20" ObservatoryScope Astro Photos

Following are just "quick shots" to demonstrate the capabilities of an ObservatoryScope. Most shots, unless otherwise documented, below, are three sets of LRGB exposures which were median combined to remove hot pixels and any CCD defects. The images have been post processed to bring out the faint details. This would not be possible were it not for ObservatoryScope's superior baffling techniques, resulting in exceptionally flat fields and stray light control, and for the exceptionally low noise characteristics and high signal to noise ratios of the Apogee cameras which we highly recommend.

July and August 2004 Images (Apogee AP-9E camera)

M2 in Aquarius Clear: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (325k, opens in new window) M5 in Serpens Cauda Clear: Nine 60 second exposures, median combined in groups of three, then summed Red: Three 60 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 60 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 60 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (241k, opens in new window) M8, the "Lagoon Nebula" in Sagittarius Clear: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (161k, opens in new window) M11, the "Wild Duck Cluster" in Scutum Clear: Three 180 second exposures, median combined Red: Three 180 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 180 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 180 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (321k, opens in new window) M13, the "Great Cluster" in Hercules Clear: Nine 300 second exposures, median combined in groups of three, then summed Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (392k, opens in new window) M16, the "Eagle Nebula" or "Star Queen Nebula" in Serpens Caput Clear: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (208k, opens in new window) M17, the "Omega Nebula" or "Swan Nebula" in Sagittarius Clear: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (222k, opens in new window) M20, the "Trifid Nebula" in Sagittarius Clear: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (217k, opens in new window) M27, the "Dumbbell Nebula" in Vulpecula Clear: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (207k, opens in new window) M27, above, plus Halpha, the "Dumbbell Nebula" in Vulpecula Clear: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined, plus twelve Halpha 600 second exposures which were median combined in groups of three and summed, then added to the Red channel Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (325k, opens in new window) IC 5146, the "Cocoon Nebula" in Cygnus Clear: Thirty 300 second exposures, median combined in groups of three, then summed Red: Fifteen 300 second exposures, median combined in groups of three, then summed Green: Fifteen 300 second exposures, median combined in groups of three, then summed Blue: Fifteen 300 second exposures, median combined in groups of three, then summed Full Resolution View (191k, opens in new window) NGC 6822, the "Barnard's Galaxy" in Sagittarius Clear: Twelve 300 second exposures, median combined in groups of three, then summed Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (261k, opens in new window) Due to summertime haze, the limiting visual magnitude at the zenith was only magnitude 4 when this LRGB set was taken. NGC 6888, the "Crescent Nebula" in Cygnus Clear: Twelve 300 second exposures, median combined in groups of three, then summed Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (377k, opens in new window) NGC 6960, the "Veil Nebula" in Cygnus Halpha: Ten mosaics, each mosaic comprised of three 600 second exposures which were median combined Full Resolution View (261k, opens in new window) This Halpha mosaic was taken two days past full moon on August 1st. The image has been colorized, allowing the fainter parts of the nebula to stand out better relative to the background. NGC 6992, the "Network Nebula" in Cygnus Clear: Nine 300 second exposures, median combined in groups of three, then summed Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (311k, opens in new window) NGC 7293, the "Helix Nebula" in Aquarius Clear: Nine 300 second exposures, median combined in groups of three, then summed Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (234k, opens in new window) NGC 7331, the "Deer Lick Group" in Pegasus Clear: Twenty-one 300 second exposures, median combined in groups of three, then summed Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Full Resolution View (247k, opens in new window) NGC 7635, the "Bubble Nebula" in Cassiopeia Clear: Nine 300 second exposures, median combined in groups of three, then summed Red: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Halpha: Nine 600 second exposures, median comined in groups of three, then summed and added to the above Red exposure Full Resolution View (247k, opens in new window)

Feb 2004 Images (Apogee AP-7 camera)

M46 in Puppis Clear: Seven 60 second exposures, summed Red: Three 20 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 16 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 60 second exposures, median combined M51, the "Whirlpool Galaxy" in Canes Venatici Clear: Four 600 second exposures, summed Red: One 196 second exposure Green: One 160 second exposure Blue: One 600 second exposure M81, "Bode's Nebula" in Ursa Major Clear: Seven 600 second exposures, summed Red: Seven 600 second exposures, median combined Green: Seven 600 second exposures, median combined Blue: Fourteen 600 second exposures, median combined M95 in Leo Clear: Seven 300 second exposures, summed Red: Three 98 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 80 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined M97, the "Owl Nebula" in Ursa Major Clear: Seven 60 second exposures, summed Red: Three 20 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 16 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 60 second exposures, median combined M98 in Leo Clear: Four 600 second exposures, summed Red: Three 98 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 80 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined M101 in Ursa Major Clear: Four 600 second exposures, summed Red: Three 255 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 600 second exposures, median combined NGC 2403 in Camelopardalis Clear: Three 600 second exposures, summed Red: Three 390 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 300 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 600 second exposures, median combined NGC 2419, the "Intergalactic Wanderer" in Lynx Clear: Three 300 second exposures, summed Red: Three 98 second exposures, median combined Green: Three 80 second exposures, median combined Blue: Three 300 second exposures, median combined