The Leisurely Scientist

Greetings, and welcome to Leisurely Scientist! My name is Tom Wildoner, I have loved the science field, particularly the "Natural Sciences" since I was a child (a long time ago). This photo blog is my attempt to share science through photographs and also to help me organize my work. My interests are wide and include astrophotography, bird and nature photography, landscapes, waterfalls, macrophotography, and more. I hope to share some science information through my photography. I will try and explain processing techniques, equipment setup, and more. I hope you enjoy yourself here and put some of what you learn use. Comments and questions are always appreciated!

You can find me on TWITTER as @tdsobservatory, my image portfolio is available on FLICKR. I also post images on my Facebook account at https://www.facebook.com/tom.wildoner

My images have been used on UNIVERSE TODAY, EARTHSKY, The Washington Post, Sky and Telescope, Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD), Amateur Astronomy Picture of the Day and numerous online media outlets and E-Magazines. I have a liberal policy regarding my images, they can be shared as long as credit is given for the image and the image is not edited in any way.

I also manage the Dark Side Observatory in Weatherly, Pennsylvania. The observatory can also be followed on FACEBOOK at https://www.facebook.com/thedarksideobservatory.

The latest processed images are presented below. Wishing you clear skies!

...Tom

RELEASE DATE: 6 Mar 2020

Sirius and the Pup

I took the opportunity on March 1st to try and capture an image of Sirius and the Pup, the companion white dwarf to the brightest star in the sky (besides the Sun). I chose to use the Meade 12” LX-90 and the ZWO ASI290MC camera to tackle this image. Information from Stella Doppie (https://www.stelledoppie.it/index2.php?iddoppia=27936) was showing the Pup at a distance of 11.193 arc-seconds from Sirius, the next few years are prime for imaging the Pup as it is approaching its maximum distance from Sirius.
The snapshot shown was taken from inside SharpCap (v3.2) using a GAIN of 109 and exposure setting of 0.986 seconds. To help confirm this was the companion to Sirius, the camera was rotate to make sure the Pup rotated with the camera.
Using the CCD Calculator tool from Astronomy Tools (https://astronomy.tools/calculators/ccd), the resolution of the photograph was calculated to be 0.2"/pixel (using a 2.9 um CCD pixel size and a 3,048mm focal length). Measuring the pixel distance from the center of Sirius A to what I believe is Sirius B shows a calculated distance of 12.6 arc seconds, which is close to the predicted 11.193 separation provided by Stella Doppie.
Additional details including a video can be found at this link:https://sites.google.com/view/thedarksideobservatory/deep-sky-astrophotography/doublebinary-stars/sirius-and-the-pup
Tech Specs for all images and video: Meade 12” LX-90, ZWO ASI290MC camera. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: March 1, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 3 Mar 2020

Venus in the Evening Sky

Here is a shot of Venus in the western sky taken on 1 March 2020 just after sunset. Did you know Venus shows phases similar to the moon? Currently, Venus is 62% illuminated. You can read more about the phases of Venus here: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/tracking-venus-in-late-2019-and-early-20
Tech Specs: Meade 12" LX-90, ZWO ASI290MC, best 25% of 5,000 frames, captured with SharpCap Pro v3.2 at 800 x 600 resolution. Image date: March 1, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 1 Mar 2020

The Dog Star and the Little Beehive Cluster

Here is a wide-field view of the star Sirius and the open cluster Messier 41 (M41), just squeezing them both in the field of view using the Williams Optics Redcat and Canon 6D camera. Sirius, Alpha Canis Majoris, is also known as the Dog Star, Nile Star, The Sparkling One and many others. At a distance of 8.7 light years, Sirius is the 10th nearest star to Earth.
Located 4-degrees south of Sirius is the open cluster Messier 41 (M41). M41 has an apparent magnitude of 4.5 and is about 2,300 light years from Earth. M41 is also referred to as the Little Beehive Cluster, but I can’t find the exact reference. M41 was mentioned by Aristotle about 325 B.C. as one of the mysterious “cloudy spots” then known in the sky. (REF: Robert Burnham Jr., Burnham’s Celestial Handbook, 1978).
Tech Specs: Williams Optic Redcat 51, iOptron ZEQ25 mount, Canon 6D, unguided, 10 x 60 second exposures, ISO 3200. Captured using BYE, processed in ImagesPlus. Image date: February 14, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 29 Feb 2020

