Deep Sky Imaging Session - February 9, 2025

The sky this evening is partly cloudy but I want to test the mosaic mode of Dwarf 3 to see how it is being done. Unfortunately, as I was starting to test image on IC434 Horsehead Nebula in the constellation of Orion, clouds started to cover the entire sky and I was only able ton get a measly 18 minutes of original frame as the mosaic mode turns out slightly distorted a bit so I will redo it next time there is some clearing. Need to test if it is worth doing it under dark skies. Nevertheless I only process the 18 minutes of IC434 Horsehead Nebula with Dwarf 3 Smart Scope at Astro Mode with Duo Filter at EQ mode despite a bright Waxing Gibbous Moon nearby. Total exposure of 18 minutes (18 x 60 sec) at Gain 60.

Deep Sky Imaging Session - February 5-6, 2025

The sky this evening is mostly clear so I proceeded to image IC2177 Seagull Nebula in the constellation of Monoceros. The wind was also very strong tonight but my imaging rig was able to withstand the wind and I was able to get a 122 minute integrated exposure using ZWO ASI294MC PRO Astro Camera on Borg 76ED Refractor with 0.8x Reducer / Flattener and SVBony SV220 Duo Band Filter at -5 deg C. I was also able to get a short 15 mins exposure of M44 Beehive Glactic Star Cluster in the constellation of Cancer. Due to strong wind that is jarring my Dwarf 3 tripod, wasted half of the planned 30 minutes integration of this cluster.

Lunar Imaging Session - February 5, 2025

The sky this evening is very cloudy but there are some small cloud opening for me to image the First Quarter Moon using Dwarf 3 Smart Scope at Astro Mode with VIS Filter and AZ Mode. 10 stacked image of 1/125sec exposure at Gain 0.

Deep Sky Imaging Session - February 4-5, 2025

The sky this evening is partly cloudy and I use the Dwarf 3 to capture a short 30 minutes worth of data on M42 Great Orion Nebula in the constellation of Orion before getting clouded out .

Deep Sky Imaging Session - February 2-3, 2025

Last February 2, Joaquin Fajardo and I decided to go to Viewscape Nature Park in Tanay, Rizal to do some deep sky imaging session. We left Manila to Viewscape at around 2:30pm and arrive at the site at around 5:30pm. We quickly setup our telescopes to prepare for a whole night of deep sky imaging. Joaquin brought along a very portable ZWO Seestar S50 Smart Scope while I brought my Borg 76ED Refractor with ZWO ASI294MC PRO Astro Camera mounted on a sturdy ZWO AM5 mount. I also brought along another smart scope in Dwarf 3 Smart Scope to do simultaneous imaging on both scopes. After a setup and polar aligned my scopes, I started to image the faint IC2118 Witch Head Nebula in the constellation of Eridanus with my Borg 76ED setup. My thoughts on this nebula is that it is a challenge to image it as it is a fainty reflection nebula but to my surprise, it was easy to capture and after 2 hours of integrated exposure, I shifted my target to another faint SH2-308, the Dolphin Nebula in Canis Major. Unfortunately, clouds started to cover up the sky and it was after another hour of clouds before it started clearing up but I had to abandon this object as Canis Major is already nearing the western horizon which has a bad city glow toward Manila. I then go after a bright emission nebula in Carina, NGC3372, the Keyhole / Eta Carina. I prioritize this object because it is too low from my Manila vantage point and are obstructed by tall buildings. But after getting an hour worth of exposure, It was also clouded out on the southern horizon so I ended the capture. I then saw the northern side of the sky is clear so I took that opportunity to capture the beautiful but small M51 Whirpool Galaxy in Canes Venatici and was able to get 2 hours worth of data before I capture the bright and beautiful NGC5139 Omega Centauri globular star cluster in Ophiuchus. I only manage to expose for 20 minutes as it was already near sunrise time! :) As for my Dwarf 3 smart scope, I started of image M78 Casper Nebula in the constellation of Orion then followed by Markarian's Chain of Galaxies in Coma Berenices, HD147888 Rho Ophiuchi Region in the constellation of Scorpius. AT sunrise, we both cooked our breakfast as well as sipping our hot coffee discussing my imaging experience as well as plan our next imaging session again at Viewscape Nature Park. We left the site at around 8:30am feeling happy and also sleepy as I didn't sleep the whole imaging session till sunrise! :) LOL

Solar Imaging Session - January 31, 2025

The sky this afternoon is partly cloudy and seeing condition is poor. A large group of sunspots within AR3978, AR3976 and AR3977 Region is the largest group visible now on the Sun's disk. In Ha wavelength, the regions mentioned are also not that active as well.

