Meade Deep Sky Imager - Gallery 5

            Some objects taken throughout four sessions in the June-September period

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José R. Torres

 

The major improvement this time concerns telescope control. I have been programming rather intensely (another very favourite hobby to me) to get a really good tool. The star database is now the Guide Star Catalogue 1.2 (25,240,000 stars and star-like objects), have a look to the current state of the project here. Also, 70,000 new deep sky objects have been added to the collection, so that it currently gathers 250,000 DSO. Moreover, I have modified the protocols to include thousands of annotations of deep sky objects that are displayed as one clicks on the map. It is very comfortable, indeed. I am rather happy with the results: I can affirm that I will not need any other mapping software anymore to govern the telescope and provide the information needed during imaging sessions. As it is, it shows enough reference stars to allow correcting the position pointed by the DSI with the stars registered in a short exposure. These months I've imaged some new objects, although I have had little time to observe.  I have also tried some strategies, such as imaging in altazimuth mode. This tracking mode could be valid depending on the position pointed by the telescope (the field rotation is more perceptible to the south and to the zenith), and naturally, on the exposure. The image below showing M15 and the planetary nebula Pease 1 was taken in altazimuth mode and as can be seen, the rotation was negligible. The other images were taken in equatorial mode. At mid August the computer was broken, and for a month I could not take any image. The latter in this page correspond to the night 10-11 September 2005.

 

 

The Pegasus Globular, M 15 / NGC 7078

NGC7078/M15 21 30.0 +12 10 PEG

GLOCL:4/6.4m/12.3'

!,vB,vL,iR,vsmbM,rrr,stvS StarsMags13...

210u1/83u2/17s/1238-3m/41HBc

 

Image taken in altazimuth mode. No dark shots were taken because I had few time that night. Surprisingly, it also shows the tiny and faint planetary nebula Pease 1, which is very close to the cluster core. This nebula is very difficult to spot, lost amidst the stars of the globular cluster, and requires a good finding chart. The star on the left top is the bright one forming a right triangle that is very showy through the finder when one looks for M15. There is another glob in Pegasus (Palomar 13, near NGC 7479), but it is out of comparison with regard to the splendid M15. I have never seen it though trying several times through the years.

 

 

 

The Omega or Swan Nebula, M 17 / NGC 6618

18 20.8 -16 10 SGR CL+NB:III3mn/6m/11.0'/40*

!!!,B,eL,eiF,2hooked manyFOuterLoops;useFilter

294u1/126u2/15s/1367-3m/61HBc

 

Ten 30-seconds images were averaged. The structure of M17 was satisfactorily recorded. The complexity of the nebula is impressive. This picture was one of the latest taken that night, in twilight conditions. Anyway, once dark-corrected, the image is surprisingly good, and the details surpasse what the eye is able to appreciate (reprocessed in Dec 2005).

 

 

Palomar 4

11 29.3 +28 58 UMA GLOCL:12/14.2m/2.1'

106u1/72u2/6s/657-2m/30HBc

 

Ten 84-seconds images averaged. This is an extremely tough globular cluster very south in Ursa Major, at the declination of Leo Minor. I have never seen visually, and very few reports informing about positive sights have been published. In the picture, Pal 4 is just a bare smudge with some stars overlaid. Visibility theory predicts that a 450 mm cannot show it under LM=6.5, although the brightest stars makes it easier. Amazing DSI...

 

 

The Corona Borealis Galaxy Cluster, Abell 2065

15 22.1 +27 39 CRB GALCL:2/14m/61'

Brightst6GALXYS15.5Mag;40In1/2DegFieldTo17Mag 154u1/69u2/7s/646-2m/27HBc

 

Four 84-seconds images averaged (at the zenith). This remote galaxy cluster is another object remaining in my list since many years ago. It is so faint that it barely can be seen in 17" telescope. Its brightest galaxy shines with the 15.5 magnitude. Surprisingly, the DSI was able to spot tents of galaxies!!!

 

 

The Copeland Septet, Hickson 57

11 37.9 +22 00 LEO GALCL:14m/15'

147u1/72u2/6s/680-2m/30HBc

 

Ten 42-seconds images were averaged. This galaxy group is not so difficult as the two preceding objects. It can be found easily since it lays 7' NW of a 7 magnitude star. Indeed, another background galaxy, PGC 36020 (17th magnitude), can be seen in the picture. It seems incredible registering such faint objects from a place as mediocre as Algar de Palancia.

