Contributions of the group Astronomy

Southern tadpoles. NGC3572

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sat, 16 May 2026 08:37:26 +0000

Part of the Carina complex with the small Southern Tadpoles Center of shot. The northern Tadpoles are much larger and more numerus

www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astrophotography/nebulae/tadpole-nebula-ic-410

This was a place I did want to come back to to try and do them justice that a colour camera just can not do. If you look middle of the shot you can make out the Horse shoe shape in the wide angle shot of the whole area.

Carina Nebula Wide Field.

QHY183M -10c 4 days 5 min SHaO 70 odd shot each , 40 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
ZWOFW and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
QHY5L-II-M Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

Whirling Dervish NGC 3247

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 03:00:38 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

If you look into the Whirling Dervish of Turkey

www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1701421760530517

You cant mistake the shape and the movement there even has the arms up as well. The face is there but the hat is black not the beige colour.

QHY183M -10c 4 days 5 min SHaO 70 odd shot each , 40 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
ZWOFW and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
ToupTek G3m Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

Tonight's full moon

nobody@ipernity.com (tiabunna) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:56:11 +0000

tiabunna has posted:

Big and bright as it rose this evening. Best viewed large.

Running Chicken Nebula IC 2944:- Do look as large as you can

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:39:22 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

This was pure trial.

The circles that showed up had to GO.

Standard QHY masks.

3Rd party filter masks all over the filter seat and hole this is the filters out so I could paint the interior, the small circles went as unlike the supplied masks they covered the whole of the hole no lights leaks down the side of the filters and a new interior paint job that reflected no light.

normal interior of the QHYFW contrast the new paint set as same angle

First show just how bright the inside of the filter wheel really is. I was told get some Musou Black and paint the two inside parts of the case.

A nights trial no small circles any where in the RGB stars or the Oii NB filter. But there remained a big circle in the middle. Musou Black Its an unearthly black to look at as it absorbs 98% of the light so no reflections

I raked my brain where is there a large circle. I could only find one just inside the top of the scope there is a 40mm Black plastic ring for the cover to sit on over the time it has got highly polished. Reflecting the light for the street lights or the moon down to the mirror. Only answer is Flock it a velvet like paper that is self adhesive.

I did each night remove the previous nights stacked files so I could see the result of the new work that was done. The end result was every one of the circles where no more. I cant wait till the 16th of this month I have till the 23 rd to shoot LRGB MOON free and see once and for all can I finally do a clean coloured photo from filters. Has all this work paid off the RGB shot it did showed no marks the stars in this shot showed no marks so it all looks very promising. stay tuned! This was A lot of thinking, a lot of clouds from the cyclone and the rain I brought the scope inside.

QHY268M -10c 4 days 5 min SHaO 70 odd shot each , 40 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
ToupTek G3m Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

Mondsichelwachstum

nobody@ipernity.com (Ko Hummel) — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:22:01 +0000

Ko Hummel has posted:

Mondsichel mit Erdschein

nobody@ipernity.com (Ko Hummel) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:58:00 +0000

Ko Hummel has posted:

NGC 3522 The Wishing Well Cluster

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:12:47 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

On the far Left the Cluster is Suppose to look like coins in a Fountain. This is a target that has So many stars it takes over the nebulas. This was second fiddle to

As it ran from 1am to Dawn as a fill in. Carina is top right just out of view.

QHY268M -0c 6 days 5 min SHaO 100 odd shot each , 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
ToupTek G3m Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

NGC1928

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:01:44 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

In part why I did a 42 panel look at the LMC area there is just so much here to look at. You can see this in the middle of the shot below.

This is almost the Heart of the LMC cloud we see in the sky at Night. I make 100% no apologies for the Number of stars in the Shot I have only tried to lower there value rather than the number.
Top left is the area we see the most shots of the LMC Tarantula Nebula but by no means the total of the LMC area.

This was shot over 6 nights till about 1 am before the LMC got really to low to image.
Enjoy one of the jewels of our Southern skies a Little bit more past the Normal...
QHY268M -0c 6 days 5 min SHaO 100 odd shot each , 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
ToupTek G3m Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

First Bow of the night

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 07:59:40 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

This was after the drive up we left Perth 8 pm it was then set up swag(one man tent) the drive over to the park. This was shot around 1 am in the morning. As there where still cars moving about there is some unusual lighting in the shot . Brake lights they have a great intensity I thought i had reshot them and removed it all but there is still evidence of it.

