Peter Folkesson, Author at astrophotos.se

M3

2015-03-12 00:00-03:30 Very clear, rising moon, no wind, -1 degrees C M3 Exposures: 20×60+20×120+20x300s LIGHT 39×240+68x480s DARK 200 BIAS Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope … Continue readingM3

NGC2237, NGC2244 – Rosette Nebula

2015-03-12 20:00-23:00 Some high clouds, no moon, no wind, 1 degrees C 2015-03-13 20:00-23:00 Few high clouds, no moon, no wind, 1 degrees C NGC2244 Exposures: 46x480s LIGHT 67x480s DARK 200 BIAS Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field … Continue readingNGC2237, NGC2244 – Rosette Nebula

M37

2015-03-04 21:30-00:00 Clear, full moon, some wind, -2 degrees C M37 Exposures: 28x240s+2x300s LIGHT 40x240s DARK 200 BIAS Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope Software: … Continue readingM37

NGC1499

2014-12-25 18:30-23:00 Clear, setting moon, -10 degrees C NGC1499 – The California Nebula Exposures: 30x480s LIGHT 30x480s DARK 200 BIAS Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide … Continue readingNGC1499

IC405, IC410

2014-12-25 23:30-04:00 Clear, setting moon, -10 degrees C IC405, IC410 Exposures: 30x480s LIGHT 30x480s DARK 200 BIAS Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope Software: BackyardEOS, … Continue readingIC405, IC410

M45

2014-12-20 19:00-03:00 Very clear, no moon, -2 degrees C M45 – The Pleiades Exposures: 20x60s+20x120s+20x240s+29x480s LIGHT 30x480s DARK 200 BIAS Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide … Continue readingM45

Testing Pixinsight Drizzle Integration

The first picture is a test using Pixinsight drizzle integration on the same image data as the picture below it. Although the images have been processed quite differently, there is definitely an improvement in the amount of details possible when using 2X drizzle (artificially doubling … Continue readingTesting Pixinsight Drizzle Integration

M33

2014-10-28 19:30-23:30 High and fast moving low clouds, humid, 9 degrees C 2014-10-29 22:30-00:30 Some initial clouds followed by clear, humid, 2 degrees C M33 – Triangulum Galaxy Exposures: 30+20x360s LIGHT 40+40x360s DARK 200 BIAS Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED … Continue readingM33

M31, M32, M110

2014-09-26 22:00-01:30 Fast moving low clouds, windy, 10 degrees C M31 – Andromeda Galaxy Exposures: 20x60s+13x180s+5x480s LIGHT 20x60s+20x180s+18x480s DARK 200 BIAS Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm … Continue readingM31, M32, M110

Veil Nebula

2014-09-03 23:00-04:00 Clear, 12 degrees C Veil Nebulae Exposures: 30x480s LIGHT 18x300s DARK 200 BIAS Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight, Photoshop

M11, NGC6712, IC1295

2014-08-27 22:45-02:00 Scattered low clouds, 11 degrees C M11, NGC6712, IC1295 Exposures: 24x300s LIGHT 50x300s DARK 200 BIAS Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope Software: … Continue readingM11, NGC6712, IC1295

M27

2014-08-06 23:45-03:00 Setting moon, high clouds, 15 degrees C M27 Exposures: 16x300s+8x240s+9x180s LIGHT 16x300s+20x240s+13x180s DARKS 200 BIAS Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope Software: BackyardEOS, … Continue readingM27

AAPOD winner of July 20th 2014

This image of the central part of Auriga containing the star clusters M36, M38, NGC1931 as well as the nebulae IC417 and NGC1907 was chosen as the Amateur Astronomy Picture of the Day today (July 20th 2014) 🙂

NGC4565, NGC4559, NGC4494

2014-04-04 23:00-05:00 Clear, setting moon, no wind, 3 degrees C NGC4565+NGC4559 23x480s LIGHT 34x480s DARK 200 BIAS 40 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope … Continue readingNGC4565, NGC4559, NGC4494

M53, NGC5053

2014-05-01 23:30-03:00 Clear, no moon, no wind, 2 degrees C M53+NGC5053 Exposures: 21x480s LIGHT 20x480s DARKS 200 BIAS 40 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide … Continue readingM53, NGC5053

