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).

The moon Io can be seen casting its shadow on Jupiter. Farther left, moon Callisto.

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