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, April 13, 2025

NGC 3169 and NGC 3166

NGC 3169 is a spiral galaxy about 75 million light years away in the constellation Sextans. It has the morphological classification SA(s)a pec, which indicates this is a pure, unbarred spiral galaxy with tightly-wound arms and peculiar features.There is an asymmetrical spiral arm and an extended halo around the galaxy.It is a member of the NGC 3166 Group of galaxies, which is a member of the Leo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the right edge of the Virgo Supercluster.

NGC 3166 is a lenticular galaxy in the constellation Sextans. The galaxy lies about 65 million light years away from Earth, which means, given its apparent dimensions, that NGC 3166 is approximately 105,000 light years across.It was discovered by William Herschel on December 19, 1783.

Luminance data: Kostas Tsekas

Avalon linear fast reverse

Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph
Asi 533 MM Pro
ZWO ASI290MM Mini (mono) + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope
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

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Total Integration:14h 6min

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 

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Ghost Nebula

 

A dream target we finally managed to shoot.
Our second try with dual setup and 15h 15min total integration time.
Hope you enjoy it !!!

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: 203*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: 153*120sec
Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

The Snake Nebula

 


Luminance data:
Telescope: Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph
Mount: Avalon linear fast reverse
Camera: CCD Atik One 6.0
Guide: ZWO ASI290MM Mini (mono) + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope
Filters: Luminance Baader
Process: Pixinsight - Photoshop CS6
Exposure: 36 X 300 sec total : 3 hours
Location: Stinger of Scorpius Observatory, Filiates, Thesprotia, Greece.
Date: 21/06/2023

Color data:
Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod
Guiding:
W.O ZS80 ED
P1 Mars-C IMX 462
Imaging:
W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener
FeatherTouch 3'' focuser
Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser
Asi 533 MC Pro Color
Exposure: 36 X 300 sec total : 3 hours
Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece
Date: 21/06/2023

Total : 6 hours

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

The Jellyfish Nebula IC443


 IC 443 (also known as the Jellyfish Nebula and Sharpless 248 (Sh2-248)) is a galactic supernova remnant (SNR) in the constellation Gemini.Its distance is roughly 5,000 light years from Earth.

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

Telescope: William optics star 71 f/4.9
Mount: Avalon linear fast reverse
Camera: CCD Atik One 6.0
Guide: ZWO ASI290MM Mini (mono) + Skywatcher ed80
Filters: Astrodon Ha 5 nm , Astrodon OIII 3nm
Exposure: Ha 39*600sec , OIII 39*600 , total : 13 hours
Process: Pixinsight - Photoshop CS6
Dates: 14/02/2023, 15/02/2023, 18/03/2023

Wednesday, March 15, 2023


The SH2-124 is an emission nebula located in the constellation of Cygnus, a not popular imaging target, very dim in OIII and SII emissions and in a  rich starfield, so it's a challenge to process.   

Instruments and exposure data:

W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattenerFeatherTouch 3'' focuser
Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser
W.O ZS80 ED
SBIG ST10XME CFW9
Meade DSI
Filters: Ha 5nm Astrodon_S[II] 8nm Baader_O[III] 3nm Astrodon
Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro
Ha:50*10min bin1x1
S[II]:34*15min bin1x1
O[III]:39*15min bin1x1

Total exposure time:26h35min

Monday, March 13, 2023

Whirlpool Galaxy M51 wide field


 A totally new processing with the new tools in Pixinsight like Wbpp and Spcc.

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Instruments and exposure data:
Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod
Guiding:
W.O ZS80 ED
Meade DSI
Imaging:
W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener
FeatherTouch 3'' focuser
Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser
SBIG ST10XME CFW9 Filters: Luminance Red Green Blue (Baader Planetarium)

Lum:132*5min, exposure 660min
Red:38*5min, exposure 190min
Green:35*5min, exposure 170min
Blue:36*5min, exposure 180min
Total exposure 20 hours