RASC Halifax Centre - 2020 Astroimaging Contest

2020 Astroimaging Contest Entries

(Photos are the copyrighted property of the photographers. Permission to use any of their photos for other purposes must be obtained from the photographer.)

Deep-Sky Winner: 11 - IC1805 / Heart Nebula - Jeff Donaldson

$28 - Aristoteles and Eudoxus, the 'Bike Wheel' lunar craters. SS Aristoteles and Eudoxus, the “Bike Wheel” lunar craters.•\tThe Aristoteles and Eudoxus craters.•\tAristoteles and Eudoxus craters are prominent; however, the image also shows some of Mare Frigoris and the northern part of the Caucasus Mountains and Mare Serenitatis, including the impressive Posidonius crater. Aristoteles and the smaller Eudoxus are a distinctive pair of craters joined by an arc of mountains. Together, these two craters and mountains resemble a bicycle and rider. .•\tCaptured at 05:16 on 7 September 2020 at Halifax, NS. Equipment consisted of a Celestron C8 200mm f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, SkyWatcher EQ6R mount, and a ZWO ASI290MM CMOS camera (gain 200, 0.0125-second exposures, MONO8/SER format) with an IR 850nm pass filter at prime focus. SharpCap was used to capture 4000 frames of video, the best 200 of which were selected and stacked with AutoStakkert 2. Registax 6 was used for wavelets. Levels, sharpness, contrast, highlights and shadows were tweaked using Photoshop CS2 and Microsoft Photo.$ Solar System Winner: 28 - Aristoteles and Eudoxus, the 'Bike Wheel' lunar craters - David Hoskin.

Wide Field Winner: 09 - Milky Way Bayswater - Jason Dain

People's Choice Winner: 15 - Observing Comet NEOWISE in solitude - Jerry Black

07 - Eastern Veil Nebula

$13 - The Heart Nebula melts my Heart Image Title: The Heart Nebula melts my Heart..Object: The Heart Nebula (IC 1805)..Pertinent Details: This was my 1st target with my new Triad Ultra Quad Narrow band filter and I had no idea how it would perform, particularly as the 1st night of shooting was under a nearly full moon. I love photographing things we normally can't see and this is clearly that type of target...Capture Details: Image sub-frames consisted of\t56@300 sec + 14@600 sec + 23@900 sec, for a total of 12.75 hours. Shot at ISO 800 on a Nikon Z7 [8856 x 5504] using a Skywatcher Esprit 120mm Refractor with a Radian Triad Ultra Quad-Band Narrowband Filter (H-beta, OIII, H-alpha, and SII). Guiding used Phd2 via a ZWO 224MC on an Orion 60x240mm Guide scope. The image sequence was controlled using Kstars on an Odroid-N2 (Raspberry Pi clone) in suburban Nova Scotia between 2020-06-16 and 2020-09-05. PixInsight Processing consisted of the following processes: the WeightedBatchPreprocessing Script for calibration, registration and integration (integration used the Generalized Extreme Studentized Deviate rejection algorithm), Dynamic Crop, Automatic Background Extractor, ColourCalibration (both saturation and hue), MultiscaleLinearTransform, HistogramTransform, CurvesTransformation, LocalHistogramEquilization and ColourProfile. Further tweaking for colour was performed in Lightroom. Sorry about the saturation, but that's the way I like it.$ 13 - The Heart Nebula melts my Heart

$26 - The Iris Nebula (NGC 7023) DS NGC 7023.•\tThe Iris Nebula (NGC 7023).•\tThe Iris Nebula is a bright reflection nebula located in the constellation Cepheus. The reflection nebula (LBN 487) contains an open star cluster designated NGC 7023. The nebula is illuminated by a +7-magnitude star. .•\tCaptured 8 August 2020 at Morden, NS. Equipment consisted of an Orion ED80T-CF 80mm f/6 apo refractor, SkyWatcher EQ6R mount (PHD2-guided using a 50mm f/4 guide scope and ASI290MM CMOS camera), and a ZWO ASI183MC CMOS camera (gain 120, RAW16/FITS format). DeepSkyStacker was used to debayer and stack 30 x 4-minute subs, 30 darks, and 30 flats. Photoshop CS2 with Astronomy Tools Action Set was used to adjust levels, stretch data, increase saturation, and remove noise. ImagesPlus was used for star reduction. Microsoft Photo was used to tweak clarity, contrast, highlights and shadows in the final image.$ 26 - The Iris Nebula (NGC 7023)

