Stepping Stone Observatory

North American & Pelican Nebula
HST Tri Color Narrowband
2 Hours of Exposure



Propeller Nebula
H-alpha 5nm band pass
30 Minute Sub



The Jellyfish Nebula - IC 443
HST Tri Color Narrowband



Rosette Nebula
HST Tri Color Narrowband







The Bubble Nebula - HST Palette -Narrowband



Cone, Christmas Tree & Fox Fur Nebula



NGC 7380  The Wizard



Rosette Nebula
H-alpha 1x30 Minute Exposure
Filters: AstroDon 5nm H-a, 5nm
Scope: Takahashi FSQ-106 EDX
CCD: QSI 532wsg guided with OAG and SX Lodestar
Image Scale: 2.47 arc seconds per pixel



NGC 1499 California Nebula
H-alpha 1x30 Minute Exposure
Filters: AstroDon 5nm H-a, 5nm
Scope: Takahashi FSQ-106 EDX
CCD: QSI 532wsg guided with OAG and SX Lodestar
Image Scale: 2.47 arc seconds per pixel



Horsehead & Flame Nebula
H-alpha 1x10 Minute Exposure
Filters: AstroDon 5nm H-a, 5nm
Scope: Takahashi FSQ-106 EDX
CCD: QSI 532wsg guided with OAG and SX Lodestar
Image Scale: 2.47 arc seconds per pixel



NGC 7000 Re-Processed with Bob Franke's Suggested
Color Selection Adjustments and Color Noise Reduction



NGC 7000 - North American Nebula
Tri Color NarrowBand Hubble Palette
H-alpha 4 x 900 Seconds, SII 6 x 900 Seconds, OIII 9 x 900 Seconds
Filters: AstroDon 5nm H-a, 5nm SII, 3nm OIII
Scope: Takahashi FSQ-106 EDX
CCD: QSI 532wsg guided with OAG and SX Lodestar
Image Scale: 2.47 arc seconds per pixel





IC 1396 Elephant Trunk Nebula
September 2, 2009
Tak FSQ 106EDXII & EM200 Temma 2 mount with QSI 532wsg CCD
Single 30 minute exposure - No Dark Frames Applied
CCD Stack: Minor Bloom Removal and Imputed Values
DDP Adjustment

Sharpless Sh2-108 next to Gamma Cygni
May 13, 2009
FSQ 106 EDX  & QSI 532 wsg
30 Minute Exposure x 1

This is an image of Sharpless Sh2-108, also known as IC 1318.
It is a single 30 minute exposure and was done to test the new off axis guiding equipment.
Looks like the auto-guiding is working.  It is also my first image with the new robo focuser and focus max.
I am very happy!  I am looking forward to these longer exposures and improved focus.

IC 1848    The Soul Nebula
March 23, 2009
10 subs x 5 minutes
AstroDon H-alpha filter 5nm band pass
Equipment Used: Takahashi FSQ 106EDX on EM-200 Temma 2
QSI 532ws CCD Camera - Un Guided
Image Aquisition, Stacking & Stretching in Maxim DL v.5.04

IC 1848    The Soul Nebula
March 23, 2009
10 subs x 5 minutes in each channel Ha / SII / OIII
Total Exposure is 2.5 hours
Equipment Used: Takahashi FSQ 106EDX on EM-200 Temma 2
QSI 532ws CCD Camera - Un Guided
Image Aquisition, Stacking & Stretching in Maxim DL v.5.04

Thisi image suffered from focus shift during the 2.5 hour imaging run.
I have since learned that he FSQ is a thermally unstable scope
which requires focusing every 30 minutes or so.  
I decided it was time for a robo focuser
The image also suffers from a gradient produced from
stretching the OIII channel.  I will start to use Gradient Xtermnator
in future images.  The aggressive stretch of the weak channels
produced magenta stars.  I am learning new techniques to improve this.

IC 1805    The Heart Nebula
March 20, 2009
3 subs x 4 minutes
Total Exposure is 12 Minutes
Equipment Used: Takahashi FSQ 106EDX on EM-200 Temma 2 Mount
QSI 532ws CCD Camera - Un Guided
Image Aquisition, Stacking & Stretching in Maxim DL v.5.04

Sepember 27, 2008 Milky Way - Cygnus Region
New Mexico Skies Astronomy Village
Canon 450 Xsi 18-55mm Lens on AstroTrac
1 x 10 minute Exposure at ISO 800

NGC 7000 - June 24, 2008
300 Second Single Expsosure
Scope: Takahashi FSQ-106EDX2
Mount: Takahashi EM-200 Temma 2
Camera: Canon 450Xsi (No Filter Modification)