 

 

The Wild Duck cluster, M 11 / NGC 6705

18 51.1 -06 16 SCT OPNCL:I2r/5.8m/14.0'/500*

 !!Cl,vB,L,iR,Ri,*9.. 500StarsTo14thMag;WildDuckCluster

295u1/125u2/16s/1318-3m/43HBc

 

Five 30-seconds images averaged. The most impressive open cluster in the Summer sky, surrounded by a star cloud which is crossed by multiple dark nebulae. The cluster contains two hundred stars, including several nice pairs, some chains, and a 9m lucida.

 

 

NGC 3786 and NGC 3788

11 39.7 +31 55 UMA GALXY:SBap/12.3m/2.1'X1.1'/77ºAP pB,pL,E57,gbM,pof2. (NGC 3788. 1'N):SBab/P/12.6m/1.8'X0.5'/178ºAP cB,pL,pmE177,pgbM 106u1/54u2/6s/656-2m/30HBc

 

Ten 42-seconds images averaged. Pair of interacting spiral galaxies in a forced angle. The faint galaxy at the upper left, close to a 13m star, is NGC 3793 (15.6m), although in a NGC revision it has been assigned to what is marked below as NGC 3797; a wrong correction, hence.

 

 

The Trifid nebula, M 20 / NGC 6514

18 02.7 -22 58 SGR CL+NB:E+*/6.3m/28.0'/67*  vB,vL,Trifid,D*inv

sevDarkLanes;HIV41&V10;D*HN40Invl

339u1/145u2/22s/1392-3m/61HBc

 

Five 30-seconds images averaged. In spite of the twilight, the Trifid is shown nicely complex. The ionising star is shown double  (image reprocessed in Dec 2005 to enhance colours).

 

 

The Dumbell nebula, M 27 / NGC 6853

19 59.6 +22 43 VUL PLNNB:3(2)/7.3m/480''X340''

!!vB,vL,bi-N,IE,DumbbellNeb; PK60-3.1;LordRosseDrew18*Invl

162u1/66u2/8s/1195-3m/24HBc

 

A first shot to the Dumbell nebula, averaging 21 exposures of 11 seconds each. It is underexposed, but the details are quite promising  (reprocessed in Dec 2005 to balance colours).

 

 

Baade 1, PK 171-25.1

3 53.5 +19 28 TAU PLNNB:4/13.9m

132u1/78u2/11s/187-1m/36HBc

 

Visually speaking, this is one of the toughest planetary nebula. It is located 4.5ºS from the Pleiades, and it has the striking feature of having a visual magnitude smaller than the photographic one. I usually cannot see it with the 10 inches, and it is scarcely benefited from nebular filters. To be seen, it requires extremely dark and transparent skies (20 x 21 sec exposures).

 

 

M 1, The Crab Nebula (NGC 1952, 3C144) and CM Tau (pulsar)

5 34.5 +22 01 TAU SNREM:8.4m/8'X4'/130* vB,vL,E135,vglbM,r

Pulsar16Mag; 135u1/77u2/5s/158-1m/35HBc

 

The Crab nebula was one of the first objects I tried with the DSI, although I couldn't get a good image. Some months later, I have finally got a pleasant one, with the filamentary structure and the pulsar appropriately recorded (21x 21 sec image). The pulsar is the upper-left component in the "central star"; apparently a 16.5 mag star (fluctuations last only 33 milliseconds).

 

 

NGC 891, UGC 1831

2 22.5 +42 21 AND GALXY:Sb/9.9m/13.1'X2.8'/22ºAP

B,vL,vmE22,HV19;NGC1023Group;LordRosseDrawingShowsDarkLane

62u1/44u2/4s/101-1m/37HBc

 

This is a 68x15 sec exposure, my first trial with a very long combined exposure. The results are very good, so I will follow this line next sessions. NGC 891 of the best flat systems in the sky slightly tilted in one side, which can be glimpsed with 25x100. Very similar to the Milky Way, slightly larger.

 

 

Palomar 2

4 46.1 +31 23 AUR GLOCL:9/13m/1.9'

96u1/59u2/5s/137-1m/35HBc

 

This is another hard globular cluster in eastern Auriga, in an area presenting several dark regions (LDNs), obviously wide an complex in GSC charts. Palomar 2 can be glimpsed visually and it is favourably located to allow been observed near the zenith. The cluster is notably red in the original image (17x21 sec exposure).

