ANIMATION: For a three frame animated .GIF file of the above three images CLICK HERE.
Images were taken with a Peltier Cooled Modified Canon Rebel XSi (450D). Overnight ambient temperatures were warm and were between 55 degrees to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature of the peltier cooled camera ranged between 17 degrees and 25 degrees Fahrenheit for reduced noise imaging with the DSLR.
Telescope used for imaging was an Astro Tech 127mm ED APO Triplet refractor with a Televue 0.80X focal reducer for 800-1000mm refractors. The Astro Tech 127 and ED80 refractor guide scope were mounted on an Orion Atlas EQ-G mount. The EQMOD ASCOM driver was used to drive the mount directly via an EQDIR interface module. Images are Full Frame.
Equipment used:
NOTE: I am now providing a low cost modification service to convert your 450D or 1000D. CLICK HERE for details.
IC 5070 - Pelican Nebula (RGB) Color - Full Frame:
17 four-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (800X1200):
IC 5070 - Pelican Nebula Hydrogen-Alpha - Full Frame:
28 ten-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (800X1200). A Baader 2 inch H-Alpha 7nm filter was used on the filter threads of the Televue 0.8X reducer/flattener.
IC 5070 - Pelican Nebula (Composite) Color - Full Frame:
I used the method for combining the (RGB) color image and the Hydrogen-Alpha image explained as "Method 2" on the Starizona web site.
Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park - April 24, 2009:
M63 - Sunflower Galaxy, IC 1318 - Butterfly Nebula, M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy, M13 - Hercules Globular Cluster with peltier cooled Canon 450D can be seen HERE.
Chiefland Astronomy Village - Chiefland, Florida - 3/15-27, 2009:
Backyard Deck Observatory - Conyngham, PA - February 17 & 24, 2009:
Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3) Images, Animations and YouTube videos CLICK HERE.
Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park - 10/30-11/1, 2008:
M42 Orion Nebula and NGC 1977 Running Man Nebula, NGC 1499 California Nebula, NGC 281 Pacman Nebula and IC 1848 Soul Nebula with peltier cooled Canon 450D from Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park can be seen HERE.
Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park - 9/4-7/08:
M33 - Pinwheel Galaxy and NGC 7635 Bubble Nebula with M52 Open Cluster with peltier cooled Canon 450D from Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park can be seen HERE.
Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park - August 30, 2008:
M31 Andromeda Galaxy with peltier cooled Canon 450D can be seen HERE.
More Images:
Click here for gallery of Modified Canon 450D (XSi) DSLR astro images.