IC 1871 Nebula in Ha

The Soul Nebula (Sharpless 2-199, LBN 667) is an emission nebula also in Cassiopeia. Several small open clusters are embedded in the nebula: CR 34, 632, and 634 (in the head) and IC1848 (in the body). The object is more commonly called by the cluster designation IC1848. Small emission nebula IC 1871 is present just left of the top of the head, and small emission nebulae 670 and 669 are just below the lower back area. This complex is the eastern neighbor of IC1805 (Heart Nebula) and the two are often mentioned together as the ''Heart and Soul''

Telescope: APM Astrograph 107, f/6.5 with Baader Steeltrack Focuser and 2.5'' TS FF
Mount: NEQ6 Pro with EQ Mod and XBOX Wireless Controller
Camera: ATIK 314L+
Image Scale: 1.91 arcsec/pixel
Filter: Baader Ha 7nm, IDAS LPS
Filter Wheel: Starlight Xpress Motor USB, 7x1.25''
Guide Camera: QHY5 with PHD Guiding and TS UV/IR Block
Guide Scope: Skywatcher Finderscope 8x50
Total Exp. Time: 2 hours & 40 min in Ha, Bin 1x1
Temperature: Ambient (13-15C), CCD (0C)
Capture: Nebulosity 2
Register, Stack: Maxim DL, CCD Stack
Processing: Photoshop CS3
Date: 20 Sep 2012
Location: Ag. Panteleiomon, Attica, GR

Sh2-132 Nebula in HST palette

Sharpless 2-132 is a very faint emission type nebula on the Cepheus/Lacerta border. It lies at a degree southeast of Epsilon Cep, and has a size of about 40 arc minutes. The large but dim emission nebula Sh 2-132 in Cepheus lies 10,370 light-years away and spans another 272 light-years across.

The star at the center of the image below is the very luminous SAO 34301 (HD 211853, mag 8.99), perhaps more commonly known as WR 153, which along with another O-type star (mag 8.5) are primarily responsible for the excitation and ionization of the hydrogen gas in the area and which represents a relatively rare example of a Wolf-Rayet nebula.

Telescope: APM Astrograph 107, f/6.5 with Baader Steeltrack Focuser and 2.5'' TS FF
Mount: NEQ6 Pro with EQ Mod and XBOX Wireless Controller
Camera: ATIK 314L+
Image Scale: 1.91 arcsec/pixel
Filter: Baader Ha 7nm, OIII 8.5nm, SII 8nm, IDAS LPS
Filter Wheel: Starlight Xpress Motor USB, 7x1.25''
Guide Camera: QHY5 with PHD Guiding and TS UV/IR Block
Guide Scope: Skywatcher Finderscope 8x50
Total Exp. Time: 3 hours & 52 min (Ha: 120 mins Bin 1x1, O3, S2: 56, 56 min Bin 2x2)
Temperature: Ambient (25C), CCD (-5C)
Capture: Nebulosity 2
Register, Stack: Maxim DL, CCD Stack
Processing: Photoshop CS3
Date: 27 Aug 2011
Location: Tyros, Arcadia, GR

IC 5067 - Pelican Nebula in (L+Ha)RGB

The Pelican Nebula (also known as IC5070 and IC5067[1]) is an H II region associated with the North America Nebula in the constellation Cygnus. The gaseous contortions of this emission nebula bear a resemblance to a pelican, giving rise to its name[1]. The Pelican Nebula is located nearby first magnitude star Deneb, and is divided from its more prominent neighbour, the North America Nebula, by a molecular cloud filled with dark dust.

The Pelican is much studied because it has a particularly active mix of star formation and evolving gas clouds. The light from young energetic stars is slowly transforming cold gas to hot and causing an ionization front gradually to advance outward. Particularly dense filaments of cold gas are seen to still remain, and among these are found two jets emitted from the Herbig–Haro object 555.[1] Millions of years from now this nebula might no longer be known as the Pelican, as the balance and placement of stars and gas will leave something that appears completely different.