 

M1-64, PK 64+15.1

18 50.0 +35 15 LYR PLNNB:4/13.3m/17.5''X17''

13''-F,S,lE,cent*seenoccaisonallyat220X  117u1/49u2/8s/1153-3m/25HBc

 

The first image taken on the night. Later, the focus was slightly deteriorated: the cable tends to turn and defocus the imager when the telescope moves. M1-64, in the centre of Lyra rhombus, shows an annulus with no central star visible. This nebula is easy to locate and see, even in medium-size telescopes.

 

 

 

NGC 6765, PK 62+9.1

19 11.1 +30 33 LYR PLNNB:5/12.9m F,S,E 

118u1/49u2/8s/1174-3m/25HBc

 

The "other" planetary nebula in Lyra (there are other fainter besides M57 and M1-64), although it does not resist any comparison with M 57. NGC 6765 is markedly bipolar, and there is an external halo that in the picture is asymmetrical (note the green hue). The image below is composed by 35 frames 15 seconds each.

 

 

Palomar 13

23 06.7 +12 46 PEG GLOCL:12/13.8m/1.8'

213u1/82u2/17s/1233-3m/40HBc

 

Another globular extremely faint in south Pegasus. Only some stars (17 mag) could be detected, but the identification of the cluster has no doubt. Two composite images added: 20x15s and 20x30s.

 

 

NGC 7479, UGC 12343, PGC 70419

23 05.0 +12 19 PEG GALXY:SBbc/10.9m/4.0'X3.1'/25ºAP

pB,cL,mE12,bet2st  213u1/82u2/17s/1233-3m/40HBc

 

Barred spiral in south Pegasus, 37' SW from Pal 13. Remarkable structure that can be glimpsed visually with my 10 inches. This picture is 20x21 sec and the object was not still too high

 

 

NGC 7510, OCL 256

23 11.0 +60 34 CEP OPNCL:II2mn/7.9m/4.0'/60* Cl,pRi,pC,fan-sh

*pB  HVII44;LRegionOfFNebyToSE 58u1/18u2/3s/1070-3m/4HBc

 

One of my favourite open clusters, very small (4') but surprisingly bright for such a small size. A bright component at the fronting side in its path through the galaxy, and two parallel chains. In spite of the short exposure (14x11 sec), this picture is much more detailed than a plot I made years ago through three nights.

 

 

Abell 4, PK 144-15.1

2 45.4 +42 33 PER PLNNB:3b/16.7m

62u1/43u2/4s/100-1m/37HBc

 

This image shows a high number of very faint small galaxies. Abell 4 is a disk planetary nebula very near (40' E) of M34. Again can be seen with UHC filter in spite of the reduced visual magnitude. It is a small disk with slightly dark centre. No trace of the central star could be detected. This image averages only 20x15 sec

 

The Horsehead Nebula, Barnard 33

5 40.9 -02 28 ORI DRKNB:4Ir/6'X4'

partOfLargeDarkFollowingCloud 226u1/116u2/11s/253-1m/53HBc

 

The Horsehead Nebula is a relatively small dark cloud projected on the bright nebula IC 434. B33 is surprisingly hard to see except under extremely clean skies. This is one of the few nebulae that are enhanced with a hydrogen beta filter (23x21 sec exposure) (reprocessed in Dec 2005).

 

The Bubble Nebula, NGC 7635

5 40.9 -02 28 ORI DRKNB:4Ir/6'X4'

partOfLargeDarkFollowingCloud 226u1/116u2/11s/253-1m/53HBc

 

This is an amazing object, consisting of a shell looking like a bubble eccentrically arranged surrounding the 8.4m star SAO 20575. It is sometimes classified as a planetary nebula, but it more probably is an old supernova remnant (6x21 sec exposure) (reprocessed in Dec 2005).

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, a magnified view of the Corona Borealis Galaxy Cluster overlying the HyperLEDA galaxies with the software I'm developing (CNebulaX). As can be seen, practically all the galaxies have been registered by the DSI, which means that this indroductory imager is abe to arrive to a surprising 18 magnitude, under long expositions and when the telescope is pointed towards the zenith. Amazing.