51 astropoetry Above, moonset in the morning. Targoviste. Left, Copernicus crater through a telescope captured with a mobile phone. Runcu Stone.
52 the art of astronomy The Explore Alliance recently hosted a Galaxies Astrophotography Contest to recognize the excellent work of the imagers in our membership ranks. In this issue of Sky’s Up, the astrophotography gallery space is dedicated to showcasing the winners and other entrants. First Place: Andromeda Galaxy by Mark Helton This is a combined effort image of two different observatories about 1000 miles away from each other. Rust Observatory is in Bloomington Indiana, and Great Neck Observatory is in Ipswich MA. Mark C. Helton from Great Neck Observatory and Dave Rust of Rust Observatory imaged the same target on the same night, M31, and then combined the two images to create this beautiful image of the Andromeda Galaxy. Rust Observatory used the ASIAIR PRO Live Stack to get a TIF file into Nebulosity and then final processing and color grading was done in Photoshop. Great Neck Observatory shot 30, 180 second images using a OPT Triad Filter captured using ZWOASI Studio imaging software. Those images were stacked using Nebulosity 4 and then processed and color corrected using Photoshop and Topaz Labs DeNoise software. Great Neck Observatories final image was then uploaded so that Rust Observatory could merge the two images into one. The filter that Mark was using brought out the star forming, and nebulosity regions of the galaxy which were not as apparent in the image by Dave, which is why the duo decided to try to combine them. Technical information: Rust Observatory-Williams Optic GT71 with WO-Flat6A11 .8X/HEUIB-II-IDAS filter- Camera-ZWOASI2600MC/ ZWOASIAIR PRO 2 on a Skywatcher EQM-35Pro Mount---- Great Neck Observatory-Apertura 6 Inch Newtonian with a Baader MPCC Mark III Coma corrector-camera ZWOASI533MCPRO with a 1,25 OPT Triad Filter all on a Celestron AVX mount using a QHY camera and 50mm guidescope using PHD2 Guiding software. Ioptron Ipolar is used to do polar alignment. Celestron software was used by Great Neck Observatory for aligning and data acquisition.
the art of astronomy 53 Second Place: M81 (Bode’s Galaxy) by Beatrice Heinze Equipment: Telescope: Skyw-Watcher Explorer Black Diamond N200/1000; Mount: iOptron CEM60 on iOptron tri-pier; Camera: ZWO ASI 294MC Pro; Filter: ZWO UV/IR cut-off filter (1.25”) (but not for all exposure times); Filterwheel: ZWO EFW Mini (5x 1.25”); Telescope control: ZWO ASIair v1 Processing: Total integration time: 11.55 hrs; SQM-L: 19.41 (average) -> Bortle class 6; Location: Backyard, Belgium, Europe; Calibration frames: Bias (200); Darks (50); Flatdarks (50); Flats (50) Software: PixInsight (stacking & processing) Equipment: ES FCD100 ED127 Telescope; ZWO ASI2600MC Pro; ZWO ASI174MM Mini; Paramount MyT Processing: 23x300” at 100 gain and offset of 12 and 0’ Celsius. The Leo Triplet by George Lutch
