Latest Images with the TeleVue "is" series and the STL11000M Updated January 6, 2008

  The SBIG STL11000M is a large-format CCD camera with a 24.7mm x 36mm chip, the same size as a 35mm film frame.
The new Tele Vue NP127is is a 127mm f/5.2 Nagler-Petzval apochromatic refractor,
while the Tele Vue NP101is is a 101mm f/5.4 Nagler-Petzval apochromatic refractor,
and the new Tele Vue TV-102iis is a 100mm f/8.6 apochromatic doublet.
These three telescopes are specifically optimized for imaging with large format CCD cameras.
The field of view with The STL11000M and the NP127is is over 3 degrees wide and 2 degrees high.
The Tele Vue TV-60is is a 60mm f/6 apochromatic doublet,
which delivers pinpoint stars, corner-to-corner for CCD cameras with chips up to APS-size.

Be sure to click on each image to see a higher-resolution version.

 

Object: IC443	The Jellyfish Nebula	Const.: Gemini
Camera: STL-11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 16x8m:6x8m:6x8m:6x8m	blank
This image of IC443, The Jellyfish Nebula, was acquired using an STL11000 CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP127is 5" f/5.2 refractor. The luminance channel is a stack of 16 eight minute exposures taken through a Hydrogen-α filter, while the color channels are each stacks of 6 eight minute exposures taken through red, green and blue filters. The individual source images were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked, and the luminance channel was Gamma scaled, the resulting files were then color combined and auto-balanced all using AIP4WIN V2.

 

Object: M31 (NGC224)	The Andromeda Galaxy - Spiral Galaxy	Const.: Andromeda
Camera: STL-11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): L:R:G:B	Exposure: 9x6m:4x8m:4x8m:4x8m	blank
This image of M31, the Great Galaxy in Andromeda was acquired using an STL11000 CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP127is 5" f/5.2 refractor. The luminance channel is a stack of 9 six minute exposures, while the color channels are each stacks of 4 eight minute exposures. The individual source images were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked, and the luminance channel was Sigmoid scaled, the resulting files were then color combined and auto-balanced all using AIP4WIN V2.

Object: 17P/Holmes	Comet	Const.: Perseus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): L:R:G:B	Exposure: 8x1m:4x1m:4x1m:4x1m	blank
This image shows Comet 17P/Holmes, imaged on November 4, 2007 in Perseus. This image is a color composite of stacks of 8 sixty-second exposures taken through luminance filter, and stacks of 4 sixty-second exposures taken through red, green and blue filters. The images were stacked using the comet nucleus as a reference, allowing the stars to trail as the comet moved. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked, color-combined and auto-balanced using AIP4Win Version 2. The image has been strongly gamma-stretched to show the details in the comet's tail.

 

Object: M33 (NGC598)	The Pinwheel Galaxy - Spiral Galaxy	Const.: Triangulum
Camera: STL-11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): L:R:G:B	Exposure: 7x8m:7x8m:7x8m:7x8m	Colors binned 2x2
M33 - Pinwheel Galaxy in Triangulum. This color image is a composite of a stack of 7 eight minute exposures taken through a luminance filter combined with stacks of 7 eight minutes exposures taken through red, green and blue filters, using 2x2 binning. The images were acquired using an SBIG STL11000 CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP127is 5" f/5.2 refractor, The exposures were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked and automatically color balanced using AIP4WIN V2. The NP127is was autofocused using the Tele Vue Focusmaster. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 3000x2000.

 

Object: M13 (NGC6205)	Globular Cluster	Const.: Hercules
Camera: STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP-127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): L:R:G:B	Exposure: 7x1m:7x1m:7x1m:7x1m	blank
The globular cluster M13 in Hercules. The galaxies NGC6207 and IC4617 are also visible. This image of M13 was acquired using an STL11000M CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP-127is. It is a color composite of 7 minutes of unfiltered luminance and 7 minutes each of red, green and blue filtered data. The images were calibrated and stacked and auto color balanced using AIP4Win V2. The NP127is was autofocused using the Tele Vue Focusmaster. This image has been cropped down from its original size of 4008x2672.

