exciting astrophotography year in 2021.
FRONT COVER
The Carnival of Animals: Special processing of the inner region of the Rosette Nebula highlights the ‘animals’ or Bok Globules – clouds of dust undergoing gravitational collapse as part of the process of new star formation.
JANUARY
LDN-1250 Dark Nebula*: Dark or absorption nebulae are a type of interstellar cloud which are so dense they obscure or absorb visible light emitted from objects behind or within and thereby contrast with the general light flux of the Universe as dark areas.
FEBRUARY
CTB-1 Supernova Remnant*: The overall structure of this supernova remnant is that of a circular shell, with a conspicuous rupture towards the north (lower right of image). The main red Ha-shell is composed of multiple interlocking filament limbs, with a blue / green OIII arc along one side.
MARCH
Jellyfish Nebula: Locatedin the Gemini constellation some 5,000 light years from Earth, this is a remnant of a supernova that took place during the past 30,000 years. With a diameter of 70 light-years, the object is visually speaking nearly twice the size of a full moon.
APRIL
Markarian’s Chain: The Virgo cluster consists of more than 2,000 galaxies, within which Markarian’s Chain forms a J-curve string of bright galaxies that share a common motion through space.
MAY
M13 Great Globular Cluster of Hercules*: Consisting of several hundred thousand stars and 145 light-years in diameter, M13 is considered to be the finest cluster in the Northern Hemisphere.
JUNE
Cave Nebula*: Located along the plane of the Milky Way is the diffuse emission nebula referred to as the Cave Nebula. The Cave at the centre is critically located at the boundary of the Cepheus molecular cloud and the hot, young stars which ionize the surrounding gases to great effect.
JULY
Orion Widefield: Framed around the area of Orion’s Belt, the Horsehead Nebula and the Great Orion Nebula, look hard and the refection nebula M78 can also be seen in the lower left corner.
AUGUST
Elephant’s Trunk Nebula*: A very large emission nebula, the so-called Elephant’s Trunk Nebula is rightly viewed as one of astrophotography’s most iconic images. The ‘trunk’ itself dominates the centre of this image and is illuminated from behind by a bright star forming region.
SEPTEMBER
M31 Andromeda Galaxy: The full benefit of new filters, improved guiding, clear skies over 6-nights and extensive use of new processing techniques can be seen in my best image yet of Andromeda.
OCTOBER
Butterfly Nebula: Situatedwithin the Orion Arm of the Milky Way is the Gamma Cygni nebula, a diffuse emission nebula surrounding the star Sadr. Either side of the dark rift which divides the image from top to bottom are two large bright areas that together form the so-called Butterfly.
NOVEMBER
M33 Triangulum Galaxy: Like it’s neighbour Andromeda, better data and processing has produced an exciting new image of M33 this year, the red areas highlight Ha-rich star-forming regions
DECEMBER
Flying Bat & Giant Squid Nebula*: This very faint OIII emission nebula Ou4 required an imaging time of 40-hours. For obvious reasons Ou4 has become known as the Giant Squid Nebula which, moreover, lies within the much larger SH2-129 HII emission region or the Flying Bat Nebula.
In ancient history Orion’s stars were considered to form a pattern that resembled a hunter holding a club above with his right arm and a shield in front with his left. The appearance of Orion each year marks the highlight of the astronomy for many including me but for the second year running months of continuous cloud have precluded any astronomy since October; I note from comments online far-and-wide that this phenomenon has prevailed across much of the northern hemisphere, no doubt resulting in a lot of unhappy astronomers.
The Anantomy of Orion
Finally the clouds briefly relented over Fairvale Observatory in February but only for a few hours each time, thus eliminating the possibility of imaging with a CMOS mono camera. Faced with these problems I therefore returned to my somewhat neglected modded Canon 550D camera and suitable lenses for appropriate widefield compositions, in order to image some classic targets around the Orion constellation in a broader context. Having first whetted my appetite with the Samyang 135 f2 and its large 9.45o x 6.30o FOV to successfully image the iconic area that encompasses Orion’s belt, the Horsehead Nebula and M42 (see Going Big), it was time to go really big in order to capture the entire constellation literally and figuratively in a new light.
