Recent Winter Images (12/22/2023 through 2/9/2024)

Below are some of the better DSO images acquired between the title dates. The usual setup Celestron 8, Starizona Night Owl(F/4) focal reducer corrector, ASI294 MC Pro guided by Celestron AVX and Orion Magnificent Mini Auto-guider.  

Messier 46 (Open Cluster),
NGC2438 (Planetary Nebula)

NGC2301 (Open Cluster)

NGC2353 (Open Cluster)

Messier 34 (Open Cluster)

Messier 103 (Open Cluster)

NGC129 (Open Cluster)

NGC281 (Pacman Nebula)

NGC1528 (Open Cluster)

NGC1545 (Open Cluster)

IC410 (Star Forming Region)

Barnard 33 (Horsehead Nebula), NGC2023 (Reflection Nebula)
NGC2024(Flame Nebula), Star Alnitak

NGC2174 (Monkey Head Nebula)

Into Spring

Spring has arrived, so I've decided to get a jump on galaxy season. One non-galaxy target, overlooked by me in the past, is the gaseous nebula NGC2174. It was during an earlier open cluster imaging night that I noticed its nebulosity while imaging its associated open cluster NGC2175. Imaging wasn't under the best conditions, the heavily light polluted count of Frederick, MD, so I'll likely revisit NGC2174 in the future. It appears below along with five galaxies. All imaging was done at F/4 with a Starizona Night Owl focal reducer/corrector. Am, I glad I acquired this accessory before the SARS Covid-2 pandemic as it's been out of stock for months.  NGC2174 and NGC2175 were averaged from 60s sub frames. The galaxies were averaged  from 120s sub frames.

NGC2174 (gaseous nebula) and NGC2175 (open cluster)

M94 (galaxy)

M106 (galaxy)

M109 (galaxy)

NGC2403 (galaxy)

NGC2841(galaxy)