 

Object: IC5068	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cygnus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 16x8m:6x8m:6x8m:6x8m	blank
This image shows the region just south of the North American and Pelican Nebulae in Cygnus, containing the emission nebula IC5068. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image uses a stack of 16 eight-minute exposures taken through a hydrogen-α filter for the luminance, and stacks of 6 eight-minute exposures taken through red, green and blue filters for the color. The Hα luminance image is shown below. The raw images were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked and color-balanced using AIP4Win Version 2. The NP127is was autofocused using the Tele Vue Focusmaster. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 3664x2445.

 

Object: IC5068	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cygnus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 16x8m	blank
This image shows the region just south of the North American and Pelican Nebulae in Cygnus, containing the emission nebula IC5068. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a stack of 16 eight-minute exposures taken through a hydrogen-α filter. The raw images were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win Version 2. The NP127is was autofocused using the Tele Vue Focusmaster. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

 

Object: Sh2-101	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cygnus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): L:R:G:B	Exposure: 8x8m:4x8m:4x8m:4x8m	Colors binned 2x2
This image shows the region around Sharpless 2-101, an emission nebula in Cygnus. This nebula is located on the right side, just above the center. The large cluster of blue-white stars on the left is Roslund 5. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a stack of 8 eight-minute exposures taken through a luminance filter, combined with 4 eight-minute exposures taken through red, green and blue filters for the color data. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked and color-combined using AIP4Win Version 2. The NP127is was autofocused using the Tele Vue Focusmaster. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

 

Object: M27 (NGC6853)	The Dumbell Nebula - Planetary Nebula	Const.: Vulpecula
Camera: STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): L:R:G:B	Exposure: 8x8m:4x8m:4x8m:4x8m	Color binned 2x2
The Dumbell Nebula, M27, a planetary nebula in Vulpecula. This color image is an LRGB composite of 8 eight minute exposures for the luminance channel and 4 eight minute exposures for each of the red, green and blue channels. The color filtered exposures were binned 2x2. The images were acquired using an STL11000M CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP127is 5" f/5.2 refractor. The exposures were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked and color-balanced using AIP4WIN V2. This image has been cropped from the center of the full frame image with an original size of 4008x2672. Clicking on the image will show the full 11 megapixel frame. This image was automatically focused using the Tele Vue Focusmaster.

 

Object: The Crescent NebulaNGC6888 and IC1318	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cygnus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:Hα:G:B	Exposure: 18x8m:18x8m:7x8m:7x8m	blank
This image shows the emission nebulae IC1318 and NGC6888 (a.k.a The Crescent Nebula) in Cygnus. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image uses a stack of 18 eight-minute exposures taken through a Hydrogen-alpha filter for both the luminance and red channels. The green and blue channels are stacks of 7 eight-minute exposures taken through green and blue filters. The images were calibrated, stacked and color-combined using AIP4Win V2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Hydrogen-α
Object: The Crescent Nebula NGC6888 and IC1318	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cygnus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 18x8m	blank
This image shows the emission nebulae IC1318 and NGC6888 (a.k.a The Crescent Nebula) in Cygnus in Hydrogen-alpha light. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a stack of 18 eight-minute exposures that were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win Version 2. A Rayleigh histogram shaping was used to bring out the faint background details of IC1318. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

 

Object: M5 (NGC5904)	Globular Cluster	Const.: Serpens
Camera: STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): L:R:G:B	Exposure: 5x8m:4x8m:4x8m:4x8m	blank
The globular cluster M5 in Serpens. The luminance image consists of 5 eight-minute exposures, with 4 eight-minute exposures for each color. The images were acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is The luminance image was calibrated and stacked, and a Richardson-Lucy deconvolution was applied, followed by a Sigmoid stretch. The color channels were calibrated and stacked, and a Richardson-Lucy deconvolution was applied. The final color composite was created using the automatic color balance feature of AIP4Win V2. This image has been resampled and cropped down from its original size of 4008x2672.