Seven bright stars define the area which outlines the torso and upper legs of Orion the Hunter: Betelgeuse, Bellatrix, Rigel and Saiph at the top and bottom, connected across the centre by his ‘belt’ formed from Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka. The H-shape thus created by these stars is a familiar sight over the winter months but like so many asterisms of the night sky all is not what it seems. Plotting the distance from Earth of each star it is immediately obvious that their spatial relationship significantly changes the shape of the constellation compared to what as we perceive by eye. It is a sobering thought that with the passage of time those asterisms familiar to astronomers today will look very different in the future as the stars move though space and therefore continue to change their relative positions, look and shape.
Star
Betelgeuse
Bellatrix
Rigel
Saiph
Alnitak
Alnilam
Mintaka
Distance from Earth*(light years)
643
243
772
724
800
1,359
900
*Source: Royal Greenwich Observatory
Click HERE for annotated version of the Orion Constellation in 3D ref. Space Science Telescope Instititue
The Canon ‘Nifty Fifty’ 50mm f1.8 fixed aperture lens is perfect for an ultra widefield image of Orion. Whilst the glass is excellent, focus leaves a lot to be desired and once achieved needs to be secured with tape
Aside from the said visual perspective of Orion, like so much of space we only see a fraction of what is really present in the Universe but can nevertheless often be disclosed by astrophotography. And so I next decided to image the entirety of Orion, this time with a basic Canon 1.8 50mm lens – the so called “nifty fifty”- with the purpose of capturing in one shot the constellation with which we are all familiar, together with vast spectacular HII-regions that encompass much of the constellation but usually remain unseen. This camera-lens combination provides an enormous 25.5o x 17.0o field-of-view (x7 > Samyang lens, x83 William Optics GT81!) albeit with lower resolution, which perfectly encompasses most of Orion and therefore the entire arc of Barnard’s Loop on the left and the Angelfish Nebula (Orion’s “head”) located above and between Betelgeuse and Bellatrix.
Above:Orion constellation from Fairvale Observatory 24th December 2014 (Left) compared with long exposure image + modded camera 10th February 2020 (right)
Barnard’s Loop is an emission nebula, forming part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex which also contains the dark Horsehead and bright Great Orion Nebulae M42. The Loop is believed to have originated from a supernova explosion about 2 million years ago, which is now ionized by stars from within and around the Orion Nebula and takes the form of a large arc centred approximately on the Orion Nebula. Discovered and photographed by E. E. Barnard in 1894, this vast feature extends over some about 600 arcminutes when viewed from Earth or physically up to 300 light years across, depending on the distance from Earth.
The Angelfish Nebula SH2-264 is centred on the young star cluster of Lamda Orionis, of which Meissa is the brightest. An HII-region with an apparent size of 5 degrees and actual size of 150 light years, it is also an emission nebula that is energised by the aforesaid star cluster and is considered to form the so-called head of Orion.
Having previously imaged notable parts throughout Orion, I’ve long wanted to capture the full extent of this wonderful constellation in all its glory and am very pleased with the outcome on this occasion.
