Observation Log - July 9, 2000 - Tinton Falls, NJ

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M22, a globular cluster in Sagittarius, magnitude 5.2, diameter 33', distance 10,100 light years. This image was made using the f/6.3 focal reducer and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place, giving an effective focal ratio of f/4. This composite was created from 15 images with a total integration time of 15 minutes. All images were taken between 12:31 and 12:49 a.m. the morning of July 9th. All images were processed with dark frame subtraction and flat frames, then compositing, Digital Development (Kernel, low-pass), and finally a contrast stretch.

M11, the Wild Duck Cluster, an open cluster in Scutum, magnitude 5.8, diameter 13', distance 5,460 light years. This image was made using the f/6.3 focal reducer and the Homeyer color filter wheel, giving an effective focal ratio of f/4. This LRGB composite was created from an 11-minute luminance channel, and 4 minutes each in red, green, and blue. All images were taken between 02:26 and 03:00 a.m. the morning of July 9th. All images were processed with dark frame subtraction and flat frames, then compositing each channel independently, then color compositing, Digital Development (Kernel, low-pass), color smoothing (FFT, low-pass, mild), and finally a contrast stretch.

M14, a globular cluster in Ophiuchus, magnitude 7.6, diameter 11', distance 33,300 light years. This image was made using the f/6.3 focal reducer and the Homeyer color filter wheel, giving an effective focal ratio of f/4. This LRGB composite was created from an 8-minute luminance channel, and 4 minutes each in red, green, and blue. All images were taken between 01:07 and 01:32 a.m. the morning of July 9th. All images were processed with dark frame subtraction and flat frames, then compositing each channel independently, then color compositing, Digital Development (Kernel, low-pass), and finally a contrast stretch.

NGC6751, a planetary nebula in Aquila, magnitude 13.0, diameter 0'.3. Equipment included the f/6.3 focal reducer and the Homeyer color filter wheel, giving an effective focal ratio of f/4. This is an LRGB composite using an 11-minute luminance component, and 5 minutes each in red, green, and blue. All were composites from 1-minute long individual exposures. Each color channel was processed with dark frame subtraction, flat fields and separate compositing, then the final image was color combined, color smoothed (FFT low-pass, mild), Digital Development (kernel, low-pass), and finally a a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 01:17 a.m. and 01:50 a.m. on the morning of the 8th. As a comparison, here is a wonderful image of NGC 6751 taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

NGC6818, a planetary nebula in Sagittarius, magnitude 10.0, dimensions 22" x 15". Equipment included the f/6.3 focal reducer and the Homeyer color filter wheel, giving an effective focal ratio of f/4. This is an LRGB composite using a 5-minute luminance component, and 4 minutes each in red, green, and blue. All were composites from 1-minute long individual exposures. Each color channel was processed with dark frame subtraction, flat fields and separate compositing, then the final image was color combined, Digital Development (FFT, low-pass, mild), and finally a a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 01:52 a.m. and 02:14 a.m. on the morning of the 8th.

M12, a globular cluster in Ophiuchus, magnitude 6.1, diameter 14', distance is 18,000 light years. For this photo I used the f/6.3 focal reducer and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place, giving an effective focal ratio of f/4. This is a composite of 6 exposures for 6 minutes total integration. The final image was created and processed with dark frame subtraction, flat field, then compositing, Digital Development (kernel, low-pass), and a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 11:49 p.m. 11:55 p.m. on the evening of the 8th.