Telescope: APM Astrograph 107, f/6.5 with Baader Steeltrack Focuser and 2.5'' TS FF
Mount: NEQ6 Pro with EQ Mod and XBOX Wireless Controller
Camera: ATIK 314L+
Image Scale: 1.91 arcsec/pixel
Filter: Baader Ha 7nm, L, RGB, IDAS LPS
Filter Wheel: Starlight Xpress Motor USB, 7x1.25''
Guide Camera: QHY5 with PHD Guiding and TS UV/IR Block
Guide Scope: Skywatcher Finderscope 8x50
Total Exp. Time: 5 hours & 13 min (Ha: 160 mins, L: 57 min, RGB: 32:32:32 min) Bin 1x1
Temperature: Ambient (23 - 27C), CCD (0C)
Capture: Nebulosity 2
Register, Stack: Maxim DL, CCD Stack
Processing: Photoshop CS3
Date: 20 & 21 July 2012
Location: Salamina, GR

M 27 - Dumbbell Nebula in HaO3RGB

The Dumbbell Nebula Messier 27 (M27, NGC 6853) is perhaps the finest planetary nebula in the sky, and was the first planetary nebula ever discovered.

This planetary nebula is certainly the most impressive object of its kind in the sky, as the angular diameter of the luminous body is nearly 6 arc minutes, with a faint halo extensing out to over 15', half the apparent diameter of the Moon (Millikan 1974). 

It is also among the brightest, being at most little less luminous with its estimated apparent visual magnitude 7.4 than the brightest, the Helix Nebula NGC 7293 in Aquarius, with 7.3, which however has a much lower surface brightness because of its larger extension (estimates from Stephen Hynes); it is a bit unusual that this planetary is only little fainter photographically (mag 7.6). The present author (hf) was surprized how fine this object was seen in his 10x50 binoculars under moderately good conditions!

Telescope: APM Astrograph 107, f/6.5 with Baader Steeltrack Focuser and 2.5'' TS FF
Mount: NEQ6 Pro with EQ Mod and XBOX Wireless Controller
Camera: ATIK 314L+
Image Scale: 1.91 arcsec/pixel
Filter: Baader Ha 7nm, OIII 8.5nm, RGB, IDAS LPS
Filter Wheel: Starlight Xpress Motor USB, 7x1.25''
Guide Camera: QHY5 with PHD Guiding and TS UV/IR Block
Guide Scope: Skywatcher Finderscope 8x50
Total Exp. Time: 6 hours (Ha: 160 mins, O3: 116 min, RGB: 28:28:28 min) Bin 1x1
Temperature: Ambient (23 - 27C), CCD (0C)
Capture: Nebulosity 2
Register, Stack: Maxim DL, CCD Stack 
Processing: Photoshop CS3
Date: 13 & 20 July 2012
Location: Salamina, GR

Ngc 7331 Group of Galaxies in LRGB

NGC 7331 (also known as Caldwell 30) is a spiral galaxy about 40 megalight-years (12 Mpc) away in the constellation Pegasus. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1784. NGC 7331 is the brightest member of the NGC 7331 Group of galaxies.
The galaxy is similar in size and structure to the galaxy we inhabit, and is often referred to as "the Milky Way's twin", although recent discoveries regarding the structure of the Milky Way may call this similarity into doubt.

