Astro Imaging

For imaging the night sky, I use a Nikon D700 DSLR camera connected
to a Celestron CPC 1100 Telescope. When using a Hyperstar accessory, the telescope
essentially becomes a 560mm f2.0 lens when paired with the Nikon camera. Optionally,
the telescope can function as a 2800mm f10 lens. A reducer gives a middle of the road
~1600mm at f6.3. Finally, sometimes I piggy back the camera with a Nikon Lens on top of
the telescope.

The moon was aquired as a single fast exposure. The galaxies and nebula below were captured
by combining anywhere from 10 - 100 images (typically 30 seconds exposure each),
and stacking them, increasing signal to noise ratio on these dimmer objects.

M45 - The Pleaides (Seven Sisters) - 435 Light Years away.

Milky Way Center, taken with a Nikon D700 and a 24-70 f2.8 lens from the dark skies over Greer, Arizona.

A zoom lens brings us a little closer to the Milky Way Center, taken with a Nikon D700 and a 70-200 f2.8 lens.

M13, a Globular Cluster of a few hundred thousand stars.

NGC 2024 - Close up of Horsehead Nebula.

M31 - Andromeda Galaxy - 2.5 million light years away.

M33 - The Triangulum Galaxy - 2.4 million light years away.

NGC 891 - An edge on spiral galaxy about 30 million light years distant.

NGC 891 - Closer up - This image made from 100 x 30 second exposures at f6.3 / ISO 25,600 on Nikon D700.

Interacting Galaxies M81 (left) and M82 (right).
M81 is believed to have a massive black hole in its center.

M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy and a companion galaxy on the left (NGC 5195).
These two interacting galaxies are estimated to be around 23 million light years away.
100 images x 30 seconds at ISO 12,800 on Nikon D700 with CPC 1100 and f6.3 focal reducer.

M101 - Pinwheel Galaxy, about 27 million light years away, with a mass of around 100 billion suns.
If you look closely, you can see a hook on one of the arms, towards the left and rising to the top.
119 images x 30 seconds at ISO 25,600 on Nikon D700 with CPC 1100 and f6.3 focal reducer.

M42 - The Great Orion Nebula (bottom) and NGC 1977 - The Running Man Nebula (top left).

Moon, taken with Nikon D700 plugged into the telescope.

Moon, amplifying existing colors as captured by my camera reveals
existing subtle hues.

© 2010 John Miranda