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My Best Astroimages of 2023

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My Best Astroimages of 2023

Less than 1 minute

Join me as I take a look back at the most exciting moments of my astroimaging journey in 2023. Some highlights below:

  • I imaged a bright comet
  • I took my first images of solar prominences with a solar telescope!
  • I saw the Northern Lights from my own backyard!
  • I imaged the brightest supernova in the last 10 years
  • I took stunning images of deep sky objects from a dark sky location and from my backyard
  • I imaged 6 planets and our own Moon
  • I captured a partial solar eclipse in between clouds

Get ready for another orbit around the Sun and, as always, remember to keep looking up at the stars!

The asteroid (4540) Oriani imaged with the BGO Robotic Telescope (2023-12-01) - annotated

I took an image of an asteroid with my own name

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I took an image of an asteroid with my own name!

Less than 1 minute Minutes

Nights with a clear sky are a rare occurrence in December in Southern Ontario, making it a challenging time for stargazing and astronomy enthusiasts. The region’s typically cloudy weather and light pollution can obscure the view of the night sky, limiting the visibility of stars, constellations, and other celestial phenomena. However, despite these challenges, there are still opportunities to observe the night sky.

I made use of the Robotic Telescope located at the Burke-Gaffney Observatory, Halifax (NS). The observatory, which is operated by the department of Astronomy and Physics in the Faculty of Science at Saint Mary’s University, is home to the Ralph Medjuck Planewave CDK24 telescope. This advanced telescope, named Ralph, is part of a suite of programs collectively referred to as “Mission Control,” allowing for remote and automated observation of the night sky.

I sent a command to the Robotic Telescope through the Communicator App and I asked to take a 3 minute exposure with a luminance filter of the asteroid (4540) Oriani, which has my last name!

(4540) Oriani is orbiting the Sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered at Osservatorio San Vittore in Bologna, Italy on November 6, 1988 and it was named after the astronomer Barnabus Oriani (1752 – 1832).

In the images below you can spot 4540 Oriani as a tiny 16.06 magnitude dot of light in Taurus constellation.

And do you have an asteroid with your “own” name?

Note: Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the asteroid (4540) Oriani with and without annotations.

Scroll the slider to switch between the images of Messier 13 and the galaxy IC 4617 (highlighted in red) with and without annotations.Scroll the slider to switch between the images of Messier 13 and the galaxy IC 4617 (highlighted in red) with and without annotations.
The Helix Nebula from the CAO (2023-07-23)

It finally happened: I photographed the Helix Nebula!

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It finally happened: I photographed the Helix Nebula!

Less than 1 minute Minutes

I had been waiting to photograph the Helix Nebula for years… Well, on the night of July 22-23, 2023 it finally happened!

The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), also known as the “Eye of God” or “The Eye of Sauron,” is a planetary nebula located 650 light-years away in the constellation of Aquarius.

NGC 7293 has a strong emission in Ha and OIII, but due to its low position in the sky it reaches a maximum of 25 degrees high at our latitudes. This makes it a challenging target for astrophotography.

Using my Explore Scientific ED80 CF APO refractor, OSC camera (ZWO ASI533MC PRO), and a narrowband filter (Optolong L-eXtreme), I captured a total of 30 minutes (10×180 seconds) of this elusive nebula. The final processed image is presented below for your enjoyment. 

Setup

Date: 2023-07-23
Location: Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO), ON
Scope: Explore Scientific ED80 CF
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10 °C)
Filters: Optolong L-eXtreme 2″
Mount: Celestron AVX
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR-Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: NINA, PixInsight, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: 30 minutes (10×180 secs.)
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
The Helix Nebula from the CAO (2023-07-23)
The Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius (2023-07-23)

Celestial hiccups and fantastic results: imaging the Trifid Nebula

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Celestial hiccups and fantastic results: imaging the Trifid Nebula

Less than 1 minute Minutes

As a member of the RASC, Toronto Centre, in July 2023 I spent a weekend under a dark sky with some friends at the E.C. Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO).

The second target for the night of July 22-23 was the Trifid Nebula (M 20) in Sagittarius.

While imaging the Trifid Nebula I encountered my share of celestial challenges and technical hiccups. At our latitudes, M 20 is crazy low to the southern horizon, so it is hard to capture a decent amount of photons if you are located in a light polluted area.