This is 360 degree view of the area we went to as there where others out and about. In all 5 others in the area and cars moving in the shot.
On the drive up we drove over( between the wheels) an echidna. the shot below was from the car head lights as we turned back to look at it as neither of us have ever seen one before. We waited for it to uncurl but it never did se we left it in peace to finish walking over the road.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echidna

Pip is a very different area but same park

D810 6400ISO 13sec
Samyang 14mm F2.4 @ 2.8

MOON rise.

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 07:57:42 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

You can pick the fact the moon is about to rise the colour in the sky give's it away. Just below left hand end you can see the moon starting to rise the other bright light is made up of town ship and far right mining night lights.1:30am ish in the morning.

Pip is a very different area but same park

D810 6400ISO 13sec
Samyang 14mm F2.4 @ 2.8

Sentinels of time and Stars.

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 07:55:38 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

My last shot just before The moon was about to start showing at 1:20 am. The sky was Inky black and stars shone so well in the night sky. If you look closely at the bottom of the left hand end you can see the moon starting to have an effect.

Pip is a very different area but same park

D810 6400ISO 13sec
Samyang 14mm F2.4 @ 2.8

Keel Nebula NGC3199

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 05:06:21 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

The Keel Nebula with filters show so much more detail than the straight colour shot . This is in the Hubble pallet S Ha O.

The ship has changed colour due to the area being strong in Oxygen to a blue boat. Still a boat sailing on a sea of stars though past the rocks.

QHY268M -0c 6 days 5 min SHaO 120 shot each , 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
ToupTek G3m Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

NGC1925 Small part Of the LMC complex

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 01:40:11 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

One of the reason I did the big 42 panel panorama ( top just right of center) of the LMC was to look at it for potential targets. There are a few more places I will visit as time allows.

This was one area that stood out NGC 1925 such a lot in the area. That wild blue face. Been quite a few things go not working to plan so its been an uphill battle to get the shots some night part night only.

QHY268M -0c 6 days 5 min SHaO , 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
ToupTek G3m Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

RCW 20 & 19 ( Bigger one)

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:41:49 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

In the plan below you can see these two top left area ,This is still in the Vela area and once again an area not that much imaged but I have to say like the image. This was the only glitch that happened in Nina since I have been Using it. that was one whole night Ha filter shot the whole night dispite the fact all the other filters where in the program in the equence. I over came this by night two no Ha was shot just Oiii Sii till they caught up. I turned out it was a glitch in the program it was not just me but a lot of others that where also affected world wide.

This is in the Hubble pallet one of the most usefull pallets you can use.This is still part of the Orion arm that we are on and our sun. As said if you can see Orion in the sky you are looking at our arm of the milky way.

This is half way between the two target did not work as well as I thought so only two nights. NGC2451 is a galaxy but it is over shadowed by the big star and the resultant spikes from the spider.

QHY268M -0c 4 days 5 min SHaO full nights., 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
QHY5L-II-M Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

Wind Swept Cosmic Mountains BBW 56

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:37:26 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

This was a look see wide in planning to see what is about, this formation as a surfer stood out as a shark fin. You are looking at an area that is not normaly imaged if I had not got out to a wide view I would never have seen it at all.

So I had to wait for this to come up, you are looking at a panorama of 3 vertical shot to get the whole mountain in. This is a very Hydrogen rich area hence all the red so this is in the pallet Ha Sii Sii all red components.

Mid way I got the remnants of a cyclone but dumping Clouds and rain down our way. So I got the chance to bring in the Scope to clean the Mirrors and then rebuild ready to shoot again.

This is the lining up with the camera that sits in the Focuser looking in (The Red part in the middle ) all the part are rebulit to match the circle of the bottom of the focuser. its worth noteing the mirror in the picture is eliptical not at all round you have to get the view round ( see shot below).... that is the black frame in the middle with a view of the main mirror in view and the red camera and sensor. The main big area of white is a A4 sheet of white paper so the small secondary mirror stands out.

QHY268M -0c 5 min S Ha and three full nights of data , 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
QHY5L-II-M Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

2025 + 2026 Accidental panorama Do look as large as you can.

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 08:49:52 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

The Gem Cluster NGC 3293 that is next to Carina. Originally taken as a fill in as the other shots got stopped at 2am by the palm tree this became a fill in.
Then the accident happened "what if" , my third shot with the QHY268M was of Gabriela Mistral area would they go together. PTGui put them straight together, so it meant a reedit so the two photos looked like they where taken to match. Then edit them both as one.

