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Instruments, Techniques, and Philosophy: Learn about the various pieces of equipment the author uses to take these images and the methods and philosophies adopted over the years.
These images are © Copyright 1983-2007 by John A. Blackwell. If you are
interested in a copy of an image, please see the Purchase Page. Images
marked with a 
are available and can be printed on fine photo paper.
Those images represent some of my best work to date.
To see these images properly, you should please adjust your monitor to see the following 17 greyscale steps (solid black to white):
| Caldwell 9 Nebula: | An LRGB color composite of the Caldwell 9 nebula. ST-8, Takahashi CN-212 @f/3.9 |
| IC 342 Galaxy LRGB Color: |
A 60 minute+ LRGB integration series of galaxy IC 342. ST-7, Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5. |
| IC 405 the Flaming Star Nebula: |
A 30 minute film exposure on Kodak Royal Gold 400 using a Tak FSQ-106n @ f/5. |
| IC 443: |
A 15 minute integration using an ST-7 non-E non-ABG and a Takahashi FSQ-106n f/5. |
| IC-2118 monochrome: | IC-2118, the Witch Head Nebula. Takahashi FSQ-106n f/5, ST-8XME |
| IC-5070 Narrow Band Color: |
IC-5070, the Pelican Nebula. Takahashi FSQ-106n, ST-8XME, CFW-10 |
| IC-5146 LRGB Color: |
IC-5146, the Cocoon Nebula. Takahashi CN-212, ST-7XME, CFW-8 |
| IC-5146 RGB Color: |
IC-5146, the Cocoon Nebula. Takahashi FSQ-106n, ST-7, CFW8 |
| B33 Horsehead & Flame Nebulae HaRGB Color: |
The Horsehead Nebula. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, HaRGB composite. |
| B33 Horsehead Nebula LRGB Color: |
The Horsehead Nebula. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, LRGB composite. |
| M-1 LRGB Color: |
M-1 The Crab Nebula in LRGB color. ST-7, Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5. |
| M-1 Crab Nebula: |
M-1, the the Crab Nebula in Taurus. 6500 LY distant. CN-212 Newtonian Mode, SBIG ST-7. |
| M-13 Hercules Cluster: |
M-13. A globular cluster in Hercules. 26000 light years distant with a magnitude of 5.9. ST-7 CCD, 5 minute. Tak FSQ-106n f/5 |
| M-16 Eagle Nebula (color): |
M-16 The Eagle Nebula, RRGB Color. ST-7, Tak FSQ-106n. |
| M-16 Eagle Nebula: |
M-16 The Eagle Nebula. ST-7, Tak FSQ-106n, addition of six 1 minute integrations. |
| M-17 Swan Nebula: |
M-17 The Swan Nebula. ST-7XME, Tak CN-212, RRGB color composite. |
| M-17 Swan Nebula: |
M-17 The Swan Nebula. ST-7, Tak FSQ-106n, addition of five 1 minute integrations. |
| M-20 Triffid Nebula LRGB: |
M-20 The Triffid Nebula. ST-7, Tak FSQ-106n, LRGB color image. |
| M-27 Hourglass Nebula LRGB Color: |
M-27. A planetary nebula in Vulpecula. 300 light years distant with a 13.9 magnitude central star. LRGB Composite. L30m:R5m:G5m:B10m integrations with ST-7, C-8 at f/6.3, dark frames subtracted. |
| M-27 Hourglass Nebula LRGB Color: |
M-27. A planetary nebula in Vulpecula. 300 light years distant with a 13.9 magnitude central star. Takahashi CN-212 f/3.9, ST-7, CFW-8. |
| M-31 Andromeda Galaxy (LRGB Color CCD): |
Galaxy M-31, Tak FSQ-106n at f/5, ST-8 CFW-10 LRGB |
| M-31 Andromeda Galaxy (color film): |
Galaxy M-31, Tak FSQ-106n at f/5, Kodak Royal Gold 1 hour. |
| M-33 Galaxy in Triangulum (LRGB color): |
Galaxy M-33, Tak FSQ-106n at f/5, ST-8XME, CFW-8. |
| M42 Orion Nebula in HaRGB Color: |
The Orion Nebula. Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5, HaRGB composite. |
| M-42 Orion Nebula RRGB Color: |
M-42 LRGB Color Image. Takahashi CN-212 Newtonian Mode, ST-7, CFW-8. |
| M-45 Pleiades: |
A color film image of this familiar open cluster with nebulosity. An addition of two 30 minute exposures with Kodak Royal Gold 400, Tak FSQ-106n @ f/5. |
| M-51 Whirlpool Galaxy LRGB: |
M-51, the Whirlpool Galaxy in UMa. ST7 CCD,CN-212, LRGB Color composite. |
| M-57 Ring Nebula Color: |
M-57,a 9th magnitude planetary nebula in Lyra with a 14th magnitude central star. LRGB color image. C8@f/6.3, L:5min, R:5min, G:5min, B:12min. |
| M-74: |
A single 15 minute integration with ST7, C-8 at f/6.3. Dark frame subtracted and Digital Development used to bring out details. |
| M-81: |
M-81 ST-7 CCD, Takahashi CN-212, CFW-8 LRGB color image. |
| M-81: |
M-81 ST-7 CCD, FSQ-106n, f/5, CFW-8 LRGB color image. |
| M-84 M-86 in Virgo Cluster: |
Virgo Galaxy Cluster. ST-7 CCD, Takahashi FSQ-106n, 2 x 10minute integrations. |