Reprocessed IC443 Jellyfish Nebula

I took some time off to reprocessed my January 22-23, 2025 data on IC443 Jellyfish as color is a bit off as well some revised processing approach to make it a little better. I also make a HOO Hubble Palette rendition of this nebula as well.

Solar Imaging Session - January 25, 2025

The sky this afternoon is partly clear so I did my 1st solar imaging session with closeup imaging for 2025! My 1st time again since last November 2024! Lots of small sunspot groups except for the moderate size sunspot in AR3961 which is about to exit the SW limb. AR3961 region is nice to view both in white light as well as in Ha wavelength. A nice flatten looped prominence can be seen near the NW limn. A nice large dark filament is also visible in the SE quadrant as well as a large hedgerow prominence in the SE limb as well.

Deep Sky Imaging Session - January 24-25, 2025

The sky this late evening is clear so I try to reimage NGC2264 Cone / Christmas Tree / Fox Fur / Philippine Nebula in the constellation of Monoceros using my ZWO ASI294MC Pro on Borg 76ED Refractor with SVBony SV220 Duo Band Filter. I was able to collect about 2 hours worth of data. While my main rig is imaging, I also use Dwarf 3 to image IC2177 Seagull Nebula in Monoceros with a total exposure of 2 hours as well as an hour worth of exposure on the Leo Triplet group of galaxies. A smaller spiral galaxy NGC 3593 was also recorded within the field of view.

Deep Sky Imaging Session - January 22-23, 2025

The sky this late evening is clear after I return home from a party so I quickly setup my imaging rig to image IC443 Jellyfish Nebula in the constellation of Gemini using Borg 76ED Refractor with ZWO ASI294MC Pro Astro Camera with SVBony SV220 Duo Band Filter with a total exposure of 120 mins (60 x 120sec) at -5 deg C. NGC2359 Thor's Helmet in the constellation of Canis Major was taken using Dwarf 3 Smart Scope using Astro mode with Duo Filter and on EQ mode with a total exposure of 60 mins (60 x 60sec) at Gain 0.

Deep Sky Imaging Session - January 21, 2025

The sky this evening is partly cloudy but I still proceeded to so some imaging test and try to image IC443 Jellyfish with the Borg 76ED as well as IC805 with the Dwarf 3 as honestly, the object is already setting in the NW horizon so I wasn't expecting any good results out of it but as stubborn as I want it to be, I proceeded setting up Borg 76ED as well as Dwarf 3 but the weather was very cruel to me tonight to not letting me image Jellyfish but only a measly 38mins of integration time for the Heart Nebula which sad to say leaves a not so good taste on the image as gradients as well as lack of integration spoils my session tonight. Oh well... still sharing the IC805 Heart Nebula nevertheless :(

Deep Sky Imaging Session - January 18-19, 2025

The sky this evening is partly cloudy but I proceeded to image NGC 2174 Monkey Head Nebula in Orion using Dwarf 3 Smart Scope at Astro Mode with Duo Filter at EQ mode and total exposure of 34 mins (34 x 60 sec) at Gain 60. I also image NGC2264 Christmas Tree / Fox Fur / Philippine Nebula in Monoceros using Borg 76ED Refractor with ZWO ASI294MC PRO Astro Camera with 0.8x Reducer / Flattener and SVBony SV220 Duo Band Filter with total exposure of 32 mins ( 16 x 120 sec) at Unity Gain and -5 deg C. Unfortunately, both objects were cut short as large clouds started to cover the entire sky thus ending my imaging session short of my plan of at least 2 hours total exposure for each object :( I will try to reimage these 2 objects once again in the days to come.

Solar Imaging Session - January 17, 2025

The sky this afternoon is very cloudy with small cloud opening only so I just image the Sun in white light wavelength using Dwarf 3 at Astro Mode with Solar Filter in AZ mode. 10 stacked image at 1/4000 sec exposure at Gain 0. Sun has some nice large sunspot groups in AR3961, AR3959, AR3964 regions. Hopefully can image in high resolution tomorrow if weather permits.

Lunar and Deep Sky Imaging Session - January 15, 2025

The sky this evening is partly cloudy so I was able to image the Waning Gibbous Moon after I return home. Then I try to also image NGC2174 Monkey Head Nebula in Orion but as I was starting to image , clouds started to roll in fast that I was only able to image with a measly 8 minutes total exposure only. Oh well.... Still happy :) LOL

Lunar Imaging Session - January 13, 2025

The sky this evening is very cloudy and am just trying to force myself to image the almost Full Moon (99%) with lots of passing clouds thus image is a little soft. Nevertheless, still happy to capture it. Better than nothing at all :) LOL