Newest Images

Copyright © 2002-2009, Ken Miller, All Right Reserved.

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Updated 09/12/2009

 

M-16-061105--2-degrees--gra.jpg (79465 bytes)      This is my first attempt on M-16 "The Eagle".  This was taken at the Rafter M Ranch in Hockley, TX  on 06/11/2005.  My equipment was a TOA-130, NJP mount, ST-8XE camera.  The image consist of 10 each 240 seconds images combined in Maxln DL with some stretching.  The image was then processed in Photoshop.   (Reprocessed 06/13/2005 @ 1858 hrs)
M-16-061105--2-degrees-web.jpg (134997 bytes)      This is my first attempt on M-16 "The Eagle" colored.  This image was taken on 06/11/2005 and it consist of 10 each 240 seconds L, 4 each 240 second R, 4 each of 240 G, & 4 each of 240 second B.   (Reprocessed 06/13/2005 @ 1833 hrs) 
M-8 061205 web.jpg (45619 bytes)      This is a grayscale only image of M-8 "Lagoon Nebula". I was unable to get the color due to the clouds moving in at 4:30 AM.   It is located in the constellation Sagittarius and is well placed for viewing at this time.  This image was taken on 06/12/2005 at the Rafter M Ranch in Hockley, TX.  The equipment was my TOA-130, NJP mount, and the SBIG ST-8XE CCD camera.  The image consist of 10 each 240 secons images combined in MaxLn DL with some light stretching.  The image was then processed in Photoshop.   
M-8-061205--2-degree-high-r.jpg (89269 bytes)      This is a higher resolution  image of M-8 for you speed hounds
M-104 051105 web.jpg (16695 bytes)      This was one of M-104 that we shot through the clouds that were going in and out of our image field.  It was my first one that I tried to take that night and we had a lot of high clouds.  The image is  L= 10ea 240 second combined and processed in MaxIm DL and some processing in Photoshop.  Not a very good image, but it was part of the learning curve.  
NGC6992-081305--8degrees-we.jpg (67311 bytes)     This is a grayscale only image of NGC-6992.  It is made up of 10 each 5 minute exposures that was taken at the H.A.S. Columbus, Tx site on 08/13/2005.  I used my TOA-130n SBIG ST-8XE CCD camera.  The clouds came in around 12:15 and I could not complete the RGB.  
NGC6992 081305 -8degrees-combined R&L.jpg (217190 bytes)      This is a L & R image of NGC 6992 that was taken at the H. A. S. site in Columbus, Texas on 08/13/2005.  The equipment was the same as above and it it a combination of 10 each 300 second images combined in MaxIn and then combined with the above grayscale image.  Now if I can only get the Grn, and Blu for finish it.  
M-33_-13-degree_3600-sec-Lu.jpg (21210 bytes)      This is M-33 "The Pinwheel Galaxy.  It was taken at the Guadalupe State Park on 09/08/2005.  The image consist of 3600 seconds of Luminance, combined in MaxIn DL with some processing.  The image was finished in Photoshop. I still need to get my blue to make the color image.  
     This is a latest attempt of the Orion Nebula M-42 with M-43 next to it.  This was taken in Leakey, Texas on 03/24/2006 with my TOA-130 using my SBIG ST-8XE.  Exposure was set as follows:  L= 11 ea. 2 minutes, R= 8 each 2 minutes, G= 8 each 2 minutes, B= 8 each 2 minutes.  All images were combined in MaxIm DL and final processed in Photoshop .   
     This is M-51 that was taken on 03/25/2006 at Leakey, Texas.  I used the same equipment that is listed below, but as you can see the seeing was not very stable this night.  I would get hot and the cool, not to mention i got disconnected from the electricity and had to start all over once.  The image is made up of L=10 ea 300 seconds, R=6 each 300 sec, G = 6 each 300 seconds, and B = 5 each 300 seconds.  All Images were combined, stacked, processed in MaxIn DL .  The final image was then processed in Photoshop.    This one will have to be redone at a latter date that the sky is more stable. 
This is M-5 Globular Cluster also taken on 03/24/2006 at Leakey, Texas using my Takahashi TOA-130 at F/7.6.  The camera was an SBIG ST-8XE with the exposures set at L=10 each 2 minutes, R=6 each 2 minutes, G=6 each 2 minutes, B=6each 2 minutes.  All images were combined and aligned in MaxIm DL and final processing in Photoshop. 
73P-B-cropped-web.jpg (150719 bytes) Comet 73P B Schwassmann-Wachmann  - This is a cropped image of the one listed above.  
M-3-5m--15--006Lum-combined.jpg (7837 bytes) M-3  This image of M-3 was shot on Saturday night 04/22/2006 with very poor weather.   It is on 6 each 5 minutes images combined in MaxIn DL and light processing in Photoshop.  We were just trying to get some protons that night to mess with the next morning.  
M-51-5-min--lrgb-web_filtered.jpg (206865 bytes) M-51  Well, I didn't like the results on the M-51 taken at Lakey, Texas so when I went to TSP I started all over again.  This image is 15 each 300 sec L, 4 each 300 sec. RGB.  The image was combined in MasIm DL, and final processed in Photoshop. 
Cropped M-51
m-57_5-min--15-LRGB-web.jpg (261928 bytes) M-57  Planetary Nebula - Imaged taken on 04/25/2006 at TSP.  Image consist of 10 each  5 minute L, 4 each 5 minute RGB combined and processed in MaxIm DL and final processing in Photoshop.  
M-57-LRGB-cropped.jpg (127530 bytes) M-57 Planetary (Ring) Nebula - Cropped image of above. 
M-64-15_5min-LRGB-web.jpg (158521 bytes) M-64 Black Eye Galaxy - Image taken on 04/24/2006 at TSP.  Image consist of 15 each 5 minute l, 4 each 5 minute RGB combined and processed in MaxIm DL and final processing in Photoshop.  
M-64-5-min--15-web-cropped.jpg (257155 bytes) M-64 Black Eye Galaxy - Cropped   The second one is a reprocessed after watching the Randy Brewer's presentation at NHAC.  
This is an image made up of  3 each 3 minutes photos.  As you can see Comet 73P "G" if very faint and is coming apart.  You could not see it without a CCD camera at TSP