DSLR IMAGING DETAILS*
Object
Orion Constellation
Constellation
Orion
Distance
243 to 1,360 light-years
Size
594o2
Apparent Magnitude
Varies
Lens / Scope
Canon 50mm f1.8
Mount
SW AZ-EQ6 GT + EQASCOM computer control & Cartes du Ciel
Guiding
No Guiding
Camera
Canon 550D modified
FOV 25.5o x 17.7o Resolution 17.72”/ pixel
Capture & Processing
Astro Photography Tool + PHD2 Deep Sky Stacker, PixInsight, Photoshop CS3 & Topaz Denoise AI
Image Location & Orientation
Centre RA 05:37:37.3 DEC +00:48:50.26 Top = North Right = West
Exposures & Aperture
42 x 120 sec @ ISO800 Total: 1hr 24 min F1.8
Calibration
5 x 120’ Darks, 20 x 1/4000 sec Bias 20 x Flats
Location & Darkness
Fairvale Observatory – Redhill – Surrey – UK Typically Bortle 5-6
Date & Time
10th February 2021 @ +21.00h
Weather
Approx. <=0oC RH <=65% 🌙 NEW MOON
*For higher resolution and plate-solving data go to AstrobinHEREand click on image
After considering the limitations created by UK weather, I chose to purchase a Samyang 135 f/2 lens last year, rather than typically moving to a larger aperture / focal length scope. Unfortunately because of the aforesaid poor weather conditions that have since prevailed its use has so far been restricted. However, after literally months at last the clouds briefly relented over Surrey recently and I was able to get a couple of hours imaging the Orion constellation.
I really enjoy the widefield aspect of astrophotography, particularly without resorting to a mosaic which is too often impractical given the lack of favourable imaging conditions in the UK. Such images can produce another perspective of favourite targets previously imaged with a telescope or are just fascinating in their own right. For the moment I’m using the Samyang lens at f2.8 with a modded Canon 550D, manual focus and no guiding but eventually intend to pair it with a mono CMOS camera. This combination results in a whopping 9.45o x 6.30o field-of-view, no-less than 11x that of my standard William Optics GT81 and ZWO1600 set-up. Whilst using the lens at its maximum f/2.0 aperture would be even better, stopping down to f2.8 improves focus quality and removes any possibility of vignetting.
In this instance I chose to frame the image around the area of Orion’s Belt and the Great Orion Nebula M42 but such is the lens’ extensive field-of-view that M78 and part of Barnard’s Loop have also sneaked into the lower left corner. Even though this was something of a ‘quick & dirty’ session resulting in just 112 minutes integration time, looking closer at M42 (see cropped version) the detail and colours achieved with this lens has far exceeded my expectations. As well as the detail of M42 and the Horsehead Nebula, I’m also impressed at how well the lens has dealt with the usually difficult large bright stars of Orion’s Belt & others in the image.
The quality produced with this small lens is quite extraordinary and it is definitely one of my star astronomy purchases. Going forwards the challenge will be to find suitable targets that can fill its very large field-of-view, as well the inevitable wait for clear skies!
DSLR IMAGING DETAILS*
Object
Orion: M42, Horsehead, M78 & Barnard’s Loop
Constellation
Orion
Distance
243 to 1,360 light-years
Size
594o2
Apparent Magnitude
Varies
Lens / Scope
Samyang 135 f/2
Mount
SW AZ-EQ6 GT + EQASCOM computer control & Cartes du Ciel
Guiding
No Guiding
Camera
Canon 550D modified
FOV 9.45o x 6.30o Resolution 6.45”/pix
Capture & Processing
Astro Photography Tool + PHD2 Deep Sky Stacker, PixInsight, Photoshop CS3 & Topaz Denoise AI
Image Location & Orientation
Centre RA 05:36:48 DEC -03:11:30.4 Right = North Top = West
Exposures & Aperture
56 x 120 sec @ ISO800 Total: 1hr 52 min F2.8
Calibration
5 x 120’ Darks, 20 x 1/4000 sec Bias 20 x Flats
Location & Darkness
Fairvale Observatory – Redhill – Surrey – UK Typically Bortle 5-6
Date & Time
3rd February 2021 @ +22.00h
Weather
Approx. 6oC RH +85% 🌙 67% waning
*For high resoluton image go to AstrobinHERE and click on image
After starting astronomy in 2014, Watch This Space (Man) was launched shortly thereafter as a personal record of my then nascent astronomy journey. Apart from the main blog about my progress or otherwise, links to other astrophotographers, astronomy tools, astronomy weather, scientific papers etc. can also be found on this website; I was suprised to see that to-date 152 items have been published on this site.
