Clouds...

Two nights ago I wanted to work on the Black Eye Galaxy (M64). I begun only at 22.30 when came dark, with a perfect polar alignment, then at 23.00 I started the program of 90 shot with 1 min exposure each. Unfortunately after half an hour the sky was all cloudy, so that at he end I could use only 27 frames...

M64 - Black Eye Galaxy

Canon at the prime focus of C8 (tracking not guided)

27x60 sec frames , 15 dark , ISO 800 

stacked with DSS and elaborated with Gimp

Saturation in DSS

I have discovered that you can adjust the color saturation while elaborating the final image in DSS. Before I saved the images with zero saturation loosing most of the colors...
Here for instance the re-elaborated image of M42, after setting the saturation from zero to 30%:

Good Polar Alignment

This time I have done it properly. Last time the problem was that I choose Vaga as reference star, but it was towards east... Now I have pointed to Arcturus in south direction. So I have done 50 good exposures, 1 min each as usual. This is the Ring Nebula:

M57 - Ring Nebula

Canon at the prime focus of C8 (tracking not guided)

50x60 sec frames , 40 dark , ISO 800 

stacked with DSS and elaborated with Gimp

Then, as the sky was clear and no dew (thanks to the tube) I decided to try with the Dumbbell Nebula. This is the result:

M27 - Dumbbell Nebula

Canon at the prime focus of C8 (tracking not guided)

50x60 sec frames , 40 dark , ISO 800 

stacked with DSS and elaborated with Gimp

The Ring Nebula

Yesterday night I wanted to work on M57 (Ring Nebula). Unfortunately I did a very poor polar alignment and then it was impossible to stack, with DSS or Registax, the 30 1 min frames...
I enclose here just one single 1 min shot. You can clearly see the stars trails.
The photo is ugly but the colors are true and absolutely not corrected in any way.

After an awful May...

Yesterday we have had a clear night after one month of continuous rain. I decided to watch Saturn that is yet near to the opposition. I have tried to shoot it with different filters (red, yellow and green) and have found that the best contrast is obtained with the green one. Here the picture with the technical details.

Celestron C8

CCD Imaging Source DMK31AU03.AS Monochrome with a green filter.

1200 frames at 1/30 sec elaborated with Registax.

Then I changed the camera, connecting the Canon reflex to the telescope, and pointed the M13 Hercules globular. This is the result.

M13 - Hercules globular cluster

Canon at the prime focus of C8 (tracking not guided)

30x60 sec frames , 15 dark , ISO 800 

stacked with DSS and elaborated with Gimp