NGC 4038 "Antennae" Spiral Galaxy.  This was taken at TSP using my TOA 130, SBIG ST-8XE.  the image consist of 10 each 5 minute luminous, and 4 each 5 minute RGB.  the image was then combined and some processing in MaxIm DL and final processing in Photoshop

NGC 4631 "Whale" Spiral Galaxy.  This was taken at TSP with the above equipment, but due to the clouds rolling in, I was only able to take 8 each 5 minute luminous images.  It too was combined in MaxIm DL and final processing in Photoshop. 

      M81-M82-200-sec--web.jpg (13972 bytes)

M-81 & M-82     Taken at the Rafter M Ranch 05/21/2006.  This was a poor night for imaging with clouds rolling in and out.  This was taken with my TOA 130, ST-8XE camera and combined and some processing in MaxIm DL.  The image was then finished in Photoshop.  The image consist of 9 ea 200 seconds L. and 4 ea 200 second RGB.  

On January 1, 2007 I went outside with almost a full moon and set up my TOA-130 set at F/ 5.6.  This image consist of 10 each 300 seconds L and 4 each 300 RGB.  There was a lot of frost this evening so I had crop the image to get rid of the dew on the outer edges of the image.  As you can see there is a lot of sky glow from the almost full moon.  The images were combined in MaxIm DL and finished processing in Photo Shop. 

Earlier on January 1, 2007 I pointed to M-42 & M-43 area and took this image.  This image consist of  12 each 60 seconds L and 4 each 60 seconds RGB.  I had my focal reducer attached making the TOA 130 F/5.6.  The image were then combined and processed in MaxIm DL and finished up in Photo Shop.

January 2, 2007 I tried it again at the Rafter M Ranch.  I started to shoot M-31 & M-32, but the clouds got me.  I kept loosing my guide star and ended up throwing away 7 of my Lum.  This is 6 300 seconds Lum combined in MaxIm DL.  I will try this one again soon. 

 
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