April 2011


M97 - Owl nebula

The owl nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Ursa Major. It was found by Mechain in 1781[1] and added by Messier to its catalog in the same year. Below are three different approaches to deal with the raw data (done on two different screens, both of them claiming to be calibrated. One of them is definitely wrong, most likely both. The fourth is wider field and 1:1:1 color balancing. Comments are highly appreciated.









 Object Name:
 M97
 Object Type:
 planetary nebula
 Object Position:
 RA 11h 15m 23s DE +54° 57' 32''
 Location/Date/Time:
 St. Pölten, 3.4.2010, 21:20 MESZ (3.4.2010 19:20 UTC)
 Parameters:
 L: 7 x 600s, RGB: 3 x 300s (2x2)


References:

[1] Sky Gazer Software


M65 & M66 & NGC3628 - Leo triplet

The so called Leo triplet is one of the most often fotographed group of galalxies. The triplet consists of M65, M66 and NGC 3628, which are the core of the M66 subgroup [1]. M65 was discovered in 1780 by Mechain, as was M66. The two spirals are only 21' apart. NGC 3628 is another spiral, only 35 ' north, facing us edge on and presenting us a very prominent dust lane [2]. This one was discovered by Wllhelm Herschel in 1784[3]. Comments are highly appreciated.









 Object Name:
 M65
 Object Type:
 Galaxy, SAB(rs)a II [4]
 Object Position:
 RA 11h 18m 56s DE +13° 05' 37''
 Location/Date/Time:
 St. Pölten, 23.4.2010, 22:30 MESZ (23.4.2010 20:30 UTC)
 Parameters:
 L: 12 x 300s, RGB: 3 x 300s (2x2)





 Object Name:
 M66
 Object Type:
 Galaxy, SAB(s)b II [4]
 Object Position:
 RA 11h 20m 15s DE +12° 58' 59''
 Location/Date/Time:
 St. Pölten, 23.4.2010, 22:30 MESZ (23.4.2010 20:30 UTC)
 Parameters:
 L: 12 x 300s, RGB: 3 x 300s (2x2)



 Object Name:
 NGC  3628
 Object Type:
 Galaxy, Sb pec sp III [4]
 Object Position:
 RA 11h 20m 18s DE +13° 35' 06''
 Location/Date/Time:
 St. Pölten, 23.4.2010, 22:30 MESZ (23.4.2010 20:30 UTC)
 Parameters:
 L: 12 x 300s, RGB: 3 x 300s (2x2)



References:

[1] Sky Gazer Software
[2] Burnham's Celestial Handbook, II
[3] http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_3628 (german)
[4] Uranometria, III
Comments