CCD image of M82. Sum of three 1-min, one 2-min, two 3-min and one 5-min exposures (equivalent of 16-min exposure). Dark frames subtracted from each image. No flat fielding. Summed image processed using the DDP and High Pass FFT filters in Astroart 2.0. Final tweaking with adjustments to brightness/contrast. Autoguiding by STAR2000 module in conjuction with Stalight-Xpress MX516 CCD camera. The images were taken by Gary Nugent at prime focus of the 20cm f/9 Vixen reflector. 2000 Dec. 7 at 00.30 UT.
Finest Globular in the Northern Skies. Taken by John O'Neill with a ST-7 CCD Camera on a 130mm refractor. (10 second exposure).
An 8th Magnitude Globular in Lyra. Taken by John O'Neill with a ST-7 CCD Camera on a 130mm refractor. (30 second exposure). Full Moon and direct light pollution present!
Left: CCD image of the Trapezium area of M42. Focussing not pin point (cf. M82; using same equipment). This image is an average of three three-minute autoguided exposures. Processed with DDP, Unsharp Masking and High Pass FFT filters. No dark frames or flat fielding applied. Taken by Gary Nugent. 2000 Dec. 6 at 22.30 UT.
Right: Pencil Drawing by Deirdre Kelleghan on January 8/9 2006.
Left: Thirty selected 20-second exposures of M57 through the 20cm Vixen reflector on Aug. 1st which was running at f/6.3 with a focal reducer.
Stacked in AstroArt to get the equivalent of a 10-minute exposure, then passed through a Richardson-Lucy Deconvolution filter in AIP4WIN and exported to PhotoShop where final tweaking of contrast, brighthess and unsharp masking was done.
As you can see, a satellite travelled close to M57 during one of the exposures. After processing, some filamentary structure of the Planetary has become apparent and the mag. 14 central star is very apparent. If you look to the right fo the bright star at lower left, there's another less bright star at about the 4 O'Clock position from it. Just above and to the right of this star is a faint patch of brightness. This is galaxy IC 1296. It shows up better on the original image but almost disappears when the background is darkened to an acceptable aesthetic level. Taken by Gary Nugent.
Right: The most famous planetary nebula in the skies. Even with this short 10 second exposure the central star can be made out. Taken by John O'Neill with a ST-7 CCD Camera on a 130mm refractor.
Click image for higher resolution (2K)
The ring structure is clearly shown in this image of NGC 7009, an 8th mag. planetary in Aquarius. Taken with a ST-5 CCD Camera on a 50cm Tectron reflector. (20 second exposure). Taken by Liam Smyth.
Click image for higher resolution (94K)