Differences between
2025 Feb is a horizontal shot, 2026 Jan is a rotated vertical shot.
Biggest is the dates a full year apart.
2025 is @-10 2026 is @ 0
2025 is the last taken with the Esatto focuser, 2026 Starpoint Australis SP3 focuser
And a trip to China for repairs.

Other wise every thing else is exactly the same. There is more data in the single shot than is in the shot in the panorama by two nights.
May be I should reedit with the full amount of data but as it was just a "what if" I went with what I had.

QHY268M -0c 4 days 5 min SHaO 2am to Nautical dawn and three full nights of data , 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
QHY5L-II-M Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

Gem Cluster NGC 3293

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 08:50:26 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

The Gem Cluster NGC 3293 that is next to Carina. Originally taken as a fill in as the other shots got stopped at 2am by the palm tree this became a fill in. To get a photo of better quality I had to add a further 3 Full nights data to the data that was gained from the fill in time shots. The wisps you see are quite amazing.

Do read the info on the accidental panorama below.

QHY268M -0c 4 days 5 min SHaO 2am to Nautical dawn and three full nights of data , 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
QHY5L-II-M Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

LDN1608 and Dust.

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:08:13 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

LDN1608 is the small nebula on the left hand side of the shot I was taken by the dust lanes. Having walked a lot of NZ with my father he always had topographical maps of where we where walking. I was struck by the similarity of the rest of the image on the right side how much it looked like one of those maps. It was not unknown for my father to hand the map and compass to my bother and myself "we are lost" get us out of here. I am so glad I did not have this in WA almost flat face less land.

Another shot of the area but much closer up as the shot is made with a 1" sensor QHY183M verses a QHY268M ASPC both mono and same filters and same scope.. I took Oiii 41 shots as there was only one very small amount of blue nebula in the shot. Ha 79 shots and 126 shots Sii as this area is mostly these two elements . Sadly the palm tree is getting in the shot earlier and as I have been able to reach 20hours combined shot time I will move to a palm tree free target...

QHY268M -0c 6 days 5 min SHaO 8:20pm to 2 am , 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
QHY5L-II-M Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

Lower's Nebula SH2-261

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:36:38 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

You have heard the saying Stuck between a Rock and Hard place. This is the result of 6 nights, The Rock is a Palm tree big and not going anywhere 2 am it all stops, the Hard place is the brand new street light JUST over the fence.

The monkey head had to be terminated much as I wanted to take more it got so low it was in direct line with the Street light every thing failed. This was the Nebula I really wanted to do but the Bright light ended that. BUT I have asked the question to the local council can they put a Skirt on the light my side so there is No direct light shining into the telescope.

Do I do not hold much out that there will be help forth coming other than tough luck.

Lower's Nebula or SH2-261 is one you have seen before but nothing like this. These targets are on the Orion arm of the Milky way Thats Where we the earth are on.... these are all in the South Hemisphere Northern targets.

QHY268M -0c 6 days 5 min SHaO 8:20pm to 2 am , 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
QHY5L-II-M Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, Ps

Seagull Nebula SH2-296

nobody@ipernity.com (Steve Paxton) — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 22:47:41 +0000

Steve Paxton has posted:

This was one that I wanted to come back to as I could rotate my view to suit the target much like I could when I used my 300mm Nikon lens and coloured camera. This was done as a 3 panel vertical panorama to get the whole of the spread of the wings. It was a case of for each panel I shot for 3 nights each to get enough data to get all the smaller parts to show up in detail. I shot at my summer temp of -0 as some of the days where well over 30c when I started hence the start temp of 0c rather than -10c. The value of the filters they show up considerably more details than the coloured camera ever could.

QHY268M -0c 3 days 5 min SHaO each panel, 30 shots each RGB 1 min exposure.
QHYCFW3 and 7 Antlia filters LRGBSHaO
ZWOCAA rotator
MeLE Mini PC
Pegasus Astro Pocket Mini power box
Starpoint Australis SP3 Focuser
Skywatcher 200 F4 PREMIUM PHOTO QUATTRO REFLECTOR OTA
Skywatcher F4 Aplanatic Coma Corrector
Skywatcher NEQ 6 Pro Hypertuned
SVbony 50MM Guide scope
QHY5L-II-M Guide camera
Guided PHD2, Nina
Pixinsight, PtGui, Ps