| M-94 LRGB Color: | M-94 ST-7 CCD, C8, f/6.3, LRGB color composite image. |
| M-95: | M-95 ST-7 CCD, CN-212, 60 minute integration, Dark Frame Subtracted. |
| M-101 Galaxy LRGB: |
M-101, Galaxy. ST7 CCD,CN-212, LRGB Color composite. |
| NGC 404 Galaxy in Andromeda: | NGC-404 is a magnitude 11 galaxy right next to the magnitude 2.1 star Mirach. Note the serious blooming of the star on the CCD chip and the associated internal reflections of the telescope's optics. Can you tell that it's a Schmidt-Cas?! This was a 1 minute integration with ST-7 at -15C. C-8 at f/6.3 and Dark Frame subtracted. |
| NGC-891 Galaxy in Andromeda: |
A fine edge-on galaxy with central dust lane. SBIG ST-7, 3x5 minute self-guided integration at -30C. Dark Frame subtracted. C-8 at f/6.3. |
| NGC-891 Galaxy in Andromeda Color: |
A fine edge-on galaxy with central dust lane. SBIG ST-7, 3x5:5:5:12 minute self-guided LRGB integration at -30C. Dark Frame subtracted. C-8 at f/6.3. |
| NGC-891 Galaxy in Andromeda Color (revisited): |
A fine edge-on galaxy with central dust lane. SBIG ST-7, 3x5:5:5:12 minute self-guided LRGB integration at -30C. Dark Frame subtracted. C-8 at f/6.3. This has better processing and more accurate color balance. |
| NGC 1499 California Nebula: |
A 30 minute film exposure on Kodak Royal Gold 400 using a Tak FSQ-106n @ f/5. |
| NGC 1501 LRGB Color: |
NGC 1501 Planetary Nebula in LRGB Color, C-8 f/6.3, ST-7 CFW-8. |
| NGC 2244 Rosette Nebula Portion: |
NGC 2244, Rosette Nebula. ST-7 CFW8, FSQ-106n, f/5 |
| NGC 2261 Hubble Variable Nebula LRGB Color: | NGC 2261, Hubble's Variable Nebula. 3000 LY Distant. ST-7 CFW8, C8, f/6.3 |
| NGC 2264: | Wide field image of the Christmas Tree Cluster, ST7, FSQ-106n f/5. |
| NGC 2264 section Cone Nebula RGB Color: | The Cone Nebula. ST7 C8 @ f/6.3, RGB composite. |
| NGC 2403 Galaxy in Camelopardalis: | This is a lovely object visually in an 8" scope! Taken with an ST-7 on a C-8 at f/6.3. An addition of 6 five minute integrations. Dark frames subtracted (-25d C), with Digital Development (MaxImDL). |
| NGC 2903 LRGB: | NGC 2903 LRGB Color. ST-7 CCD, C-8, f/6.3, L:5min, R:5min, G:5min, B:12min. |
| NGC 4565 Edge-on Galaxy in Coma Berenices: |
NGC 4565. ST-7 CCD, C-8, f/6.3, addition of three 10min and one 5min integrations, dark fields subtracted. |
| NGC 6822: |
NGC 6822 Galaxy. ST-7 CCD, Tak FSQ-106n, f/5, 25 minutes. |
| NGC 6888 The Crescent Nebula: |
NGC 6888 Crescent Nebula, Ha, OIII, SII, ST-8, CN-212 Newtonian f/3.9 |
| NGC 6888 The Crescent Nebula: |
NGC 6888 Crescent Nebula in Cygnus. ST-7 CCD, Tak CN-212, LRGB color composite image. |
| NGC 6888 The Crescent Nebula: |
NGC 6888 Crescent Nebula in Cygnus. ST-7 CCD, Tak FSQ-106n, f/5, RRGB color composite image. |
| NGC 6992 Veil Nebula Section Color RGB: |
NGC 6992 Veil Nebula in Cygnus RGB Color. ST-7 Takahashi CN-212 f/3.5. |
| NGC 6960 Veil Nebula Section RRGB Color: | NGC 6960 Veil Nebula in Cygnus. ST-7 CCD, Takahashi FSQ-106n f/5, RRGB Color composite image. |
| NGC 6992 Veil Nebula Section Color RRGB: |
NGC 6992 Veil Nebula in Cygnus RRGB Color.ST-7 Takahashi FSQ-106n f/5. |
| NGC 7000 North American Nebula: |
NGC 7000, the North American Nebula in Cygnus. 1.6 thousand light years distant. Takahashi FSQ-106n f/5, Kodak Royal Gold 400, 30 minutes. |
| NGC 7000 North American Nebula: | NGC 7000, the North American Nebula in Cygnus. 1.6 thousand light years distant. Fuji G+400 15 minutes. 150mm f/4. |
| NGC 7626 & Pegasus I Galaxy Cluster. |
A 60 minute deep integration into the Pegasus I Galaxy Cluster. ST-7, Takahashi FSQ-106n f/5. |
| NGC 7635 The Bubble Nebula LRGB: |
RRGB Color image of the Bubble Nebula taken with Takahashi CN-212 at f/3.9, ST7 and CFW-8. |
| PN 205+14.1 Medusa Nebula: | A 60 minute integration of planetary nebula PN 205+14.1, ST-7, Takahashi FSQ-106n @ f/5. |
| Perseus I Galaxy Cluster (Perseus A): |
A rich galaxy cluster. 30 minute integration with SBIG ST-7 on C-8 at f/6.3 with dark frame subtracted. |
| Quasar 3C 273 in Virgo: | 3C 273 Quasar in Virgo. Takahashi FSQ-106n f/5, ST-7, 5 minutes, 3 billion light-years away. |
| Albireo: | Albireo, a double star in Cygnus. RGB Color. Tak CN-212, ST-7. |
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Last Modified: 3/08/08 5:41p
This page: © Copyright 1997-2008 by John A. Blackwell