 

Object: Markarian's Chain	Galaxy Cluster	Const.: Virgo
Camera: STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): none	Exposure: 9x8m	blank
This image, which includes the string of galaxies known as Markarian's Chain in the constellation Virgo, was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a stack of 9 eight-minute exposures that were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win Version 2. A Sigmoid scaling was applied to bring out the myriad of background galaxies and prevent burning out the galaxy cores. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

 

Object: NGC2237 The Rosette Nebula	Emission Nebula	Const.: Monoceros
Camera: STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP101is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 16x8m:6x8m:6x8m:7x8m	blank
NGC2237 - The Rosette Nebula in Monoceros. This image is a composite of a stack of 16 eight-minute exposures taken through a hydrogen-alpha filter and stacks of 6 or 7 eight-minute color exposures taken through red, green and blue filters using an STL11000M CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP101is 4" f/5.4 refractor. The Hα luminance channel is shown in the image below. The color channels were balanced using AIP4WIN's Color Calculator using G2V star calibration. The final image was composited using the G2V color balance. This image has been cropped and resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

 

Object: NGC2237 The Rosette Nebula	Emission Nebula	Const.: Monoceros
Camera: STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP101is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 16x8m	blank
NGC2237 - The Rosette Nebula in Monoceros. This image is a stack of 16 eight-minute exposures taken through a hydrogen-alpha filter using an STL11000M CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP101is 4" f/5.4 refractor. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win V2. This image has been cropped and resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

 

Object: M45 The Pleiades	Open Cluster	Const.: Taurus
Camera: STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP101is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): L:R:G:B	Exposure: 5x8m:4x8m:4x8m:4x8m	blank
M45 - The Pleiades Cluster in Taurus. This image is a composite of a stack of 5 eight-minute luminance exposures and stacks of 4 eight-minute color exposures taken through red, green and blue filters using an STL11000M CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP101is 4" f/5.4 refractor. The color channels were balanced using AIP4WIN's Color Calculator using G2V star calibration. The final image was composited using the G2V color balance. This image has been cropped and resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

 

Object: IC2118 The Witch Head Nebula	Emission Nebula	Const.: Orion
Camera: STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP101is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): L:R:G:B	Exposure: 24x8m:9x8m:8x8m:5x8m	blank
IC2118 - The Witch Head Nebula. The luminance channel for this image is a stack of 24 eight-minute exposures using an STL11000M CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP101is 4" f/5.4 refractor. The red, green and blue channels are stacks of 9, 8 and 5 eight-minute exposures respectively. The color channels were balanced using AIP4WIN's Color Calculator using G2V star calibration. The final image was composited using the G2V color balance. Severe sky gradients and light clouds made processing this image very difficult. Not helping either were the tremendous number of geosynchronous satellite trails. Every single exposure that makes up this final image (all 46 of them!) had them. This image has been resampled down from the original size of 2058x2744, which itself was cropped out of the original 2672x4008 frame of the STL11000M.

 

Object: M42 (NGC1976)	The Orion Nebula - Emission Nebula	Const.: Orion
Camera: STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP101is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 12x4m:32x4s::32x4s:32x4s	blank
M42 - The Great Orion Nebula. The luminance channel for this image is a stack of 12 four-minute exposures taken through an Hα filter using an STL11000M CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP101is 4" f/5.4 refractor. A Sigmoid Scaling was performed using AIP4WIN V2. Each color channel is a stack of 32 four second images. The color channels were balanced using AIP4WIN's Color Calculator using G2V star calibration. The final image was composited using the G2V color balance. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672. North is to the left.

Object: M33 The Pinwheel Galaxy	Spiral Galaxy	Const.: Triangulum
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP101is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): L:R:G:B	Exposure: 10x8m:8x8m:8x8m:8x8m	blank
This image shows M33, The Pinwheel Galaxy in Triangulum. This image is a color composite of a stack of 10 eight-minute exposures taken through a luminance filter used as the luminance channel combined with stacks of 8 eight-minute exposures taken through red, green and blue filters for the color channels. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked, color-combined and auto-balanced using AIP4Win Version 2.

 

Object: LBN667	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cassiopeia
Camera: STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP101is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 16x8m:8x8m:8x8m:8x8m	blank
LBN667 in Cassiopeia. This image is a color composite composed of a stack of 16 eight-minute exposures taken through an Hα filter, used as the luminance channel, and stacks of 8 eight-minute exposures taken through red, green and blue filters for the colors. The images were acquired using an STL11000M CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP101is. The exposures were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4WIN. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

 