M81, M82, NGC2976, NGC3077

2014-04-27 23:00-03:30 High clouds, no moon, no wind, 10 degrees C M81+M82 Exposures: 28x480s LIGHT 45x480s DARKS 200 BIAS 40 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm … Continue readingM81, M82, NGC2976, NGC3077

Coma Cluster

2014-04-26 00:00-03:30 Some high clouds initially, no moon, no wind, 10 degrees C 2014-04-27 00:00-03:30 Some high clouds, no moon, no wind, 10 degrees C Coma Cluster Exposures: 42x480s LIGHT 45x480s DARKS 200 BIAS 40 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit … Continue readingComa Cluster

NGC2403

2014-04-20 23:00-03:00 Some high clouds, no moon, no wind, 12 degrees C NGC2403 Exposures: 26x480s LIGHT 25x480s DARKS 200 BIAS 40 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron … Continue readingNGC2403

M97, M108

2014-04-04 23:00-05:00 Clear, setting moon, no wind, 3 degrees C M97+M108 Exposures: 12x480s LIGHT 30x480s DARKS 200 BIAS 40 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide … Continue readingM97, M108

IC1848

2014-04-03 22:00-05:00 (2 hours lost due to a combination of hardware and software problems) Clear, moon at the horizon, no wind, 0 degrees C IC1848 Exposures: 8x480s LIGHT 28x480s DARKS 200 BIAS 40 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + … Continue readingIC1848

M84, M86, M87, M89, M90, M91, Markarian’s Chain

2014-04-03 22:00-05:00 (2 hours lost due to a combination of hardware and software problems)Clear, moon at the horizon, no wind, 0 degrees C M87+Markarian’s Chain21x480s LIGHT30x480s DARKS200 BIAS40 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattenerMount: HEQ5 ProSkywatcher SynGuider … Continue readingM84, M86, M87, M89, M90, M91, Markarian’s Chain

M65, M66

2014-04-01 01:30-04:30Mostly clear, some fog, no wind or moon, 0 degrees C M65+M66Exposures:19x480s LIGHT25x480s DARKS200 BIAS40 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattenerMount: HEQ5 ProSkywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scopeSoftware: BackyardEOS, PixInsight, Photoshop

M36, M38, NGC1931

2014-03-30 22:00-01:00 Increasing high clouds, no wind or moon, 6 degrees C 2014-03-31 22:30-00:30 High clouds followed by mostly clear, no wind or moon, 2 degrees C M36+M38+NGC1931 Exposures: 30x480s LIGHT 25x480s DARKS 200 BIAS 40 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher … Continue readingM36, M38, NGC1931

IC342

2014-03-29 21:00-01:30 Clear, no wind or moon, 2 degrees C IC342 Exposures: 3x300s+9x480s+16x600s LIGHT 20x600s DARKS 200 BIAS 40 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO800 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide … Continue readingIC342

SKYWATCHER ESPRIT 80ED FIXED

After a lot of fiddling with lenses and stray light I have finally made the adjustments necessary to reduce the diffraction spikes that have plagued the photos taken with my SkyWatcher Esprit 80ED refractor. By first removing the dew shield, a soft cloth glued around the lens chamber … Continue readingSKYWATCHER ESPRIT 80ED FIXED

M95, M96, M105

2014-03-24 21:30-02:00 Scattered clouds, moist, no wind or moon, 0 degrees C M95+M96+M105 Exposures: 27x300s LIGHT 20x300s DARKS 200 BIAS 40 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO400, ISO800 (mainly), ISO1600 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto … Continue readingM95, M96, M105

M44

2014-03-24 21:30-02:00 Scattered clouds, moist, no wind or moon, 0 degrees C M44 Exposures: 3x180s+3x300s+2x600s LIGHT 20x300s DARK 200 BIAS 40 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600Da, IDAS LPS-P2, ISO400, ISO800 (mainly), ISO1600 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto … Continue readingM44

M35, NGC 2158, IC 2157, NGC 2129

2014-03-12 21:30-00:00 Very clear, no wind, half moon high up, 1 degrees C M35 Exposures: 42x180s LIGHT 20x180s DARK 20 BIAS 20 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO400 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm … Continue readingM35, NGC 2158, IC 2157, NGC 2129

