SBIG ST8 CCD Images taken at Grove Creek Observatory, Australia

SBIG ST-8XE / XME CCD Images from the Grove Creek Observatory

SBIG ST-8XME Images taken on our Celestron C-14:
Kodak KAF-1603ME Class-2 Chip. Pixels: 1530x1020 9ľ
SBIG ST-8XME CCD camera with CFW-10a Filter Wheel
NEW: Optec TCF-S focuser. NEW: Optec 0.50X NGW Focal Reducer.
Focal Length = 2,200mm. Aperture = 356mm. Focal Ratio = f/6.18.
Field of View = 14.3 x 21.5^mins. Image Scale = 0.844^secs/pixel.
Astronomik R G B L SII Ha OIII filters installed
(Above specifications as of June 2010 with new ST8-XME camera)

Click on the icons to bring the images to full size:


NGC1850	NGC2074	M104 - 15mins

NGC7424	IC434	M1	NGC2024	NGC2070 Ha

NGC2032 LRGB	M8 RGB	NGC 7599	NGC1566	NGC253 Bin1x1

NGC2070 HaRGB	NGC104	M27 RGB	M20 Ha	M20 LRGB

M17 LRGB	M17 Ha	NGC 1365	NGC1097	NGC6302 LRGB

M104	NGC253 RGB	M83	NGC5128	NGC4945

M8 RGB	M8 Ha	M16 Ha	M16 RGB	NGC6872

The filenames in the above images, list the image details. (Right click on image and select "Properties")
For example: ngc7599_L_2_300.jpg = Object Name _ Luminous Filter _ Binned 2x2 _ 300 seconds

Images taken on a 12" Meade modified LX-200:
(decommissioned)
Focal Length = 1,722mm Aperture = 300mm Focal Ratio = f/5.74
Field of View = 18.3 x 27.5^mins Image Scale = 1.08^secs/pixel
R G B Ha filters Installed

Click on the icons to bring the images to full size:


M42 RGB	M57 RGB	M83 RGB	NGC 253 RGB	NGC2070 RGB

M99 RGB	M104 RGB	NGC4945 RGB	M8 - Ha	NGC5139 RGB

NGC1365 RGB	NGC1851 RGB	NGC2442 RGB	NGC3372 RGB	NGC5128 RGB

Spectral Response of both a SBIG model ST-8XE / XME CCD camera.

12" LX-200 Images from a previous SBIG ST8-XE Model CCD Camera:
Click on the icons to bring the images to full size:

M42 by Alex Shvonski
This image is a combination of many different exposures. I took 30 one second exposures of M42, which were combined to make one clear image that was very crisp. I then took one 30 second coloured image with each of the 3 different filters. In maxim dl, these images were first combined, then screen stretched to attain the correct contrast. A feature in maxim dl, which is called "digital development", then allowed me to bring out the background light. Similarly, I used a feature called "unsharp mask" to adjust the foreground light so that it was not too bright. Finally, I used "colour adjust" to bring out the red of the ionization band, while keeping the green colour of the nebula.

Eta Carina by Dylan O'Donnell
Dylan is the System Administrator from our ISP, Dragnet. This lovely image taken through the BVR filter set, was the first ever attempt of using an astronomical CCD camera by Dylan. 3 x 30 second exposures with Red, Green and Blue filters combined in Photoshop using channels. Levels adjusted slightly to balance histogram.

NGC1097 by Alex Shvonski
This image is a combination of 1 thirty second exposure using an h- alpha filter and 3 thirty second exposures with each of the coloured filters. Before the initial images were combined, they were deconvolved to create a sharper final image. Deconvolving is more effective in images that do not include nebulae because it seems as though the deconvolving process distorts the space around stars in the image (when these stars are in front of nebulae, nebulae appear distorted.) After the images were combined the final image was screen stretched to bring out the outer spiral arms of the galaxy. Because an h-alpha filter was used, some HII regions within the galaxy are visibly red.

NGC3372 by Andrew Mattingly
LRGB (5x60s:3x30s:3x30s:3x50s) 5 x 3 mosaic of the Eta Carinae nebula.
Camera binned 2x2. BATC-9 filter (48nm bandpass, including H-alpha line) used for luminance layer.

M83 5min exposure full resolution	M8 2 x 30sec BATC-9 Filter	The Moon 0.001 sec exp. Batc-9 filter	The Keyhole Nebula in Eta Carinae, NGC3372 (RGB) Jan 04.
Tarantula Nebula NGC 2070 Jan 04.	Tarantula Nebula RGB NGC 2070 Jan 04.	Horsehead Nebula IC434 Jan04	Eta Carina NGC3372 March 2004
Swan Nebula NGC6618 March 2004	NGC4945 2 min Exposure March 2004	Mosaic of Eta Carina taken through a H/A filter April 25th, 2004	Lagoon Nebula 3min exposure taken through a H/A filter May 4th, 2004
Lagoon Nebula NGC6523/ M8	Eta Carina RGB (Pentax 10cm f/4)	Omega Centauri RGB (Pentax 10cm f/4)	M83 April 18th, 2004
Comet Bonta March 25th, 2004	NGC6744 Galaxy in Pavo	Eagle - M17 HA Filter 2X2	NGC7293 Helix Nebula
M42 Mosaic	NGC104	NGC5139 (Omega Centauri) Jan 04.	Centaurus A NGC 3372. Jan 04.

CCD IMAGES

	M42 by Alex Shvonski This image is a combination of many different exposures. I took 30 one second exposures of M42, which were combined to make one clear image that was very crisp. I then took one 30 second coloured image with each of the 3 different filters. In maxim dl, these images were first combined, then screen stretched to attain the correct contrast. A feature in maxim dl, which is called "digital development", then allowed me to bring out the background light. Similarly, I used a feature called "unsharp mask" to adjust the foreground light so that it was not too bright. Finally, I used "colour adjust" to bring out the red of the ionization band, while keeping the green colour of the nebula.
	Eta Carina by Dylan O'Donnell Dylan is the System Administrator from our ISP, Dragnet. This lovely image taken through the BVR filter set, was the first ever attempt of using an astronomical CCD camera by Dylan. 3 x 30 second exposures with Red, Green and Blue filters combined in Photoshop using channels. Levels adjusted slightly to balance histogram.
	NGC1097 by Alex Shvonski This image is a combination of 1 thirty second exposure using an h- alpha filter and 3 thirty second exposures with each of the coloured filters. Before the initial images were combined, they were deconvolved to create a sharper final image. Deconvolving is more effective in images that do not include nebulae because it seems as though the deconvolving process distorts the space around stars in the image (when these stars are in front of nebulae, nebulae appear distorted.) After the images were combined the final image was screen stretched to bring out the outer spiral arms of the galaxy. Because an h-alpha filter was used, some HII regions within the galaxy are visibly red.
	NGC3372 by Andrew Mattingly LRGB (5x60s:3x30s:3x30s:3x50s) 5 x 3 mosaic of the Eta Carinae nebula. Camera binned 2x2. BATC-9 filter (48nm bandpass, including H-alpha line) used for luminance layer.