Click on image to enlarge. Click here for maximum resolution
Click on image to enlarge. Click here for maximum resolution
Click on image to enlarge. Click here for maximum resolution
selected as astronomy picture of the day by astronomy magazine april 12, 2007
Taken on May 6 & 8, 2004 from my backyard in Castro Valley, Ca.
C14 imaging scope with Astro-Physics 0.67x CCD focal reducer stabilized with mirror locks and with camera angle adjuster
SBIG ST10XME imaging camera @ -26C
SBIG AO7 Adaptive Optics System
SBIG ST7E Guide/AO control camera @-15C
FLI CFW 1 filter wheel
Optec IR-Blocking LRGB Filters (50mm unmounted)
5 exposures of 20 minutes for Luminance
6 exposures of 10 minutes for Red, Green and Blue
Total exposure time = 4 hours 40 minutes
Maxim DL used for ST10XME control
AIP4WIN used for Deconvolution
Photoshop CS used for final touch up
Russ Croman's Sigma Reject Plugin for Maxim DL used for Darks, Flats, Biases and image combine