I always like to hear from others – comments, questions, help or just to say hello – and can be contacted via: graham.s.roberts@gmail.com or just leave a comment at the end of any item if you prefer.
Vistor map 2020: In this most difficult of years for everyone, it’s especially heartening to see so much interest from all corner’s of the world and hope to see you and others again in 2021 – Clear Skies!
REFLECTIONS is a review of my astronomy and astrophotography during the past year, together with some thoughts on possible future developments.
2020 Overview, Images & Goals for 2021
For the world 2020 was a year like no other. Notwithstanding the obvious problems and dire consequences of Covid-19 for everyone, there have been surprising benefits for astronomy. Although I am retired, under lockdown there was even more time available for hobbies. Furthermore, as I live close to Gatwick and Heathrow airports + underneath numerous high altitude long-haul overflight paths, a massive reduction in air travel resulted in a very obvious improvement in seeing conditions, which was confirmed by guiding results. Located in a Bortle 5 to 6 area I ordinarily achieve at best average RMS error guiding of 0.90” to 1.50”/pixel, guiding improved markedly during lockdown to between 0.50” to 0.75”/ pixel. Of course such seeing conditions also resulted in better quality imaging itself and on a number of occasions I was able to achieve integration times of 10-hours or much more over a number of nights. The result was better images but less of them and inevitably, a lot more cloud throughout the rest of the year!
Having previously got to grips with plate solving, using the new CdC planning function I intended to develop the use of mosaics this year. However, such is the weather in the UK (see above) that it’s obvious to me that creating mosaics is probably not the best use of what imaging time we get. Undeterred, during January I planned and shot a 15x panel mosaic of Barnard’s Loop in Ha-wavelength. Unfortunately the unpredictable occurrence of patchy cloud invalidated some of the panels, though I was finally able to compile a 7x panel mosaic of the upper easterly section of Barnard’s Loop – see below. Notwithstanding, there were lessons learned: (i) restrict mosaics to one or two panels and / or (ii) where wider view images are required use a wide FOV set-up rather than a large mosaic.
Most of my other objectives for 2020 turned out to be pipedreams e.g. a new observatory or perhaps a larger telescope or dual rig. Despite this there were important developments on other fronts.
After eventually coming to the conclusion that mosaics were probably an unwise way to go considering UK conditions, it became clear that a suitable high-quality camera lens might produce similar coverage with less imaging time and hassle. Thus also inspired by the images of others on the SGL Forum using such equipment, I set out to build a new rig based around the excellent Samyang 135 f2 lens. This project remains work-in-progress but so far using the lens with a bespoke 3D printed rig and micro focuser made by Astrokraken and a modded DSLR, it’s apparent that this lens produces excellent widefield images in a relatively short time.
Initial Samyang 135 f2 set-up with modded DSLR
With the time and ‘opportunity’ afforded by lockdown throughout most of the year, I finally decided to do something about improving my processing, namely learning PixInsight. Unfortunately the rumours were correct – it is a steep learning curve and altogether a less than user friendly software. However, after many weeks of toil and expletives I’m pleased to say I can now process an entire image with PixInsight, the impact of which has been nothing less than profound. However, whilst PixInsight is an excellent processing facility, I’ve come to the conclusion that it is often best used together with other process software where appropriate for specific tasks:
Deep Sky Stacker for calibration, alignment and stacking; the equivalent PixInsight process is just too complicated and time consuming;
Photoshop can be very helpful finessing colours and stretching (Levels & Curves);
Starnet++ is useful for creating starless images, which then help to get the best from processing nebula separately before re-combining with the stars;
Topaz AI Denoise has been very effective and easy to use for noise reduction and sharpening at any point during the workflow.
This combination for processing has turned out to be something of a game changer and almost certainly was the most important astrophotography development of the year for me, which augurs well for 2021 and beyond.
