The NGC 4725 Interaction

 

A Quiet Cosmic Encounter

Forty million light-years away, gravity has been shaping this scene for hundreds of millions of years. The elegant barred spiral galaxy NGC 4725 dominates the field, while nearby NGC 4747 bears the unmistakable signature of their interaction—a long, delicate tidal tail stretching into intergalactic space. Below them lies NGC 4712, accompanied by countless distant galaxies that quietly populate the background.Every faint structure visible here emerged after 24 hours and 39 minutes of exposure, allowing the subtle outer halo of NGC 4725 and the fragile tidal stream of NGC 4747 to stand out against the darkness of space.

Theodore

W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener

Asi 533 MΜ PRO

Touptek GS 350

P1 Mars-C IMX 462 PlayerOne IR Pass 685nm

Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen2

FeatherTouch 3'' focuser

Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser

Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen2

Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod

Exposure: 113*180sec LUM (IDAS LPS P2)

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia,

Kostas

Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph

Asi 533 MΜ

Asi 533 MC PRO

W.O UniGuide 50mm Scope

ASI 290MM Mini Baader UV-IR CUT

Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen2

Pegasus Astro FocusCube Universal 2

Avalon linear fast reverse

Exposure: 280*180sec Lum (IDAS LPS D3) , 200*90sec RGB(IDAS LPS D3)

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

Total Integration: 24h 39m

IC 434 & Barnard 33

A project captured under less-than-ideal weather conditions, resulting in a shorter total integration time than originally intended.

The goal was a deep L-HaRGB composition, but nature had other plans. To compensate for the missing Luminance data, I opted for a synthetic Luminance approach, blending the grayscale version of the RGB master with the H-alpha data. This allowed me to maintain the structural details of the nebula while bringing out the delicate curtains of ionized hydrogen that the Astrodon 5nm filter captures so beautifully.

It’s a testament to the fact that even when the skies aren't perfect, a bit of processing "alchemy" can still reveal the wonders of Orion.

IC 434 is a bright emission nebula in the constellation of Orion, characterized by its striking red glow which is caused by the ionization of hydrogen by the nearby star Sigma Orionis. However, it is most famous for serving as the luminous backdrop to the iconic Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33).
The "Horsehead" itself is a dense cloud of cold gas and dust, a dark absorption nebula that stands in stark silhouette against the ionized hydrogen of IC 434. Located approximately 1,500 light-years away, this region is part of the much larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex and remains one of the most photographed and beloved regions of the night sky for amateur and professional astronomers alike. Capturing the delicate "streaks" of gas in the background requires steady skies and sensitive filters, making it a rewarding yet challenging target.

Integration
LP: 272×60″ 4h 32′
Hα: 154×180″ 7h 42′
Totals: 12h 14′

Imaging equipment
Telescope: Askar 107PHQ
Cameras: ZWO ASI533MC/ASI533MM Pro
Mount: Avalon Instruments Linear
Filters: Astrodon H-alpha 5nm 1.25" / IDAS LPS-D3 2"

Guiding equipment
Guiding optics: William Optics UniGuide 50
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI290MM Mini

NGC 1977 The Running Man Nebula

 

 

Shadows and Light: The Running Man Nebula

https://app.astrobin.com/u/arasteo?i=rbmduy

While the Great Orion Nebula (M42) often steals the spotlight, its neighbor, NGC 1977, offers a breathtaking display of cosmic contrast. This image is the result of a 12-hour deep dive into the "Running Man."

We pushed for a darker processing style to highlight the "ghostly" appearance of the dust clouds against the deep space background. The massive amount of Luminance frames helped bring out the fine, hair-like details in the reflection nebula's core. By carefully managing the star field, the focus remains on the dynamic interaction of light and shadow that gives this nebula its famous name.

Kostas Tsekas

Avalon linear fast reverse

Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph

Asi 533 MΜ PRO, Asi 533 MC PRO

ZWO ASI290MM Mini + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope

Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen2

Pegasus Astro FocusCube Universal 2

Exposure: 351*60 Lum , 183*60sec RGB

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

Aras Teo

W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener

Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod

Asi 533 MM Pro

W.O ZS 80 ED

P1 Mars-C IMX 462

FeatherTouch 3'' focuser

Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser

Exposure: 202*60 Lum

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, 

Total Integration: 12h 16min