Remaining Images from Astrophysics Workshop at CSAC

In addition to the M31 shot posted previously, I made the effort to shoot 4 more images at June’s “Astrophysics in a Nutshell” Workshop at CSAC.

Taken with a Nikon D810a DSLR camera, Takahashi FSQ-85ED refractor and Takahashi NJP mount, the following images were comprised of any number of 2 minute sub-exposures at ISO 1600. These images were unguided…about as easy as you can get in this hobby.

Images are clockwise from upper-left:

• Lagoon and Trifid Nebula Region - 50 minutes total exposure time
• M16 and M17 Region - 28 minutes
• North America and Pelican Nebula Region - 42 minutes
• Rho-Antares Region - 22 minutes

Some really short exposure times show that dark skies is the single most critical factor to achieving good astro-images.