54 the art of astronomy Equipment: EXOS2-GT Mount; OTA: GSO 8” 200/800 F/4 Newtonian - Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Processing: 5 hours of 180 second subs at 121 Gain - Imaged with NINA and processed using DSS and Photoshop UGC12113 and Stephan’s quintet by Matthew Walshe Never Before Seen Winner: Whirlpool Galaxy by Michelle Lillo The Whirlpool Galaxy, aka Messier 51 and NGC 5194, is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus. It lies in the constellation Canes Venatici, and was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy.[8] Its distance is estimated to be 31 million light-years away from Earth. The galaxy and its companion, NGC 5195, seen here in this image captured in the Florida everglades are easily photographed by astrophotographers, and can be seen with a pair of binoculars. Equipment: Camera: QHY268M; Optic: Edge HD 8”; Filters: Badder LRGB Processing: Time: 180s x 20 RGB ag 300s x 20 Luminance; Pixinsight and finished in Photoshop
55 the art of astronomy M 106 with nearby NGC 4231, 32, and 48 Equipment: ZWO ASI 294 MC (uncooled) with ASI Air Pro, Celestron 8” SCT with F6.3 Focal Reducer, and Goto Evolution Mount Processing: 10 x 30s Live Stacks with 20 Darks + 100 Bais frames, no Flats. Used GIMP to adjust levels to do simple stretch to improve contrast. M106 by Cameron Gillis Equipment: Celestron CGX Mount and C8 Telescope; Hyperstar 4.0 Lens and ZWO ASI183MC Camera Processing: APT and Star Tools for Post Processing Andromeda Galaxy by Conrad Sanders
56 the art of astronomy Spiral Galaxy NGC4945 and Elliptical Galaxy NGC4976. Location: Centaurus constellation. NGC4945 is located at a distance of almost 13 million light-years. This galaxy resembles our own galaxy and has a supermassive black hole behind the thick, ring-shaped structure of dust visible. NGC4976 is a peculiar elliptical galaxy located at 35 million light-years. Equipment: ED102-FCD100; ZWO ASI294MC PRO, Sky-Watcher HEQ5 PRO, ZWO EAF Electronic Focuser, ZWO Off-Axis Guider, ZWO ASI224MC guide camera, Starfield 0.8x Focal Reducer. Processing: 10 subs x300” (50’) - captured with APT & PHD2 software, Pixinsight and Photoshop for image processing. NGC4945 & NGC4976 by James Gossage Southern Pinwheel Galaxy/M83/NGC 5236, is more readily visible to Southern Hemisphere astrophotographers. It is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 15 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. In the background, one can see some galaxies at 650+ M and 1B LY distance. (PGC galaxies). Equipment: ED102-FCD100; ZWO ASI294MC PRO, Starfield 0.8x Focal Reducer, ASIAIR PRO, ZWO ASI120MM guide camera, Sky-Watcher HEQ5 PRO, ZWO EAF Electronic Focuser, ZWO Off-Axis Guider. Processing: 40 subs x 120” (1h20”) RGB and 5 subs x 300” (25”) H-alpha - TTL 1h45” integration. Pixinsight and Photoshop for calibration/cosmetic correction/debayering/star alignment/integration and final processing. Southern Pinwheel Galaxy by James Gossage
57 the art of astronomy IC1101: The largest galaxy in the known universe. It is 1.1 billion light years away from us and receding at 7.8% the speed of light. Equipment: Stellarvue 152, ASI6200MM Pro camera, Eagle Pro 4 computer and a 10Micron GM1000 mount. Processing: Pixinsight for image processing. 45 3 minute exposures. Calibrated with 50 Flats, Darks and Bias frames. IC1101 by Jeff Weiss Equipment: Celestron EdgeHD 8 + .7x reducer; Orion Skyview Pro; Baader T2 prism diagonal; Astro-Tech 25mm Paradigm EP + UV/IR cut filter; Galaxy S10+; DeepSkyCamera app. Processing: Stacked in Deep Sky Stacker; Processed in Photoshop; Topaz DeNoise Fireworks Galaxy by Dan Conover