The Moon - February 28, 2020

Here is a three panel mosaic of the moon last evening, February 28, 2020. 24% illuminated.
Tech Specs: Meade 12" LX-90, ZWO ASI071mc-Pro, three panels, best 25% of 100 frames at max resolution. Captured with SharpCap Pro v3.2, spliced with Microsoft Image Composite Editor (ICE). Image date: February 28, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 27 Feb 2020

Messier 81 - Bode's Galaxy in Ursa Major

Messier 81 (M81) is a large spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. It is referred to as Bode’s Galaxy as it was first discovered by Johann Elert Bode in 1774 and later picked up by Messier and added to his catalog. The magnitude is listed at a bright 6.9 and the distance is about 11,800,000 light-years away from Earth.
Messier 81 is the largest galaxy in the M81 Group, a group of 34 galaxies located in the constellation Ursa Major. At approximately 11.8 million light years from the Earth, it makes this group and the Local Group, containing the Milky Way, relative neighbors in the Virgo Supercluster. (Wikipedia)
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, Canon 6D camera, Canon 6D, 114 x 60 second exposures, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using BYE. Image date: February 19, 2020 and March 12, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 24 Feb 2020

Open Cluster Messier 50 (M50)

Messier 50 (M50) is an open cluster that can be found in the constellation Monoceros. The cluster is about 3,200 light years away from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 5.9, there are about 50 members in this cluster.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 7 x 120 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 21, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 21 Feb 2020

Open Cluster Messier 47 (M47)

Messier 47 (M47) is a bright open cluster that can be found in the constellation Puppis, to the upper left of the star Sirius in Canis Major. The cluster is about 1,600 light years away from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 4.2, there are about 50 members in this cluster.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 7 x 120 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 21, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 18 Feb 2020

Pleiades Star Cluster Messier 45 (M45)

The Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters and Messier 45, are an open star cluster located in the constellation Taurus. Robert Burnham states in his Celestial Handbook, "undoubtedly the most famous galactic star cluster in the heavens, known and regarded with reverence since remote antiquity."
Work in progress as I would like to add several more hours if/when the weather cooperates!
Did you know that J.R.R. Tolkien told us in The Hobbit that the Pleiades were known in the ancient days if Middle-earth as Remmirath, or "The Netted Stars"?
Tech Specs: Williams Optic Redcat 51, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -10C, 30 x 120 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 29, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 12 Feb 2020

Open Cluster Messier 46 (M46)

Messier 46 (M46) is an open cluster that can be found in the constellation Puppis, to the upper left of the star Sirius in Canis Major. The cluster is fairly bright and contains about 500 stars and is about 5,400 light years away. If you close you can also spot the planetary nebula, a small ring, known as NGC 2437, while it looks like it is part of the cluster, it is actually in front of it by 2,500 light years.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 7 x 120 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 21, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 6 Feb 2020

Clavius Crater - February 3, 2020

Clavius is a large crater found on the southern side of the moon, it measures approximately 136 miles across. The crater was named after Christoph Klau (or Christophorus Clavius) a 16th century German mathematician and astronomer.
Tech Specs: Meade 12" LX-90, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI290MC, best 25% of 2,500 frames. Captured using SharpCap v3.2 and processed in Autostakkert! 3.0.14. Image date: February 3, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 4 Feb 2020

The Moon - February 3, 2020

Here is a three panel mosaic of last evening's moon at 69% full. I placed the old Meade 12" LX90 back in service for galaxy season, forgot how much detail this scope provides on lunar shots.
Tech Specs: Meade 12" LX-90, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro, each panel 500 images at full resolution 4944 x 3284, best 20% of those frames. Captured using SharpCap v3.2 and processed in Autostakkert! 3.0.14. Image date: February 3, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 2 Feb 2020