Object: IC1805 The Heart Nebula	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cassiopeia
Camera: STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP101is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 16x8m:5x8m:5x8m:5x8m	blank
IC1805 The Heart Nebula in Cassiopeia. This image is a color composite using a stack of 16 eight-minute exposures taken through an Hα filter as the luminance channel, and 5 eight-minute stacks each taken through red, green and blue filters for the colors. The images were acquired using an STL11000M CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP101is. The exposures were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked and color-balanced using AIP4WIN V2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: IC1318 Northern Region	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cygnus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP101is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 8x8.25m:7x8m:7x8m:6x8m	blank
This image shows the northern part of IC1318, nebulosity around Gamma Cygni in Cygnus. This image uses a stack of 8 eight-minute and 15 second exposures taken through an Hα filter as the luminance channel, along with stacks of 6 or 7 eight-minute exposures taken through red, green and blue filters for the color channels All exposures were acquired using an STL11000M CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP101is. The exposures were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked and color-combined using AIP4WIN V2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: NGC7822	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cepheus
Camera: STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP101is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:Hα:G+B:G+B	Exposure: 12x8m	blank
NGC7822, including Sharpless 2-171, a.k.a Cederblad 214 in Cepheus. This luminance channel for this image is the stack of 12 eight-minute exposures taken through an Hα filter, shown below. While shooting the color data I was plagued with clouds, and was only able to save 5 reds, 6 greens and 4 blues at 8 minutes each. I threw away the red data and used the Hα for the red. I added the green images and the blue images together, and used the result for both the green and the blue channels. I then sigmoid stretched the Ha and used it as the luminance. This worked because the red data from the nebula is all from the Ha emission. The blue-green is all from the OIII. So treating the filtered data this way gives you a pretty reasonable color rendition. Only the star colors suffer, because stars are broadband emitters, unlike nebulae, which are emission line objects. A little bit of the AIP4Win Star Color Tool fixed that up quite nicely. All images were acquired using an STL11000M CCD camera on a Tele Vue NP101is. The exposures were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked and color-combined using AIP4WIN V2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: NGC1499 The California Nebula	Emission Nebula	Const.: Perseus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 16x8m:5x8m:5x8m:5x8m	blank
This image shows NGC1499, The California Nebula in Perseus. This image is a color composite of a stack of 16 eight-minute exposures taken through a Hydrogen-alpha filter used as the luminance channel combined with stacks of 5 eight-minute exposures taken through red, green and blue filters for the color channels. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked, color-combined and G2V-balanced using AIP4Win Version 2.

Object: NGC6820	Emission Nebula	Const.: Vulpecula
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 5x8m:5x8m:4x8m:4x8m	blank
This image shows NGC6820, an emission nebula in Vulpecula. This image is a color composite of a stack of 5 eight-minute exposures taken through a Hydrogen-alpha filter used as the luminance channel, combined with a stack of 5 eight-minute exposures taken through a red filter, and stacks of 4 eight-minute exposures taken through green and blue filters for the color channels. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked, color-combined and G2V-balanced using AIP4Win Version 2.