Next, for some reason the meridian flip didn’t unfold as expected, leading to a manual intervention and a loss of precious imaging time. Additionally, despite the dew heater operating at maximum power, dew condensed on my guide camera, posing yet another challenge. Post-processing presented its own set of obstacles too, with persistent halos around the brightest stars proving to be a formidable adversary.

Unveiling the Trifid Nebula’s Splendor

The Trifid Nebula, located approximately 5,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius, is a breathtaking combination of emission and reflection nebulae. Its three-lobed appearance, from which it derives its name, showcases a remarkable color palette ranging from blue to deep red and purple, offering a visual feast for astrophotographers and casual observers. 

Below you can see the final processed image. Until next time, clear skies!

Setup

Date: 2023-07-23
Location: Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO), ON
Scope: Explore Scientific ED80 CF
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10 °C)
Filters: Optolong L-eXtreme 2″
Mount: Celestron AVX
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR-Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: NINA, PixInsight, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: 48 minutes (16×180 secs.)
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
The Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius (2023-07-23)
The Lagoon Nebula (M8) from the CAO

Unveiling the Lagoon Nebula in a dark sky location

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Unveiling the Lagoon Nebula in a dark sky location

Less than 1 minute Minutes

In July 2023 I spent a great weekend at the E.C. Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO), where I met a group of fellow astroimagers. The sky was crystal clear and despite some dew I had a very productive imaging session: I stayed up until 3am in the morning and I captured 4 targets in one night. We were literally under a blanket of stars and the bright arch of the Milky Way. While I was imaging, I even counted 4 bright meteors!

This is the first of a series of targets I imaged on the night of July 22nd: the Lagoon Nebula (M 8) in Sagittarius, with a total integration time of just 18 minutes.
This immense emission nebula, made of star-forming cloud of interstellar gas, has been discovered in 1654 by the Italian astronomer Giovanni Battista Hodierna.
Tons of fine details are visible in the final image … What a difference a dark sky location can make!

Setup

Date: 2023-07-23
Location: Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO), ON
Scope: Explore Scientific ED80 CF
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10 °C)
Filters: Optolong L-eXtreme 2″
Mount: Celestron AVX
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR-Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: NINA, PixInsight, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: just 18 minutes (6×180 secs.)!
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
The Lagoon Nebula (M8) from the CAO
M16 (2023-07-07)

The Pillars of the Creation from my backyard

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The Pillars of Creation from my backyard

Less than 1 minute Minutes

The Eagle Nebula (M 16) is located in the constellation Serpens and its distance is approximately 7,000 light-years away from Earth. Within this nebula lies a breathtaking feature known as the “Pillars of the Creation”. In this article I will share my personal experience of imaging this beautiful summer deep sky object from the comfort of my own backyard.

I checked the weather forecast and I noticed a combination of a clear sky and above-average transparency in my local area. Knowing that such conditions are a rarity, I quickly seized the opportunity and prepared my equipment for a night of astrophotography.

The Pillars of the Creation, immortalized in a famous Hubble Space Telescope image, are immense columns of interstellar gas and dust. These pillars are home to ongoing star formation processes, with new stars being born within their colossal structure. The breathtaking beauty of this celestial marvel has inspired countless astrophotographers.

As with any endeavor, unexpected challenges can arise. In the midst of my imaging session, my computer decided to launch a Windows update, causing a momentary disruption. Note to self: disable Windows updates during nighttime astrophotography sessions! However, I persevered and managed to capture nearly an hour’s worth of data despite the hiccups along the way.

The Final Image

After meticulously processing the captured data, the moment of truth arrived. The culmination of my efforts revealed a stunning image of the Pillars of the Creation. Considering the limitations imposed by our latitudes, where the Eagle Nebula is not typically high in the sky, the final result exceeded my expectations.

Clear skies!

Setup

Date: 2023-07-07
Location: my backyard in Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: C8 SCT
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10 °C)
Filters: Optolong L-eXtreme 2″
Mount: Celestron AVX
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR-Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: NINA, PixInsight, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: 51 minutes (17×180 seconds).
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
M16 (2023-07-07)
M13 (2023-05-30)

The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules in its splendor

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The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules in its splendor

Less than 1 minute Minutes

I decided to image the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules (M13) despite the presence of the bright Moon. In this article I would like to share the result of this effort, which is my best capture of M13 to date.

The sky was clear and seeing and transparency were above average. I couldn’t miss this opportunity and decided to give a try. I imaged Messier 13, the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules.