Open Cluster NGC 2141 in Orion

NGC 2141 is another rich open cluster found in Orion's Club. It has a magnitude of 9.3 and is about 13,100 light years away from Earth. This is an old open cluster with estimates in the 1.7 billion year range, the age of the stars and the location behind Orion have a reddening effect on the stars color. Not many young blue stars in this group.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 20 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 1, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 31 Jan 2020

Perseus Double Cluster and Comet PanSTARRS (C/2017 T2)

Here is a view of the famous double cluster in the constellation Perseus (between Perseus and Cassiopeia), they are also designate NGC 869 and NGC 884. Check out the red supergiants in this view! Did you know that the Perseus Double Cluster is surrounded by one of the largest concentrations of red supergiants stars in the sky? (Red supergiants, neutrinos and the Double Cluster, Tristram Brelstafff, 1996). Also in this image is a visitor, Comet PanSTARRS (C/2017 T2), you can find it just right of center as a greenish blur with a little tail pointing to the upper left.
Tech Specs: Williams Optic Redcat 51, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -10C, 30 x 120 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 29, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

FLICKR Explore Image of the Day for February 1, 2020!

RELEASE DATE: 29 Jan 2020

Open Cluster NGC 2194 in Orion

NGC 2194 is a rich moderately concentrated open cluster found in the arm of Orion. It has a magnitude of 8.5 and is about 12,300 light years away from Earth. The cluster has 140+ stars down to magnitude 15. The bright star on the lower left is 73 Orionis, a main sequence star, magnitude 5.43.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 20 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 1, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 26 Jan 2020

Open Cluster NGC 2169

NGC 2169 is a small open cluster found in the constellation Orion. It is about 3,600 light years away from Earth and is nicknamed "The 37 Cluster", can you see the 37 in the image?
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 20 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 1, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 24 Jan 2020

Asteroid Johanna

127 Johanna is a main belt asteroid that is about 76 miles wide. Currently, it is slowly moving through the constellation Auriga at magnitude 11.8. From Wikipedia: Johanna (minor planet designation: 127 Johanna) is a large, dark main-belt asteroid that was discovered by French astronomers Paul Henry and Prosper Henry on 5 November 1872, and is believed to be named after Joan of Arc.
The animated GIF shows the movement of Johanna over 30 minutes by blinking two images.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -20C, 1 x 120 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 22, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 22 Jan 2020

Imaging the Night Sky

The night of 20-21 January 2020 resulted in 11.5 hours of imaging time, woot! Luckily everything was online and capturing photons the entire evening with only a few minor tracking issues. Here is an image of the Sky Watcher Esprit 120 in action. Imaging your setup also helps you resolve extraneous light sources around your scope, as you can see.
Tech Specs: Canon 6D, Samyang 14 mm lens, ISO 3200, 13 seconds. Image Date: 20 Jan 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 20 Jan 2020

Open Cluster NGC 2281 in Auriga

NGC 2281 is another small open cluster found in the constellation Auriga. It has a magnitude of 5.4 and is about 1,800 light years away from Earth.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 20 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 1, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 18 Jan 2020

The Beehive Cluster (M44) in Cancer

Messier 44 – The Beehive Cluster (or also called the Praesepe) is a open cluster that lies in the constellation Cancer. M44 has a visual brightness of magnitude 3.7, so it is easily visible using a modest telescope and can easily be seen using binoculars (it is actually much nicer in a wide-field view). Distance is around 577 light years. Total number of stars in this cluster are in the range of 200 to 350.
Tech Specs: Williams Optics REDCAT, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 15 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope, ZWO UV/IR cut filter. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: December 22, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 14 Jan 2020

Venus in the Western Sky

Bright planet Venus setting in the western sky last evening, January 13, 2020.