Object: NGC1499 The California Nebula	Emission Nebula	Const.: Perseus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue TV-102iis	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 17x8m	0.8x Reducer-Corrector
This image shows NGC1499, The California Nebula in Perseus. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue TV-102iis with a 0.8x reducer-corrector. This image is a stack of 17 eight-minute exposures taken through a Hydrogen-alpha filter. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: NGC7023 The Iris Nebula	Reflection Nebula	Const.: Cepheus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): L:R:G:B	Exposure: 8x8m:6x4m:6x4m:6x4m	blank
This image shows NGC7023, the Iris Nebula, a reflection nebula in Cepheus. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a color composite of a stack of 8 eight-minute exposures binned 1x1 taken through an IR-blocking filter for the luminance channel, combined with stacks of 6 four-minute exposures binned 2x2 taken through red, green and blue filters for the color channels. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked and G2V-balanced using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: IC1396	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cepheus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 15x8m:6x8m:5x8m:6x8m	blank
This image shows IC1396, including the VDB142, the Elephant's Trunk Nebula, in Cepheus. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a color composite of a stack of 15 eight-minute exposures binned 1x1 taken through a Hydrogen-alpha filter for the luminance channel, combined with stacks of 5 or 6 eight-minute exposures binned 2x2 taken through red, green and blue filters for the color channels. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked and G2V-balanced using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Hydrogen-α
Object: IC1396	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cepheus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 15x8m	blank
This image shows IC1396, including the VDB142, the Elephant's Trunk Nebula, in Cepheus. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a stack of 15 eight-minute exposures taken through a Hydrogen-alpha filter. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: VDB142 The Elephant's Trunk	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cepheus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 15x8m:6x8m:5x8m:6x8m	blank
This image shows a detail section of VDB142, the Elephant's Trunk Nebula, in Cepheus. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a color composite of a stack of 15 eight-minute exposures binned 1x1 taken through a Hydrogen-alpha filter for the luminance channel, combined with stacks of 5 or 6 eight-minute exposures binned 2x2 taken through red, green and blue filters for the color channels. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked and G2V-balanced using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been cropped from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: IC1318	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cygnus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue TV-102iis	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 8x8m	0.8x Reducer-Corrector
This image shows IC1318, nebulosity around Gamma Cygni, including The Butterfly Nebula in Cygnus. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue TV-102iis with a 0.8x reducer-corrector. This image is a stack of 8 eight-minute exposures taken through a Hydrogen-alpha filter. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: IC1318	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cygnus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 8x8m:5x8m:4x8m:4x8m	blank
This image shows IC1318, nebulosity around Gamma Cygni, including The Butterfly Nebula in Cygnus. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is composite image, using a stack of 8 eight-minute exposures taken through a Hydrogen-alpha filter as the luminance channel, and stacks of 5 and 4 eight minute exposures taken through red, green and blue filters for the color channels. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked and G2V color balanced using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: NGC7293 The Helix Nebula	Planetary Nebula	Const.: Aquarius
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue TV-102iis	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 8x8m	0.8x Reducer-Corrector
This image shows NGC7293, The Helix Nebula in Aquarius. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue TV-102iis with a 0.8x reducer-corrector. This image is a stack of 8 eight-minute exposures taken through a Hydrogen-alpha filter. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been cropped down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: Sh2-54	Emission Nebula	Const.: Serpens
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 8x8m:4x8m:4x8m:4x8m	blank
This image shows Sh2-54, an emission nebula just north of the Eagle Nebula in Serpens. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image uses a stack of 8 eight-minute exposures taken through a Hydrogen-alpha filter for the luminance channel, combined with 4 eight-minute exposures taken through red, green and blue filters for the color data. The images were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked, G2V-calibrated and color-combined using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 3825x2417.