58 The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is the recognized authority on light pollution. We work to protect and restore the natural nighttime environment through outreach, public policy, conservation, and the certification of environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY PLACES IDA works to preserve the natural nighttime environment on public and private lands. So far we have designated 87 International Dark Sky Places. Dark Sky Places are committed to night sky conservation and dark sky education. IDA CHAPTERS We support more than 60 IDA Chapters around the world in their efforts to influence their local communities, leading to better lights, increased public awareness and an ever-increasing curiosity about the night sky. FIXTURE SEAL OF APPROVAL PROGRAM We have certified more than 1,000 Dark Sky Approved lighting products for residential, commercial, and municipal use, making it easy for the public to find lighting products that use less energy and have minimal impact on nocturnal wildlife and our night skies. “The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff.” --Carl Sagan Join the Fight to Protect the Night www.darksky.org
January 15 February 1 February 15 March 1 March 15 April 1 April 15 May 1 May 15 June 1 June 15 July 1 July 15 August 1 August 15 September 1 September 15 October 1 October 15 November 1 November 15 December 1 December 15 January 1 DST Local Time A B B C C D D B C D B C D B C D B C D B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A C D A C D A B A B A A A A 5 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 9 p.m. 10 p.m. 11 p.m. Midnight 1 a.m. 2 a.m. 3 a.m. 4 a.m. 5 a.m. 6 a.m. 7 a.m. 6 7 8 9 10 11 M 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 59 With a universe of options to explore, it can be difficult to track what awe-inspiring treasures are visible in your sky each month. To help guide your explorations throughout the year, Sky’s Up is providing the following collection of seasonal star maps created by noted celestial cartographer Wil Tirion. Based in The Netherlands, Tirion has been crafting stars maps since the 1970s and became a professional uranographer shortly after the publication of his highly regarded Sky Atlas 2000.0 in 1981. To learn more about Tirion and his work, click here. the key to your sky created by Wil Tirion
E C L I P T I C Horizon 10°N Horizon 20°N Horizon 30°N nozir oH N°03 zir oH 2 no N°0 zir oH no °01 N SOUTH WEST EAST NORTH WINTER SKY For observers at 10° to 30° northern latitudes A ANDROMEDA ANTLIA ARIES AURIGA CAELUM CAMELOPARDALIS CANCER CANES VENATICI CANIS MAJOR CANIS MINOR CARINA CASSIOPEIA CEPHEUS CETUS COLUMBA COMA BERENICES CRATER DORADO DRACO ERIDANUS FORNAX GEMINI HOROLOGIUM HYDRA HYDRUS LACERTA LEO LEO MINOR LEPUS LYNX MENSA MONOCEROS ORION PEGASUS PERSEUS PHOENIX PICTOR PISCES PUPPIS PYXIS RETICULUM SCULPTOR SEXTANS TAURUS TRIANGULUM URSA MAJOR URSA MINOR VELA VOLANS Adhara Achernar Alphard Betelgeuse Canopus Capella Castor Pollux Polaris Procyon Regulus Rigel Sirius Algol Mira M31 M42 M41 Tarantula Nebula M35 M44 Hyades Pleiades Double Cluster LMC 60 the key to your sky created by Wil Tirion