Tech Specs: Canon 6D + Canon EF17-40mm f/4L USM lens + tripod. ISO 3200, 4 seconds, f/4, 40mm. Image date: January 13, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 13 Jan 2020

Globular Cluster NGC 2419 in Lynx

Here is a view of the most distant globular cluster in the Milky Way, NGC 2419, some have postulated that this may be an extra-galactic object. I have seen distances listed as high as 285,000 light-years away from Earth. It appears small and dim, but it is actually very large and very bright (if it was a bit closer to us), there are estimates of 300-400 million solar masses in this cluster.
You can also make out the galaxy NGC 2424, a barred spiral galaxy with a magnitude of 12.6. The view is dominated by the red giant star HD61294 in the lower right, magnitude 5.75, and 41 times larger than our Sun.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 30 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: December 20, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 11 Jan 2020

Open Cluster NGC 2126 in Auriga

NGC 2126 is a small open cluster found in the constellation Auriga. It has a magnitude of 10.2 and is about 3,600 light years away from Earth. The cluster is dominated by the magnitude 6.1 star SAO 40801 which is the bright star in the center of the image.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 20 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 1, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 09 Jan 2020

Open Cluster NGC 2129 in Gemini

NGC 2129 is a small open cluster in the constellation Gemini, it is about 7,200 light years away from Earth.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 20 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 1, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 07 Jan 2020

Open Cluster Messier 37 (M37) in Auriga

Messier 37 is a large open cluster found in the constellation of Auriga. It has an apparent magnitude of 6.2 and covers about 24 arc-minutes of sky, the distance from Earth is about 4,500 light-years. Did you know M37 has at least a dozen red giant stars included in the cluster?
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 20 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: December 20, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 05 Jan 2020

The Flaming Star and Tadpole Nebula

I’ve been wanted to image this section of the sky for some time, this is the Flaming Star Nebula (IC405) and the Tadpole Nebula (IC410). The Flaming Star Nebula is the coma-shaped nebula on the top, the Tadpole Nebula is the large, circular nebula near the center. The open cluster Messier 38 is in the bottom left corner.
From Wikipedia: IC405 is an emission and reflection nebula in the constellation Auriga, surrounding the bluish star AE Aurigae. It shines at magnitude +6.0.
IC410 is a faint and dusty emission nebula of more than 100 light-years across approximately 12,000 light-years away from Earth in the northern constellation of Auriga. NGC 1893, an open cluster, is embedded inside IC410
Tech Specs: Williams Optics Redcat 51 APO, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro, Optolong L-eNhance 2” filter, two image mosaic, each image 24 x 300 second exposures at a GAIN of 200, two hour total exposure, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using Sequence Generator Pro (SGP) v3.03. Image date: November 25, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 03 Jan 2020

NGC 2192 - Open Cluster in Auriga

NGC 2192 is a nice little open cluster found in the constellation Auriga. It has a magnitude of 10.9 and is about 11,300 light years away from Earth. The Sky Watcher Esprit frames this cluster nicely mixed in with some brighter 6th and 7th magnitude stars. This size of the cluster is roughly 5-6 arc-minutes wide.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 20 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: January 1, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 01 Jan 2020

Messier 67 - Open Cluster in Cancer

Messier 67 (also known as M67 or NGC 2682) is an open cluster in the constellation of Cancer. It has the nickname King Cobra cluster, not sure where that name came from but would love to know. The cluster is about 2,800 light-years away from Earth. From Burnham's Celestial Handbook, Volume 1, "It is a compact group, some 15' in diameter, and containing 500 or more members, from the 10th to the 16th magnitudes."
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 20 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: December 20, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 30 Dec 2019

Messier 36 - Open Cluster in Auriga

Messier 36 (M36 or NGC 1960) lies at a distance of about 4,100 light years away from Earth and is about 14 light years across. There are at least sixty members in the cluster. The cluster is very similar to the Pleiades cluster (M45), and if it were the same distance from Earth it would be of similar magnitude.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 20 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: December 20, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 28 Dec 2019

Betelgeuse – Alpha Orionis

This is the star Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion. In the last few weeks there has been some discussion about the dimming of this star and the possibility of it going supernova. While it will explode someday, the recent dimming is probably due to its variability and not that it is getting ready to explode (maybe). You can read more about this at EarthSky.org.
Here are some interesting facts about this 9th brightest star in the sky. The name Betelgeuse is derived from the Arabic Yad al-Jauzā’ meaning “the hand of Orion”. Betelgeuse is a red supergiant, 20 times the mass of the sun, is a variable star and lies at a distance around 640 (I’ve found various ranges, this number seems like the largest I have come across) light-years away from Earth.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 5 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Image date: December 21, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 26 Dec 2019