Favourite Images
Continuing with the theme of less is more, I imaged just 13 objects this year – of which three were experimental & three with a DSLR – but still with a total integration time of 80 hours (2019 17 objects & 65 hours, 2018: 25 objects & 43 hours). Having worked through many of the astronomer’s favourites by now, images in 2020 consisted of: a new approach to old favourites, difficult / small objects for my equipment e.g. galaxies or less popular and widefield targets.
I’m pleased to say that most of these images turned out well and it’s difficult to choose a favourite. The so-called ‘favourites’ below therefore represent those images from this year that portray an important development in my astrophotography journey. More detailed reviews of these and all other images from 2020 can be found in specific articles that can be accessed using the links found below or via the Blog Index, located under the dropdown menu ABOUT.
Heart Nebula: Although imaged in 2018, this version has been re-processed using mainly PixInsight, thus transforming the original SHO Hubble Palette image from something rather dull to one with warm, vibrant colours, as well as much great detail – demonstrating the significant impact of my new PixInsight based processing abilities.
LBN 325: Numerous emission nebulae populate this small part of a very extensiveHII-Region, which forms an exciting LRGB image. Processing was complex and difficult, in order to bring out exciting features that abound in this spectacular but less popular area of the Cygnus constellation. Integration time of 10-hours was obtained over three nights and is my first LRGB image processed using PixInsight.
M63 Sunflower Galaxy: At 12.6’ x 7.2’and apparent magnitude of +9.3,this small flocculent galaxy in the Canes Venatici constellation is a challenge for my equipment. However, with 8 hours 20 minutes exposure over three nights in April and careful processing, the all-important detail within the galactic disc is clear. Topaz Denoise AI and Gigapixel software played an important role in maintaining the colour and delicate detail in this +50% cropped image.
Taken from last year’s REFLECTIONS 2019:
“Although you never know, I don’t see any major breakthroughs in the coming year”. Just goes to show what I know, fewer but better images were obtained in 2020:
RECORD CARD 2020
Goal
Specifics / Results
Outcome
Improve image capture
Further Improvements in overall quality + much longer integration times + better guiding accuracy = less but better images.
MUCH BETTER
Better processing
Using PixInsight software combined with Photoshop, Starnet++ and Topaz Denoise AI has led to major processing improvements and much better final images.
MUCH MUCH BETTER
Widefield Imaging
Initial results from new imaging rig based around Samyang 135 f2 lens were very promising but there’s more to do.
BETTER
My main objectives for 2020 were largely fulfilled (see above), so what about 2021?
Imaging: Other than maintaining the aforesaid improvements achieved over the past two years – guiding & longer integration times – two items that still need to be addressed are: (i) upgrade filters to remove star bloating and all round better images, (ii) improved focussing.
Widefield: Complete Samyang-rig build and switch from DSLR to CMOS mono camera.
Consolidate processing improvements: Whilst the move to PixInsight and other software was very successful in 2020, I’m still only scratching the surface of what’s possible.
Upgrade mono camera – there’s a new generation of colour CMOS cameras starting to appear, hopefully soon to be followed by their mono equivalents !
Hardly a year I and the rest of the world will want to remember, though more than ever astrophotography played a big role in providing relief from the trauma going on around us all.
The major increase of integration times achieved and the use of PixInsight has proved transformative for my astrophotography and will justify returning to reimage some old favourites in future years. I had often thought about upgrading my OTA to something bigger but given the lack of a permanent observatory here at Fairvale Observatory, combined with long periods of bad / cloudy weather, the penny finally dropped and I now have high hopes for the little wonder that is the Samyang 135 f2 lens when I complete its set-up in 2021.
Looking back I have to be happy with my astrophotography in 2020 but more importantly, look forwards to an even better year which holds great promise building on the positive developments of the past 24-months. Moreover, I hope for the sake of everyone that we will be able to deal with Covid-19 soon and return to something of a normal life once again. These are big ambitions and I hope that WTSM’s Reflections 2021 will record such success.
Watch this space!
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY INDEX OF 2020
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WATCH THIS SPACE(MAN) 