22 - NGC 7023, The Iris Nebula

$14 - The Eagle watches over us Image Title: The Eagle watches over us..Object: The Eagle Nebula (M16)..Pertinent Details: The Hubble version of this target featuring the 'Pillars of Creation' has always been the most stunning astro image I've encountered. With a new Triad Ultra Quad Narrow band filter, I wanted to see what I could capture from light polluted skies. This young open cluster of stars, gas and dust draws me into its center...Capture Details: Image sub-frames consisted of\t6@300 sec + 1@600 sec + 12@900 sec for a total of 8.25 hours. Shot at ISO 800 on a Nikon Z7 [8856 x 5504] using a Skywatcher Esprit 120mm Refractor with a Radian Triad Ultra Quad-Band Narrowband Filter (H-beta, OIII, H-alpha, and SII). Guiding used Phd2 via a ZWO 224MC on an Orion 60x240mm Guide scope. The image sequence was controlled using Kstars on an Odroid-N2 (Raspberry Pi clone) in suburban Nova Scotia between 2020-06-16 and 2020-09-05. PixInsight Processing consisted of the following processes: the WeightedBatchPreprocessing Script for calibration, registration and integration (integration used the Generalized Extreme Studentized Deviate rejection algorithm), Dynamic Crop, Automatic Background Extractor, ColourCalibration (both saturation and hue), MultiscaleLinearTransform, HistogramTransform, CurvesTransformation, LocalHistogramEquilization and ColourProfile. Further tweaking for colour and noise suppression was performed in Lightroom.$ 14 - The Eagle watches over us

04 - M31/Andromeda Galaxy

34 - M31 The Andromeda Galaxy

05 - M33/Triangulum Galaxy

17 - M42

18 - (Bode’s Galaxy) and M82 (The Cigar Galaxy)

32 - M92

$08 - North America Nebula Image Title: North America Nebula..Object: North America Nebula..Pertinent Details: I had imaged this with my DSLR wide field and wanted to try with my new refractor with a focus on the Cygnus wall area...Capture Details: Captured at Stillwater Lake NS on July 28th and July 29th. This is 116x300 second exposures at f/5.5, ISO 1600 @ 550 mm using an Astro-modified Nikon D7200 with an Optolong L-enhance filter. The telescope was mounted on a Skywatcher EQ6R-Pro and controlled by a ZWO ASIAIR Pro. Pre-processing and processing were completed in Pixinsight. The basic workflow included WeightedBatchPreProcessing, BackgroundExtraction, Color Correction, Noise Reduction, Local Histogram Reduction, Dark Structure Enhancement and various curves adjustments.$ 08 - North America Nebula

24 - NGC 6888 Crescent Nebula, an emission nebula in Cygnus

$27 - NGC 7635 and Messier 52 DS NGC 7635 and Messier 52.•\tThe Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) and open star cluster Messier 52..•\tThe Bubble Nebula is an emission nebula located in the constellation Cassiopeia. The “bubble” is the product of stellar wind from the large hot central star shaping surrounding clouds of dust and hydrogen gas. Messier 52 is a bright open star cluster that is easily seen with binoculars from a dark site..•\tCaptured over 2 imaging sessions, one on 8 September 2020 and the other on 9 September 2020 from Halifax, NS. Equipment consisted of an Orion ED80T-CF 80mm f/6 apochromatic refractor, SkyWatcher EQ6R mount (PHD2-guided using a 50mm f/4 guide scope and ASI290MM CMOS camera), and a ZWO ASI183MC CMOS camera using SharpCap (gain 120, RAW16/FITS format). DeepSkyStacker was used to debayer and stack 80 3-minute subs, 30 darks, and 30 flats. SiriL was used for photometric color calibration. Photoshop CS2 with Astronomy Tools Action Set was used to adjust levels, stretch data, increase saturation, and remove noise. ImagesPlus was used for star reduction. Microsoft Photo was used to tweak clarity, contrast, highlights and shadows in the final image.$ 27 - NGC 7635 and Messier 52

