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


SBIG ST-8XME Images taken on our Celestron C-14:
Kodak KAF-1603ME Class-1 Chip. Pixels: 1530x1020 9µ
SBIG ST-8XME CCD camera with CFW-10a Filter Wheel
Optec TCF-S focuser. Optec 0.50X NGW Focal Reducer.
Focal Length = 2,200mm. Aperture = 356mm. Focal Ratio = f/6.2
Field of View = 14.3 x 21.5^mins. Image Scale = 0.847^secs/pixel.
Astronomik  R G B L SII Ha OIII filters installed

Click on the Thumbnails to bring to full resolution.
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 second exposure
 

NGC3372
Hubble Palette
NGC5128 LRGB
5 mins Bin2
NGC4536 LRGB
15mins Bin2
PLN 329+2.1
30mins bin1 Ha
NGC7293
LRGB 90mins
NGC1850 NGC2074 M104 - 15mins M83 - 30mins NGC5128
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

 


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 (older chip) 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