Messier 35 and NGC 2158 in Gemini

Here is a wide field shot of the open clusters Messier 35 and the compact open cluster designated NGC 2158, both found in the constellation Gemini. This is a huge open cluster that almost fills the same size in the sky as a full moon, it is about 2,800 light-years from Earth. As with any wide-field image of this open cluster, you get the added benefit of catching NGC 2158 nearby, not related to M35 as it lies about 9,000 light-years further away.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 20 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Darks included. Image date: December 20, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 23 Dec 2019

Messier 38 - Open Cluster in Auriga

Messier 38 (M38 or NGC 1912) is a large open cluster found in the constellation Auriga. It lies at a distance of about 4,200 light years away from Earth and is about 13 light years across. Also included in this view is open cluster NGC 1907 to the upper right of M38.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro running at -25C, 20 x 60 second exposures, GAIN 200, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2. Darks and bias included. Image date: December 20, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 21 Dec 2019

The Triangulum Galaxy - Messier 33

From Wikipedia: The Triangulum Galaxy is a spiral galaxy approximately 3 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Triangulum. It is catalogued as Messier 33 or NGC 598. The Triangulum Galaxy is the third-largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, which includes the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy and about 44 other smaller galaxies. It is one of the most distant permanent objects that can be viewed with the naked eye.
The galaxy is the smallest spiral galaxy in the Local Group and it is believed to be a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy due to their interactions, velocities and proximity to one another in the night sky.
Another test shot using the new ZWO ASI071MC-Pro camera and figuring out settings based on the target being captured.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro, 16 x 60 second exposures, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2 live stacking and saved in FITS format for processing. No darks or bias frames. Image date: November 24, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 18 Dec 2019

Galaxy NGC 2403 in the Constellation Camelopardalis

Test exposure of NGC 2403 using the ASI071MC-Pro camera, no darks or bias frames used. NGC 2403 is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Camelopardalis. NGC 2403 is an outlying member of the M81 Group, and is approximately 8 million light-years distant. Star forming regions can be seen in this galaxy.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro, 11 x 60 second exposures, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using SharpCap v3.2 live stacking and saved in FITS format for processing. Image date: November 24, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 16 Dec 2019

Galaxies Maffei I and Maffei II in Cassiopeia

Here is a view of two very dim galaxies hidden to the side of the Heart and Soul Nebula. They are called Maffei I and Maffei II. They were discovered by the Italian Astrophysicist Paolo Maffei in 1967 using infrared emissions. Both are hidden by the dust and gas of our Milky Way galaxy, I was pleasantly surprised to spot these two little blurs using the Williams Optics REDCAT51 scope. The yellow box shows where I zoomed in to show the galaxies on the bottom right view.
If it was not obscured by the Milky Way, Maffei I would be one of the largest and brightest galaxies in our sky, covering an area ¾ the size of the moon! Amazing!
Tech Specs: Williams Optics Redcat 51 APO, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro, Optolong L-eNhance 2” filter, 60 x 60 second exposures at a GAIN of 200, one hour total exposure with dark/bias frames, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using Sequence Generator Pro (SGP) v3.03. Image date: November 25, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

RELEASE DATE: 14 Dec 2019

The Heart and Soul Nebula Mosaic

The Heart and Soul Nebula (IC 1805 and IC 1848) two panel mosaic. This two panel mosaic shows a wide field view of the Heart and Soul Nebula (previously imaged separately). Each panel was a combined 60-minute exposure, the final mosaic stitched together using Microsoft Image Composite Editor (ICE).
The Heart Nebula is masking two deep sky objects that I was surprised to pick up in a wide field view, I'll share these in the next image.
Tech Specs: Williams Optics Redcat 51 APO, Celestron CGEM-DX mount (pier mounted), ZWO ASI071MC-Pro, Optolong L-eNhance 2” filter, each panel was 60 x 60 second exposures at a GAIN of 200, one hour total exposure with dark/bias frames, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Captured using Sequence Generator Pro (SGP) v3.03. Image date: November 25, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

A short video showing the construction of the Dark Side Observatory from the design to first light.

Online References:

Copyright 2020 Tom Wildoner, LeisurelyScientist.com, The Dark Side Observatory