E C L I P T I C Horizon 40°N Horizon 50°N Horizon 60°N 06 nozir oH N° 5 nozir oH N°0 nozir oH N°04 SOUTH WEST EAST NORTH WINTER SKY For observers at 40° to 60° northern latitudes A BOOTES ANDROMEDA ANTLIA ARIES AURIGA CAELUM CAMELOPARDALIS CANCER CANES VENATICI CANIS MAJOR CANIS MINOR CASSIOPEIA CEPHEUS CETUS COLUMBA COMA BERENICES CORONA BOREALIS CYGNUS DRACO ERIDANUS FORNAX GEMINI HERCULES HOROLOGIUM HYDRA LACERTA LEO LEO MINOR LEPUS LYNX LYRA MONOCEROS ORION PEGASUS PERSEUS PISCES PUPPIS PYXIS SEXTANS TAURUS TRIANGULUM URSA MAJOR URSA MINOR Adhara Alphard Aldebaran Betelgeuse Capella Castor Pollux Deneb Polaris Procyon Regulus Rigel Sirius Vega Algol Mira M31 Double Cluster M42 M35 M41 M44 M13 Hyades Pleiades 61 the key to your sky created by Wil Tirion
E C L I P T I C Horizon 10°N Horizon 20°N Horizon 30°N nozir oH N°03 nozir oH N°02 ozir oH N°01 n SOUTH WEST EAST NORTH SPRING SKY For observers at 10° to 30° northern latitudes B BOOTES ANTLIA AURIGA CAMELOPARDALIS CANCER CANES VENATICI CANIS MAJOR CANIS MINOR CARINA CASSIOPEIA CENTAURUS CEPHEUS CHAMAELEON CIRCINUS COLUMBA COMA BERENICES CORONA BOREALIS CORVUS CRATER CRUX CYGNUS DRACO GEMINI HERCULES HYDRA LEO LEO MINOR LIBRA LUPUS LEPUS LYNX LYRA MONOCEROS MUSCA NORMA OPHIUCHUS ORION PERSEUS PUPPIS PYXIS SCORPIUS SER SERPENS CAPUT SEXTANS TAURUS TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE URSA MAJOR URSA MINOR VELA VIRGO VOLANS Adhara Alphard Antares Hadar Acrux Arcturus Betelgeuse Capella Castor Pollux Polaris Procyon Regulus Rigil Kent Sirius Vega Spica Mimosa Double Cluster M35 M44 M41 M13 Southern Pleiades Eta Carinae Nebula Omega Centauri Jewel Box 62 the key to your sky created by Wil Tirion
B Horizon 40°N Horizon 50°N Horizon 60°N 6 nozir oH N°0 5 nozir oH N°0 04 nozir oH N° SOUTH WEST EAST NORTH SPRING SKY For observers at 40° to 60° northern latitudes BOOTES ANDROMEDA ANTLIA AQUILA ARIES AURIGA CAMELOPARDALIS CANCER CANES VENATICI CANIS MAJOR CANIS MINOR CASSIOPEIA CENTAURUS CEPHEUS COMA BERENICES CORONA BOREALIS CORVUS CRATER CYGNUS DRACO GEMINI HERCULES HYDRA LACERTA LEO LEO MINOR LIBRA LYNX LYRA MONOCEROS OPHIUCHUS ORION PEGASUS PERSEUS PUPPIS PYXIS SAGITTA SCORPIUS SERPENS CAPUT SEXTANS TAURUS TRIANGULUM URSA MAJOR URSA MINOR VELA VIRGO VULPECULA Alphard Aldebaran Arcturus Betelgeuse Capella Castor Pollux Deneb Polaris Procyon Regulus Sirius Vega Spica Algol M31 Double Cluster M35 M44 M13 Hyades Pleiades 63 the key to your sky created by Wil Tirion
E C L I P T I C Horizon 10°N Horizon 20°N Horizon 30°N zir oH N°03 no zir oH N°02 no ozir oH N°01 n SOUTH WEST EAST NORTH SUMMER SKY For observers at 10° to 30° northern latitudes C BOOTES ANDROMEDA APUS AQUARIUS AQUILA ARA CAMELOPARDALIS CANES VENATICI CAPRICORNUS CASSIOPEIA CENTAURUS CEPHEUS CIRCINUS COMA BERENICES CORONA AUSTRALIS CORONA BOREALIS CORVUS CYGNUS DELPHINUS DRACO EQUULEUS GRUS HERCULES HYDRA INDUS LACERTA LEO LEO MINOR LIBRA LUPUS LYRA MICROSCOPIUM NORMA OPHIUCHUS PAVO PEGASUS PERSEUS PISCES PISCIS AUSTRINUS SAGITTA SAGITTARIUS SCORPIUS SCUTUM SERPENS CAUDA SERPENS CAPUT TELESCOPIUM TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE TUCANA URSA MAJOR URSA MINOR VIRGO VULPECULA Altair Antares Hadar Arcturus Fomalhaut Polaris Rigil Kent Vega Spica Deneb M31 Double Cluster M13 M7 M8 M22 Omega Centauri 64 the key to your sky created by Wil Tirion
