Location: San Bruno, CA
Telescope: Orion Astrograph 8″ on Takahashi NJP-Z Mount
Camera: Qhy9 CCD with Astronomik H-Alpha 12nm Filter
Another series of H-Alpha images this time with the 8″ Orion Newtonian Astrograph.
Once the telescope is well collimated, it produces good images along with the Baader MPCC coma reducer.
The B33 / Horsehead image is a composite of 14 exposures of 390 seconds, processed with Maxim DL v5 and Photoshop CS4.
B33 / Horsehead on 2/10/2011 with 8″ Newtonian telescope
The next picture is the more challenging Medusa nebula (planetary nebula).
This nebula was discovered in 1955. It has a very low surface brightness.
The technology to record Hydrogen Alpha images became after World War II (source: galaxymap.org).
I assume this combined with the very low brightness of this nebula is one of the reason why it was discovered relatively recently.
By comparison, it is quite easy to see the shape of the Nebula with one sub-exposure of 6min done with my 8″ telescope in 390sec amidst the City light!
The image is a composite of 15 exposures of 390sec, combined with Maxim DL 5 and processed with Photoshop CS4.
Sharpless 2-274 / Medusa Nebula on 2/9/2011 with 8″ Newtonian
Astrophotography in Urban Environment 