Telescope: APM Astrograph 107, f/6.5 with Baader Steeltrack Focuser and 2.5'' TS FF
Mount: NEQ6 Pro with EQ Mod and XBOX Wireless Controller
Camera: ATIK 314L+
Image Scale: 1.91 arcsec/pixel
Filter: Baader L,R,G,B, IDAS LPS
Filter Wheel: Starlight Xpress Motor USB, 7x1.25''
Guide Camera: QHY5 with PHD Guiding and TS UV/IR Block
Guide Scope: Skywatcher Finderscope 8x50
Total Exp. Time: 2 hours & 48 min, Lum: 96 min(bin 1x1),R,G,B: 24,24,24 min(bin 2x2)
Temperature: Ambient (25C), CCD (-5C)
Capture: Nebulosity 2.3.0
Register, Stack: Maxim DL, CCD Stack
Processing: Photoshop CS3
Date: 26 August 2011
Location: Tyros, Arcadia, GR

NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula in LRGB

The Iris Nebula is an interesting and beautiful reflection nebula in the constellation Cepheus. Discovered by Herschel in 1794, this object is often mistakenly labeled for its associated open star cluster NGC 7023, which is present in the triangular "top hat" just above center in the image.

The Iris Nebula (LBN 487 / VDB 139) is illuminated by a central hot star named SAO 19158 (aka HD 200775), which is 10 times the mass of our sun. Although not officially designated as an emission nebula, closer examination of the above image will reveal a linear ridge on either side of SAO 19158 that represents HII emission. In addition to this small emission region, there is a much more extensive reflection component comprised of microscopic dust particles that preferentially scatter blue light from the central star. The peripheral regions are comprised of reddish dust that obscures light from background stars.

In the center of the nebula, there are several ruddy-colored wisps and filaments of dust that emit broad band red light, instead of reflecting the more typical blue light of a reflection nebula. These red regions represent extended red emission (ERE), which is a type of phospholuminescence associated with dust particles that are bombared by high energy UV radiation from SAO 19158. Recent investigation of this region has revealed radiation in the near infrared range of the spectrum, thought to be related to the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in this region of space.

Telescope: APM Astrograph 107, f/6.5 with Baader Steeltrack Focuser and 2.5'' TS FF
Mount: NEQ6 Pro with EQ Mod and XBOX Wireless Controller
Camera: ATIK 314L+
Image Scale: 1.91 arcsec/pixel
Filter: Baader L,R,G,B, IDAS LPS
Filter Wheel: Starlight Xpress Motor USB, 7x1.25''
Guide Camera: QHY5 with PHD Guiding and TS UV/IR Block
Guide Scope: Skywatcher Finderscope 8x50
Total Exp. Time: 3 hours & 36 min, Lum: 128 min(bin 1x1),R,G,B: 28,28,32 min(bin 2x2)
Temperature: Ambient (15C), CCD (-10C)
Capture: Nebulosity 2.3.0
Register, Stack: Maxim DL, CCD Stack
Processing: Photoshop CS3
Date: 29 July 2011
Location: Parnon Mount, Arcadia, GR

M52 Open Cluster in LLRGB

Messier 52 (also known as M 52 or NGC 7654) is an open cluster in the Cassiopeia constellation. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1774. M52 can be seen from Earth with binoculars.
Due to interstellar absorption of light, the distance to M 52 is uncertain, with estimates ranging between 3,000 and 7,000 light years. One study identified 193 probable members of the cluster, with the brightest member being magnitude 11.
Messier 52 is evaluated at about 35 million years old.

Telescope: APM Astrograph 107, f/6.5 with Baader Steeltrack Focuser and 2.5'' TS FF
Mount: NEQ6 Pro with EQ Mod and XBOX Wireless Controller
Camera: ATIK 314L+
Image Scale: 1.91 arcsec/pixel
Filter: Baader L,R,G,B, IDAS LPS
Filter Wheel: Starlight Xpress Motor USB, 7x1.25''
Guide Camera: QHY5 with PHD Guiding and TS UV/IR Block
Guide Scope: Skywatcher Finderscope 8x50
Total Exp. Time: 68 min, Lum: 32 min(bin 1x1),R,G,B: 12,12,12 min(bin 2x2)
Temperature: Ambient (22C), CCD (-5C)
Capture: Nebulosity 2.3.0
Register, Stack: Maxim DL, CCD Stack
Processing: Photoshop CS3
Date: 30 August 2011
Location: Tyros, Arcadia,GR

Messier 52 Open Cluster in Wiki