M34

2014-03-11 20:30-23:00 Some high clouds, no wind, half moon high up, 1 degrees C M34 Exposures: 40x180s LIGHT 20x180s DARK 20 BIAS 20 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO400 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron … Continue readingM34

NGC869, NGC884

2014-03-09 20:30-23:30 Some fog, wind, half moon high up, 5 degrees C NGC 869/884 Exposures: 20x180s LIGHT 30x120s LIGHT 20x180s DARK 20 BIAS 20 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO400 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and … Continue readingNGC869, NGC884

SKY-WATCHER ESPRIT 80ED FIRST LIGHT

The weather this winter has been awful. However, I managed a first test with my new Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED (80mm f/5) triplet refractor telescope on Monday 17th of February. Very satisfied with the ease of use and sharp picture quality, at least compared to my … Continue readingSKY-WATCHER ESPRIT 80ED FIRST LIGHT

M42

2014-02-17 20:30-23:30 Mostly clear, some wind, rising moon, -1 degrees C M42 Exposures: 20x180s LIGHT 10x120s LIGHT 20x60s LIGHT 20x30s LIGHT 20x180s DARK 20 BIAS 20 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO400 Lens: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED + Sky-Watcher field flattener Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto … Continue readingM42

NGC7023

2013-11-25 19:00-20:00 Clear, no wind, no moon, 0 degrees C NGC7023 Exposures: 60x240s LIGHT 30x240s DARK 20 BIAS 20 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO1600 Lens: Meade Model 2080 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain + Meade Focalreducer 6.3 Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide … Continue readingNGC7023

NGC7331

2013-11-24 20:00-23:00 Very clear, hard wind, 0 degrees C NGC7331 Exposures: 41x240s LIGHT 30x240s DARK 20 BIAS 10 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO1600 Lens: Meade Model 2080 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain + Meade Focalreducer 6.3 Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and Celestron 80mm guide scope … Continue readingNGC7331

IC5146

2013-11-05 21:00-23:00 Very moist, intermittent clouds followed by cloudy weather, 3 degrees C IC5146 Exposures: 15x240s LIGHT 9x240s DARK 20 BIAS 10 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO1600 Lens: Meade Model 2080 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain + Meade Focalreducer 6.3 Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and … Continue readingIC5146

NGC6946

2013-10-12 21:00-01:30 Clear, half moon at the horizon, some wind, 7 degrees C NGC6946 Exposures: 45x240s LIGHT 27x240s DARK 20 BIAS 20 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO1600 Lens: Meade Model 2080 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain + Meade Focalreducer 6.3 Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher SynGuider auto guider and … Continue readingNGC6946

NGC6960, NGC6992

2013-10-02 21:00-00:00Faint clouds, 6 degrees C NGC6960/NGC6992Exposures:40x180s LIGHT30x180s DARK20 BIAS20 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO1600Lens: Canon EFS 55-250mm@250mmMount: HEQ5 ProSoftware: BackyardEOS, PixInsight

NGC7000

2013-10-01 22:00-00:00 Very clear, 7 degrees C NGC7000 Exposures: 24x180s LIGHT 30x180s DARK 20 BIAS 20 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO1600 Lens: Canon EFS 55-250mm@250mm Mount: HEQ5 Pro Software: BackyardEOS, PixInsight

NGC6888

2012-10-11 20:00-22:30 Clear followed by clouds and compact fog, no wind 2013-09-28 20:30-00:00 Scattered clouds followed by clear weather, no moon, no wind, 7 degrees C NGC6888 Exposures: 10x120s+31x240s LIGHT 20x240s DARK 20 BIAS 20 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO800 Lens: Meade Model 2080 8-inch … Continue readingNGC6888

M56

2013-09-27 20:30-00:00 Clear with good seeing followed by increasingly worse seeing and scattered clouds, no moon, some wind, 8 degrees C M56 Exposures: 15x240s LIGHT 20x240s DARK 20 BIAS 20 FLAT Camera: Canon EOS-600D, ISO800 Lens: Meade Model 2080 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain Mount: HEQ5 Pro Skywatcher … Continue readingM56