E C L I P T I C C Horizon 40°N Horizon 50°N Horizon 60°N oH zir no N°06 r oH nozi N°05 zir oH N°04 no SOUTH WEST EAST NORTH SUMMER SKY For observers at 40° to 60° northern latitudes BOOTES ANDROMEDA AQUARIUS AQUILA ARA ARIES AURIGA CAMELOPARDALIS CANCER CANES VENATICI CAPRICORNUS CASSIOPEIA CEPHEUS COMA BERENICES CORONA AUSTRALIS CORONA BOREALIS CYGNUS DELPHINUS DRACO EQUULEUS GEMINI HERCULES HYDRA LACERTA LEO LEO MINOR LIBRA LUPUS LYNX LYRA MICROSCOPIUM NORMA OPHIUCHUS PEGASUS PERSEUS PISCES PISCES SAGITTA SAGITTARIUS SCORPIUS SCUTUM SERPENS CAUDA SERPENS CAPUT TELESCOPIUM TRIANGULUM URSA MAJOR URSA MINOR VIRGO VULPECULA Altair Antares Arcturus Capella Castor Pollux Deneb Polaris Vega Spica Algol M31 Double Cluster M13 M7 M8 M22 65 the key to your sky created by Wil Tirion
E C L I P T I C Horizon 10°N Horizon 20°N Horizon 30°N Hor zi on 30 N° Hor zi on 2 °0 N Hor zi no 01 N° SOUTH WEST EAST NORTH AUTUMN SKY For observers at 10° to 30° northern latitudes D ANDROMEDA AQUARIUS AQUILA ARIES AURIGA CAMELOPARDALIS CAPRICORNUS CASSIOPEIA CEPHEUS CETUS CORONA AUSTRALIS CYGNUS DELPHINUS DORADO DRACO EQUULEUS ERIDANUS FORNAX GEMINI GRUS HERCULES HOROLOGIUM CAELUM HYDRUS INDUS LACERTA LEPUS LYNX LYRA MICROSCOPIUM OCTANS OPHIUCHUS ORION PAVO PEGASUS PERSEUS PHOENIX PISCES PISCIS AUSTRINUS RETICULUM SAGITTA SAGITTARIUS SCULPTOR SCUTUM SERPENS TAURUS CAUDA TELESCOPIUM TRIANGULUM TUCANA URSA MAJOR URSA MINOR VULPECULA Achernar Aldebaran Altair Betelgeuse Capella Deneb Fomalhaut Polaris Rigel Vega Algol Mira M31 Double Cluster M42 M35 M13 M8 M22 SMC 47 Tuc Hyades Pleiades 66 the key to your sky created by Wil Tirion
E C L I P T I C Horizon 40°N Horizon 50°N Horizon 60°N oH ir oz n 06 N° oH ir oz n 05 N° oH ir oz n 04 N° SOUTH WEST EAST NORTH AUTUMN SKY For observers at 40° to 60° northern latitudes D BOOTES ANDROMEDA AQUARIUS AQUILA ARIES AURIGA CAMELOPARDALIS CANCER CANES VENATICI CAPRICORNUS CASSIOPEIA CEPHEUS CETUS CORONA BOREALIS CYGNUS DELPHINUS DRACO EQUULEUS ERIDANUS FORNAX GEMINI GRUS HERCULES LACERTA LEO MINOR LYNX LYRA MICROSCOPIUM OPHIUCHUS ORION PEGASUS PERSEUS PHOENIX PISCES PISCIS AUSTRINUS SAGITTA SAGITTARIUS SCULPTOR SCUTUM SERPENS CAUDA TAURUS TRIANGULUM URSA MAJOR URSA MINOR VULPECULA Aldebaran Altair Betelgeuse Capella Castor Pollux Deneb Fomalhaut Polaris Vega Algol Mira M31 Double Cluster M35 M13 Hyades Pleiades 67 the key to your sky created by Wil Tirion
parting shot 68 Astrophotographer Andrew Fryhover captured this beautiful image of Orion and the Winter Milky Way while camping in Big Bend National Park, Texas. When describing this image, Fryhover said, “Orion rising over the horizon is a familiar and welcome sight. Gone is the bright core of the Summer Milky Way, but the nights are long and dark, perfect for astronomy and astrophotography!” Technical information: Vertical mosaic, 3 panels sky and 1 panel ground; 1-minute, 3200-ISO, F3.2, 24mm per panel. Sky panels - tracked with Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer, Ground panel - stationary, blended in Photoshop. Camera: Nikon D750a (astro-modified by LifePixel). “Orion and the Winter Milky Way” — By Andrew Fryhover