Object: M8 & M20 The Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae	Emission Nebula	Const.: Sagittarius
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 14x8m:5x4m:5x4m:5x4m	blank
This image shows M8 and M20, the Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae in Sagittarius. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a color composite using the Hα image below as the luminance channel and stacks of 5 four-minute exposures through red, green and blue filters for the color channels. The colors are G2V-balanced using the AIP4Win Color Calculator. Compare this HαRGB image with the LRGB image further down the page. All processing was performed using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: M8 & M20 The Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae	Emission Nebula	Const.: Sagittarius
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 14x8m	blank
This image shows M8 and M20, the Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae in Sagittarius in Hydrogen-alpha light. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a stack of 14 eight-minute exposures that were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win Version 2. The new Sigmoid Scaling feature of AIP4Win V2.1.10 was used to compress the extreme dynamic range of this image in order to display the tremendous amount of nebulosity in this region of the sky. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: M8 & M20 The Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae	Emission Nebula	Const.: Sagittarius
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): L:R:G:B	Exposure: 5x4m:4x4m:4x4m:4x4m	blank
This image shows M8 and M20, the Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae in Sagittarius. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a color composite of a stack of 5 four-minute exposures using a luminance (IR-block) filter and stacks of 4 four-minute exposures through red, green and blue filters. Note that while this image shows the same field as the HαRGB image above, The contrast is greatly reduced, but the blue nebulosity around M20 is much more prominent. All processing was performed using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: M16 The Eagle Nebula	Emission Nebula	Const.: Serpens
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 8x8m:4x4m:4x4m:4x4m	blank
This image shows the region around M16, Eagle Nebula in Serpens in color. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a color composite, using a stack of 8 eight-minute exposures through an Hα filter for the luminance channel, and stacks of 4 four-minute exposures through red, green and blue filters for the color channels. The Hα image below was used for the luminance channel. The colors are G2V-balanced using the AIP4Win Color Calculator. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: M16 The Eagle Nebula	Emission Nebula	Const.: Serpens
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 8x8m	blank
This image shows the M16, Eagle Nebula in Serpens in Hydrogen-alpha light. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a stack of 8 eight-minute exposures that were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win Version 2. The new Sigmoid Scaling feature of AIP4Win V2.1.10 was used to compress the extreme dynamic range of this image in order to display the tremendous amount of nebulosity in this region of the sky. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: Sh2-54	Emission Nebula	Const.: Serpens
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 8x8m	blank
This image shows Sh2-54, an emission nebula just north of the Eagle Nebula in Serpens in Hydrogen-alpha light. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a stack of 8 eight-minute exposures that were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win Version 2. The new Sigmoid Scaling feature of AIP4Win V2.1.10 was used to compress the extreme dynamic range of this image in order to display the tremendous amount of nebulosity in this region of the sky. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: The Gamma Cygni Region	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cygnus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 9x8m	blank
This image shows part of the IC1318 emission nebula complex around Gamma Cygni in Hydrogen-alpha light. This image was actually acquired during a full moon (the joy of Hα). This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a stack of 9 eight-minute exposures that were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked, and then a sigmoid scaling was applied, all using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: The North America and Pelican Nebulae	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cygnus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 14x8m:8x8m:8x8m:8x8m	blank
This image shows NGC7000, the North America and IC5070, the Pelican Nebulae in Cygnus in color. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a composite of a stack of 14 eight-minute exposures taken through an Hα filter and stacks of 8 eight-minute exposures shot through red, green and blue filters. The individual exposures were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: The North America and Pelican Nebulae	Emission Nebula	Const.: Cygnus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 14x8m	blank
This image shows NGC7000, the North America and IC5070, the Pelican Nebulae in Cygnus in Hydrogen-alpha light. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image was used for the luminance channel of the color image shown above. This image is a stack of 14 eight-minute exposures that were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: M17 & IC4701	The Omega Nebula Emission Nebula	Const.: Sagittarius
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 7x8m	blank
This image shows the region around M17, the Omega Nebula, including IC4701, in Sagittarius in Hydrogen-alpha light. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a stack of 7 eight-minute exposures that were calibrated, defect-corrected and stacked using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: The Veil Nebula	Supernova Remnant	Const.: Cygnus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα:R:G:B	Exposure: 16x8m:12x4m:12x4m:12x4m	blank
This image shows NGC6992, NGC6979 and NGC6960, the Veil Nebula in Cygnus. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image is a color composite of a stack of 16 eight-minute exposures using a hydrogen-alpha filter and stacks of 12 four-minute exposures through red, green and blue filters. All processing was performed using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: The Veil Nebula	Supernova Remnant	Const.: Cygnus
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Hα	Exposure: 16x8m	blank
This image shows the entire Veil Nebula in Cygnus in the light of its Hydrogen-alpha emissions. This image was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. This image was used for the luminance channel of the color image shown above. This image is a stack of 16 eight-minute exposures that were calibrated, defect-corrected, stacked and sigmoid-scaled using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been resampled down from its original size of 4008x2672.

Object: The Moon	Curse of All Astroimagers	Const.: Scorpius
Camera: SBIG STL11000M	Scope: Tele Vue NP127is	Mount: Losmandy Titan
Filter(s): Red	Exposure: 0.05s	blank
Earth's Moon, through a red filter. This picture was acquired using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera mounted on a Tele Vue NP127is. The image was taken through a moderately thick cloud cover. This image is a single 0.05 second exposure, unsharp masked using AIP4Win Version 2. This image has been cropped from its original size of 4008x2672.

 

This picture shows the Tele Vue NP127is and the SBIG STL11000M as they are currently set up in my observatory. They are mounted side-by-side with a Vixen R200SS 8" f/4 Newtonian. A Tele Vue TV-60is 60mm f/6 refractor is mounted above, where it does double duty as a guidescope with an SBIG STV, or as the ultimate wide-field imaging rig. This load is comfortably carried by a Losmandy Titan mount. The electric focus and digital readout on the NP127is is an amazingly useful feature. With the digital readout's remote interface cable, I can sit at the computer and focus the telescope, and return to a specific focus position at any time, and see the focus position displayed on the monitor.

For a real hoot, you can look at all the cables connected to the instruments above. The pier is a 4" concrete and rebar-filled steel pipe, anchored in 4 tons of concrete. It doesn't move. All the cables are routed in 2" conduit under the observatory floor.