33 - NGC 281 - Pacman Nebulae

16 - NGC7000 North America Nebula, a large emission nebula in Cygnus

25 - Tarantula Nebula and the Large Magellanic Cloud

$12 - Moon during the day · Moon during the day .· Moon .· Shot from my Campsite in August .· Yogi Bear Campground, 9am August 9th. Camera was the ZWO ASI120MM, default settings used in ASICap and used my old Celestron 102SLT Refractor at F6.47, 400 frames used and processing done in Registax and some levels adjusted in Pixinsight.$ 12 - Moon during the day

19 - The Moon In Colour

$29 - SS Moon Meets Mars SS Moon Meets Mars.•\tThe Moon and Mars conjunction on 6 September 2020.•\tMars (upper right) is approximately 1 degree from the waning gibbous Moon. Hercules and Atlas craters are prominent to the north along the terminator. The ray systems associated with Tycho, Copernicus, Kepler, and Aristarchus craters are visible. .•\tCaptured at 02:56 on 6 September 2020 at Halifax, NS. Equipment consisted of a Celestron C8 200mm f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope on a SkyWatcher EQ6R mount, and a Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR on manual at prime focus. This is a mosaic of 2 sets of images (ISO-400, 1/800 second exposures, RAW format). The 4 best images from each set of exposures were stacked with Registax 6, which was also used for wavelets. Photoshop CS2 was used to merge the 2 stacked images. Lighting, sharpness, contrast and color were adjusted using Photoshop CS2 and Microsoft Photo.$ 29 - SS Moon Meets Mars

$23 - Venus and Moon Venus and Moon.June 19, 2020 5:06 am.The crescent of Venus emerges from behind the moon at the end of occultation.Seen from Bedford NS.Canon EOS RP with 500 mm Sigma telephoto lens at f/13, 1/1000\xfc\xbe\x8c\xa3\xa4\xbc, ISO 6400, handheld.Cropped, contrast and brightness adjusted in Adobe Photoshop Express.$ 23 - Venus and Moon

01 - WF Dawn Comet.jpg

$30 - WF Harvest Moon Over Minas Basin WF Harvest Moon Over Minas Basin.•\tThe Harvest Moon rising over the Minas Basin.•\tThe Harvest Moon (99.8% illuminated) was photographed several minutes after rising above the east-south east horizon. Evangeline Beach and the Minas Basin are seen in the foreground. .•\tCaptured at 20:01 on 13 September 2019 at Kingsport Beach, NS. Equipment consisted of a tripod-mounted Canon Rebel T3 DSLR on manual at ISO-400 with 55mm-250mm Canon lens at 146 mm and f/5; 0.1-second exposure..•\tA single 0.1-second exposure was captured in RAW format and converted to TIFF format using Canon’s Digital Photo Professional. Photoshop CS2 and Microsoft Photo were used to tweak clarity, contrast, highlights, and shadows in the final image.$ 30 - WF Harvest Moon Over Minas Basin

06 - Lighthouse under milkyway

20 - Milkyway Over Summerville

21 - NEOWISE Over Ponhook

03 - WF NEOWISE with Muin and the Seven Bird Hunters

$31 - WF Orion Rising WF Orion Rising.•\tThe Orion constellation rising at the 2019 Nova East Star Party..•\tOrange-red Betelgeuse is prominent. Messier 42, the Orion Nebula, is visible as a bright patch in Orion’s Sword..•\tCaptured at 04:42 on 2 September 2019 at Smiley’s Provincial Park. Equipment consisted of a tripod-mounted Canon Rebel T3 DSLR on manual at ISO-1600 with 18mm-55mm Canon lens at 18mm and f/4; 15-second exposures..•\tA series of eleven 15-second exposures were captured in RAW format and converted to TIFF format using Canon’s Digital Photo Professional. Sequator was used to stack eleven exposures. No darks or flats were used. Photoshop CS2 was used to adjust levels, stretch data, and correct color balance/saturation. Microsoft Photo was used to tweak clarity, contrast, highlights, and shadows in the final image.$ 31 - WF Orion Rising

10 - Rho Ophiuchi to the Milky Way Pano

02 - WF Winter Hexagon in Summer