Observation Log - October 1, 2000

Observation Log - October 1, 2000 - Tinton Falls, NJ

NGC7009, The Saturn Nebula, a planetary nebula in Aquarius, magnitude 8.3, dimensions 28" x 23". Here is another version of the same image resampled to double the image scale. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was used. This is an LRGB composite, with a 20-minute Luminance channel, and 10 minutes each in Red, Green and Blue. Images were processed in AstroArt with dark frame removal and flat field and each channel was composited separately. The four composite images were then moved into MaxIm for color combination, and a Digital Development filter (kernel, low-pas). This image was touched up with a final contrast adjustment. Images were taken between 09:51 and 10:48 p.m., the evening of September 30, 2000.

NGC246, a planetary nebula in Cetus, magnitude 8.5, dimensions 4'.0 x 3'.5. The central star is magnitude 12.0. Although this planetary is mag 8.5, the large size means that it has a very low surface brightness, and is quite faint in most telescopes. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 21 images of 2 minutes each, for a total integration time of 42 minutes. Each image was processed with dark frame removal and flat field and then composited using the AstroArt 1.5 image processing software. The composite image was saved as a FITS file, and then moved into MaxIm. This image was touched up with a kernel filter (low-pass mild) and finally a contrast adjustment. Images were taken between 02:58 and 03:43 a.m., the morning of October 1st, 2000.

NGC6760, a globular cluster in Aquila, magnitude 9.1, diameter 6'.6. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 12 images for a total integration time of 25 minutes. Each image was processed in AstroArt with dark frame removal and flat field. The resulting composite image was moved to MaxIm for a Digital Development filter (FFT, low-pass, mild) and finally a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 8:12 and 8:49 p.m., the evening of September 30th, 2000.

NGC7606, a galaxy in Aquarius, magnitude 10.8, dimensions 5'.8 x 2'.6. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 41 images for a total integration time of 41 minutes. Each image was processed in AstroArt with dark frame removal and flat field. The resulting composite image was moved to MaxIm for a Digital Development filter (kernel, low-pass) and finally a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 12:19 and 1:09 a.m., the morning of October 1st, 2000.

M2, a globular cluster in Aquarius, magnitude 6.6, diameter 16', distance is 37,000 light years. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 16 images for a total integration time of 16 minutes. Each image was processed in AstroArt with dark frame removal and flat field. The resulting composite image was moved to MaxIm for a Digital Development filter (kernel, low-pass) and finally a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 11:50 and 12:09 a.m., the morning of October 1st, 2000.

NGC6926, a galaxy in Aquila, magnitude 12.4, dimensions 2'.1 x 1'.4, surface brightness 14.2 mag/sq arcmin. The small galaxy left of NGC6926 is NGC6929, magnitude 13.4, diameter 42", surface brightness 14.1 mag/sq arcmin. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 18 images for a total integration time of 35 minutes. Each image was processed in AstroArt with dark frame removal and flat field. The resulting composite image was moved to MaxIm for a Digital Development filter (FFT, low-pass, mild), background removal and finally a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 9:01 and 9:41 p.m., the evening of September 30th, 2000.

M72, a globular cluster in Aquarius, magnitude 9.2, diameter 6', distance 56,400 light years. Here is a lower-contrast version that shows some detail at the globular's core. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 15 images for a total integration time of 15 minutes. Each image was processed in AstroArt with dark frame removal and flat field, then composited and moved into MaxIm For a Digital Development filter (kernel, low-pass), and a final contrast stretch. Images were taken between 11:02 and 11:47 p.m., the evening of September 30th, 2000.

M73, an asterism in Aquarius, magnitude 8.9, diameter 1'.4. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 5 images for a total integration time of 5 minutes. Each image was processed in AstroArt with dark frame removal and flat field, then composited and contrast contrast stretched, all using Astro Art.. Images were taken between 10:52 and 10:57 p.m., the evening of September 30th, 2000.

NGC7727, a spiral galaxy in Aquarius, magnitude 10.6, dimensions 4'.2 x 3'.4, surface brightness is 12.4 mag/sq arcmin. This galaxy actually has two large spiral arms that are very faint. The larger of the two comes out of the bottom of the galaxy and sweeps up and to the left, toward the top center of the screen. The sky background was too bright to record this arm, even with the 58 minute exposure. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 29 images for a total integration time of 58 minutes. Each image was processed in AstroArt with dark frame removal and flat field, then composited. That image was moved into MaxIm for a Digital Development filter (kernel, low- pass) and finally a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 1:22 and 2:29 a.m., the morning of October 1st, 2000.

NGC2141, an open cluster in Orion, magnitude 9.4, diameter 10'. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4, and the Homeyer color filter wheel was in place. This is a composite made from 5 images for a total integration time of 10 minutes. Each image was processed in AstroArt with dark frame removal and flat field, then composited. That image was moved into MaxIm for a final contrast stretch. Images were taken between 5:11 and 5:20 a.m., the morning of October 1st, 2000.