Deep Sky Photography on the "H2O" in California
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During the last three years and several clear nights on the Hidden Hill Observatory, we took quite a number of good pictures of interesting objects. When we had a chance to go there together, we brought two telescopes. First, easy to carry even for ladies, a 80mm MC ED refractor, 640mm f/8, on a Super Polaris equatorial mount. Or a 8” Schmidt-Cassegrain, 2000mm f/10, which fits on the same mount (upper middle picture). For more difficult objects, Gert brought his 33cm f/4 Newtonian (upper left picture), which did a good job on many observation sites up to now. To photograph the very faintest objects it was time for the 16” f/4 Newtonian (upper right picture). Both Newtonian telescopes were made by Gert.

Warming up: a 500mm tele lens made in Russia, f/5.6 piggyback on the counterweight axis of the Super Polaris mount.
All images Sibylle Fröhlich
Click on the pictures to see full size versions.
 
The Andromeda Galaxy, M 31, October 7, 1999
21:51 PDST, 45min on Kodak PJM 2 Multispeed 
guided with reticle eyepiece
The North America Nebula , NGC 7000 in the constellation of Cygnus, October 12, 1999
22:47 PDST, 36min on Kodak GPY 400
Autoguider
Region of  Gamma Cygni, October 12, 1999
20:21 PDST, 35min  on Kodak GPY 400
guided with reticle eyepiece
Veil Nebula, NGC 6990 - 6995 in the constellation of Cygnus, October 12, 1999
21:55 PDST, 41min on Kodak GPY 400
Autoguider
The Leo Triplet, M 65 and M 66, April 29, 2000 
21:32 PDST, 30min on Kodak PJM 2 Multispeed
guided with reticle eyepiece
The Sombrero Galaxie, M 104 in the constellation of Virgo, April 29, 2000
23:30 PDST, 30min on Kodak PJM 2 Multispeed
guided with reticle eyepiece
All images self-processed the next day, then scanned and contrast enhanced.

The next step: Images taken with the 80mm MC ED Apo Refractor, 640mm f/8 using the russian
mirror as guide scope
Images: S. Fröhlich
The Orion Nebula, M 42, December 27, 2000
20:20 PST, 45min on Kodak GPY 400
guided with reticle eyepiece
Flame Nebula and Horsehead Nebula, NGC 2023 u. 2024 (IC 434)
around the eastern star of Orion's belt, December 27, 2000
21:15 PST,  45min on Kodak GPY 400
guided with reticle eyepiece

While we are setting up the telescope, a camera with a 28mm wide field lens on a tripod is producing some star trails.
S. Fröhlich
Constellation of Orion, December 27, 2000, 19:08 PST, 18min on Kodak Elite 100. Constellation of Taurus with Jupiter and Saturn, December 27,  2000, 19:29 PST, 20min on Kodak Elite 100. 

Getting closer: 13" (33cm) f/4 Newtonian or 16" f/4 Newtonian and autoguider
All Images: Gert Gottschalk
 
Globular cluster M 5, NGC 5904 in the constellation of Serpens 
30 minutes on Kodak PPF 400. 
16" f/4 with 2 X tele converter. 
Date: 1999-06-12. 
Galaxy M 83 in the constellation of Hydra
45min on Kodak PPF 400 
16" f/4 with Deep Sky filter and coma corrector
Date: 1999-05-15
Galaxy M 95 in the constellation of Leo
60min on Kodak PPF 400 
16" f/4 with Deep Sky filter and coma corrector
Date: 1999-04-17
Galaxy NGC 4395
90min on Kodak PPF 400 
16" f/4 with Deep Sky filter and coma corrector
Date: 1999-05-15
Edge-on galaxy , NGC 4631
70min on Kodak PPF 400 
16" f/4 Newtonian with Deep Sky filter and coma corrector
Date: 1999-04-17
Spiral galaxy NGC 253 in the constellation of Sculptor
with trail of an airplane.
80 min on Kodak PPF400. 
33cm f/4 Newtonian with Deep Sky filter and coma corrector . 
Date: 1998 
Eagle Nebula, M 16,  NGC 6611 in the constellation of Serpens
2 hrs on Kodak PPF 400. 
16"  f/4 with 1,8x Barlow and Deep Sky filter. 
Date: 1999-07-18
Eagle Nebula, M 16, enlargement of upper image.

IC 1274-5, NGC 6559 and Barnard 91 in Sagittarius
80 min on Kodak PPF 400. 
Instrument: 16" f/4 and Deep Sky filter. 
Date: 1999-06-12 
Cocoon Nebula, IC 5146, in the constellation of Cygnus
90min on Kodak PPF 400
Instrument: 13" f/4 with Deep Sky filter and coma corrector
Date: 1998-10-17, 22:15 PST
Trifid Nebula, M 20 in Sagittarius
80 min on Kodak PPF 400. 
Instrument: 16" f/4 with Deep Sky Filter and Coma corrector 
Date: 1999-07-23
These Images were digitally processed to get the best results. For details, click HERE.

Gert Gottschalk and Sibylle Fröhlich, January 2001
AG Astrofoto
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