Deep Sky Fuzzies: M39, C16, and a Missing Coccoon

M39 was the "one that got away" last month, as I was one object shy of claiming my observing certificate. Since one of my new targets, NGC 7243 (Caldwell 16), was nearby, I decided to hop over to M39 and bag it so I could begin the October observing list with a clean conscience. I also saw the Coccoon Nebula while I was cruising the area in Stellarium, so I thought I'd give it a go as well.

M39 and NGC 7082, 73 subs, 44 darks, 42 bias, f/5.6, 300mm, ISO 1600, 1.3 sec each

C16 (NGC 7243) below Lacerta (the lizard), 104 subs, 44 darks, 42 bias, f/5.6, 300mm, ISO 1600, 1.3 sec each

Tried to image the Cocoon Nebula but it was too faint. I did capture NGC 7209 (as identified by nova.astrometry.net) by chance. 73 subs, 44 darks, 42 bias, f/5.6, 300mm, ISO 1600, 1.3 sec each

This was my first time learning about the Caldwell Catalogue, as NGC 7243 also holds the designation C16. I was surprised to learn that the Caldwell Catalog is very new! By Wikipedia's accounts, it was published in 1995. It includes a lot of the interesting deep sky objects not included in the Messier Catalog - some of which I've already photographed. It's nice to know that there is no end in sight to the list of interesting things to scout out in the night sky. I am not even 1/3 done with the Messier list and now I've got a glimpse of other challenges waiting to be tackled.

Layered Star Trails with Twilight Venus Moon Conjunction

I really like star trail shots with a little bit of color or clouds in the sky, but obviously any long exposure shots of sunset or clouds will result in a bright blurry nothing. So, to compose this image I layered an appropriately exposed twilight image of the Moon with Venus, then left my camera in the exact same position until dark (after Venus and the Moon had set). Then I took star trail images like normal. I layered the images together in Photoshop and adjusted the colors.

I think if I had to do it again I would take a lighter "base" image at twilight and let the stars shine through just a bit, rather than having a primarily dark sky with just a hint of sunset. It turned out pretty much like I planned - maybe some more clouds next time for something more interesting, and less air traffic gosh darn it!

Layered and adjusted image. It would be more whimsical without the planes!

Basic star trail image, about 270 frames with Canon Rebel XT, colors and contrast adjusted in Photoshop

Base twilight image, original color, 18mm, ISO 200, 5 sec, f/4.5

October 2013 Indiana Astronomical Society Novice/Urban Observing List

Philip Dimpelfeld from the Indiana Astronomical Society creates a Novice/Urban Observing List each month for newbies like myself with not-so-dark skies and not-so-powerful equipment. The September 2013 list was very challenging, but now that I've got my prime focus figured out, and the sun is setting earlier each day, I can't wait to tackle October 2013!

Xi Cephei, Double Star in Cepheus, 22h 03.8m, +64° 38', mag = 4.4, 6.5, sep = 7.7"

NGC 7243 (Caldwell 16), Open Cluster in Cassiopeia, 22h 15.3m, +49° 53', mag = 6.4, size = 21.0'

Zeta Aquarii, Double Star in Aquarius, 22h 28.8m, -00° 01', mag = 4.3, 4.5, sep = 1.8"

Delta Cephei, Variable/Double Star in Cepheus, 22h 29.2m, +58° 25', mag = (v3.5 – 4.4), 6.3, sep = 41". Primary is the prototype of famed Cepheid variables – period 5.4 days.

94 Aquarii, Double Star in Aquarius, 23h 19.1m, -13° 28', mag = 5.3, 7.3, sep = 12.7"

NGC 7662, “The Blue Snowball” Nebula, Planetary Nebula in Andromeda, 23h 25.9m, +42° 33', mag = 8.3, size = 32" x 28"

NGC 7789, “The White Rose” Cluster, Open Cluster in Cassiopeia, 23h 57.0m, +56° 44', mag = 6.7, size = 15.0'

Sigma Cassiopeiae, Double Star in Cassiopeia, 23h 59.0m, +55° 45', mag = 5.0, 7.1, sep = 3"

Mare Undarum, first quarter Moon

Gassendi, third quarter Moon

Challenge Object: 8 Lacertae, Double (Quadruple) Star in Lacerta, 22h 35.9m, +39° 38', mag = 5.7, 6.5/10.5, 9.1, sep = 22.4"/49”, 82”. Nice blue-white pair. The two fainter companions form a delicate quadruple system with bright pair.

Incomplete! IAS Novice/Urban Observing List for September 2013

Missed it by that much! [Get Smart reference] I only got 5 of the 10 [11] objects on the IAS Novice/Urban Observing List for September 2013 (only need 6 for a certificate). I was successful in observing 3 multiple stars with just my 300mm zoom lens on a DSLR. Omicron-1 Cygni was probably my favorite of these, because it's a triple in a double and easy to spot color differences between the stars. I re-imaged M15 and improved upon my previous attempt stacking with just the DSLR on a fixed tripod. I also did a half-assed job on M2 because it doesn't look to impressive through the camera lens.

I still haven't completed a non-lunar challenge object with my scope - and now that I have my camera attachment system figured out, hopefully that will change in October. This month I made attempts at Gamma Delphini and Beta Cephei but I couldn't resolve two stars with my camera. And, in the case of Beta Cephei, I couldn't resolve them in my scope either. I definitely need to practice with my scope because it looks like next month has some more double stars on the docket!

I also had difficulty imaging any Messier objects in my scope. I made an honest attempt at M4 near Antares but couldn't get it to show up even on the long exposures. If I can't get even smudge at 8 seconds how can I get anything to stack?

I missed a couple easy lunar targets this month mainly because I didn't have good weather during the appropriate phase and/or didn't have time to go out on those dates. What a waste! I also feel the need to take moon photos in my scope now that I have it - but with more gear comes more set up time and more excuses not to get it all set up. I definitely understand how guys with $10,000 setups only wait for really nice conditions or head out west - it's too much of a pain on mediocre nights.

• Alpha-1/2 Capricorni, “Algiedi”, Multiple Star in Capricornis
• Omicron-1 Cygni, Triple Star in Cygnus
• Gamma Delphini, Double Star in Delphinus
• NGC 7009, the “Saturn Nebula”, Planetary Nebula in Aquarius
• 61 Cygni, Double Star in Cygnus
• M15, Globular Cluster in Pegasus
• M2, Globular Cluster in Aquarius
• M39, Open Cluster in Cygnus
• Mare Nectaris, first quarter Moon
• Mare Humorum, third quarter Moon
• Challenge Object: Beta Cephei, Double Star in Cepheus

5 Second iPhone Video of Saturn Stacked in Registax

My latest personal best photo of Saturn is the result of stacking a 5 second video clip taken with my iPhone through the eyepiece of my telescope. My previous best came from a single frame of the video, but after stacking, I cleaned it up quite a bit! I also stacked a 34 second version of the video, but it ended up creating more problems than it solved.

Result of iPhone video taken through MH9mm eyepiece on Meade 285 stacked in Registax