Every day our eyes catch the light of our memories – time spent with family, the journey to work, a special holiday, a beautiful sunset or a dark starlit night. Each image captured is a picture drawn in light – a photograph: only to be lost in our minds or forever forgotten. Nearly two hundred years ago a small group of amateur scientists achieved what had eluded mankind for centuries – the ability to capture a permanent record of an image seen by their own eyes – a moment in time frozen onto a surface. They had discovered Photography. They were the ‘Catchers of the Light’.

Sunday, June 16, 2024

NGC 5033 Galaxy in Canes Venatici


 Στον μικρό αλλά πλούσιο σε όμορφους γαλαξίες αστερισμό των Θηρευτικών Κυνών βρίσκεται ο Γαλαξίας NGC 5033. Οι εκτιμήσεις απόστασης ποικίλλουν από 38 έως 60 εκατομμύρια έτη φωτός από τον Γαλαξία μας. Ο NGC 5033 έχει έναν πολύ φωτεινό πυρήνα και έναν σχετικά αχνό δίσκο.

NGC 5033 is an inclined spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici. Distance estimates vary from between 38 and 60 million light years from the Milky Way. The galaxy has a very bright nucleus and a relatively faint disk. Significant warping is visible in the southern half of the disk. The galaxy's relatively large angular size and relatively high surface brightness make it an object that can be viewed and imaged by amateur astronomers. The galaxy's location relatively near Earth and its active galactic nucleus make it a commonly studied object for professional astronomers.

Luminance data: Kostas Tsekas
Avalon linear fast reverse
Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph
CCD Atik One 6.0
ZWO ASI290MM Mini (mono) + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope

Exposure: 120*180sec

Location: Stinger of Scorpius Observatory, Filiates, Thesprotia, Greece.

Color data: Theodore Arampatzoglou
W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener
Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod
Asi 533 MC Pro Color
W.O ZS 80 ED
P1 Mars-C IMX 462
FeatherTouch 3'' focuser
Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser

Exposure: 94*180sec

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Total Integration:10h 42min

Sunday, May 12, 2024

Pinwheel Galaxy in Ursa Major

 

The Pinwheel Galaxy in Ursa Major also known as M101
is about twice the diameter of our own galaxy the Milky Way and is thought to contain about 1 trillion stars.

Luminance data:
Avalon linear fast reverse
Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph
CCD Atik One 6.0
ZWO ASI290MM Mini + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope
Luminance Baader
Exposure: 172*180sec

Location: Stinger of Scorpius Observatory, Filiates, Thesprotia, Greece.

Color data:
W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener
Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod
Asi 533 MC Pro Color
W.O ZS 80 ED
P1 Mars-C IMX 462
FeatherTouch 3'' focuser
Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser
Exposure: 106*180sec

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Total Integration:13h 54min

Friday, April 26, 2024

M106 Galaxy and Friends in Canes Venatici

 

In the small but beautiful galaxy-rich constellation of the Canes Venatici is Messier 106 (M106), also known as NGC 4258. It is a spiral galaxy about 22 to 25 million light-years from Earth. Another galaxy, NGC 4217, is also visible in the field, possibly a companion galaxy to Messier 106.

Luminance data:

Avalon linear fast reverse
Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph
CCD Atik One 6.0
ZWO ASI290MM Mini + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope
Luminance Baader

Exposure: 115*180sec
Location: Stinger of Scorpius Observatory, Filiates, Thesprotia, Greece.

Color data:

W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener
Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod
Asi 533 MC Pro Color
W.O ZS 80 ED
P1 Mars-C IMX 462
FeatherTouch 3'' focuser
Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser

Exposure: 135*180sec
Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Total Integration:12h 30min

https://www.astrobin.com/dbcw6j/

Saturday, January 27, 2024

M78

 

Luminance data:
Avalon linear fast reverse
Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph
CCD Atik One 6.0
ZWO ASI290MM Mini (mono) + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope
Luminance Baader
Exposure: 180*120sec

Location: Stinger of Scorpius Observatory, Filiates, Thesprotia, Greece.

Color data:
W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener
Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod
Asi 533 MC Pro Color
W.O ZS 80 ED
P1 Mars-C IMX 462
FeatherTouch 3'' focuser
Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser
Exposure: 180*120sec

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Total integration:12h