Ring, Tulip, & Ghost of Cassiopeia Nebulae

Ring, Tulip, & Ghost of Cassiopeia Nebulae

Posted: 2 October 2021

Open: Friday, 1 October 2021, 1813 MST
Temperature: 82°F

Session: 1673
Conditions: Clear

Equipment:
12" f/8 LX600 w/StarLock
2" 24mm UWA eyepiece
2" 2X Powermate
2" UHC filter
Focal Reducer

Camera:
D850 DSLR

1817 MST: LX600 ON, StarLock OFF, High Precision OFF.

Viewed Venus, 102X. Viewed Saturn, 102X. Viewed Jupiter, the Great Red Spot, and four moons, 102X.

Prepared the D850 DSLR for imaging.

Relaxed on the observatory patio bench to watch the stars come out.

1841 MST: dome OFF.

1908 MST: back inside the observatory.

Viewed M57 (Ring Nebula), 102X and 203X.

Mounted the D850 DSLR at prime focus + 2X Powermate + UHC filter, focused on the star Vega, and locked the 12" mirror. Slewed to M57.

1922 MST: StarLock ON.

Took several StarLock autoguided images of M57 (Ring Nebula), 1 and 5 minutes, ISO 6400, White Balance 5560K. This is a 5-minute exposure (cropped).

Removed the 2X Powermate, added the focal reducer + UHC filter, re-focused using Vega, and locked the mirror.

1951 MST: Wi-Fi adapter ON.

Using SkySafari 6 Pro on my iPhone, slewed to Sharpless 2-101 (Tulip Nebula). Began imaging. This image is a stack of six Starlock autoguided, 5 minutes, ISO 12800, WB 5560K images (cropped). Total exposure time 30 minutes.

2040 MST: dome ON.

Slewed to IC63 (Ghost of Cassiopeia Nebula). This black-and-white image is a stack of six Starlock autoguided, 5 minutes, ISO 12800, WB 4550K images (cropped). Total exposure time 30 minutes.

2120 MST: StarLock OFF. 2123 MST: Wi-Fi OFF.

Took quick looks at Saturn and Jupiter, 102X.

2133 MST: LX600 OFF.

2144 MST: took a Sky Quality reading and reported the result to Globe at Night. Although the reading was lower than I expected, I was able to see some 7th Magnitude stars in the constellation of Pegasus!

Close: Friday, 1 October 2021, 2147 MST
Temperature: 63°F

Session Length: 3h 34m
Conditions: Clear, SQM 20.93

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