Messier 13 shines as the most remarkable globular cluster visible in the Northern Hemisphere. Situated 25,000 light years away from us, this celestial gem stretches across 145 light years and has an estimated population of 300,000 stars.

Now imagine how the sky would appear from an hypothetical planet orbiting one of the stars near the center of Messier 13. The distance from our hypothetical planet to the closest star would be about 0.05 light-year. For comparison, in our solar system, this would be inside the Oort Cloud!
Across the entire sky, inhabitants of this hypothetical planet would see 10,000 stars brighter than 1st magnitude, and more than a thousand brighter than Sirius!

Setup

Date: 2023-05-30
Location: my driveway in Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: C8 SCT
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10 °C)
Filters: none
Mount: Celestron AVX
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR-Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: NINA, PixInsight, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: 60 minutes (30×120 seconds).
Calibration frames: 10 dark, 15 flat, 100 bias
Size: 29.7 x 29.7 arcmin
Radius: 0.350 deg
Pixel scale: 0.592 arcsec/pixel

Note: Scroll the slider to switch between the images of Messier 13 and the galaxy IC 4617 (highlighted in red) with and without annotations.

Scroll the slider to switch between the images of Messier 13 and the galaxy IC 4617 (highlighted in red) with and without annotations.Scroll the slider to switch between the images of Messier 13 and the galaxy IC 4617 (highlighted in red) with and without annotations.
I spent lot of time balancing the mount, polar alignment was very accurate, and with the optimal sky conditions, the mount was guiding almost perfectly, as you can see in this screenshot.
I spent lot of time balancing the mount, polar alignment was very accurate, and with the optimal sky conditions, the mount was guiding almost perfectly, as you can see in this screenshot.

I would like to conclude this post with a curiosity. In 1974, the Arecibo Radio Telescope in Puerto Rico sent a message towards Messier 13. The message, conceived by a team of scientists led by Frank Drake, aimed to communicate our presence and intelligence to potential extraterrestrial civilizations. Comprising a pictorial representation of our fundamental knowledge, the message contained a numerical system, atomic numbers, and the DNA structure, among other key elements. The message will take around 25,000 years to reach its destination!

M101 with SN 2023ixf with label (2023-05-22)

Breaking News: a new brilliant supernova exploded in the Pinwheel Galaxy!

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Breaking News: a new brilliant supernova exploded in the Pinwheel Galaxy!

Less than 1 minute Minutes

Hold on to your telescopes, stargazers! A rare and beautiful astronomical event is now in the headlines: a new bright supernova is visible in the galaxy M101! It was discovered by the experienced supernova hunter Koichi Itagaki, from Yamagata, Japan, on Friday, May 19, 2023.
This type II supernova, named SN 2023ixf, is located in the galaxy Messier 101 (the Pinwheel Galaxy), in Ursa Major.

Picture this: The Pinwheel Galaxy, situated approximately 21 million light years away, has treated us to a sight that actually transpired eons ago when a colossal star erupted, sending shockwaves throughout the cosmos!

Interestingly enough, just three days prior to this extraordinary celestial event, I captured images of the Pinwheel Galaxy on May 16. Little did I know that I was on the cusp of witnessing one of the most energetic events in the universe!

SN 2023ixf burst forth with such luminosity that it outshone the very heart of its galactic host. With an estimated magnitude of 11 and its advantageous positioning in our skies during this time of the year, this astonishing spectacle presents an accessible target for those equipped with modest telescopes.

Despite less-than-ideal weather conditions, including hazy and smoky skies that posed a challenge to guiding, I managed to obtain a series of images of both the galaxy and the supernova on May 22. On May 24, utilizing my C8 SCT, I once again captured images of the galaxy and the supernova, and I plan to continue observing and documenting their evolution in the upcoming weeks.

The supernova SN 2023ixf is expected to remain visible in the Pinwheel Galaxy for the next few months before gradually fading away. 

Setup

Date: 2023-05-22
Location: my driveway in Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Explore Scientific ED80 CF
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10 °C)
Filters: none
Mount: Celestron AVX
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: ASIAIR Plus, PixInsight, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: 30 minutes (15×120 seconds).
Calibration frames: 10 dark, 20 flat, 100 bias
Size: 1.35 x 1.35 deg
Radius: 0.956 deg
Pixel scale: 4.06 arcsec/pixel
M101 just 3 days before the supernova SN 2023ixf appeared (2023-05-16)
M101 just 3 days before the supernova SN 2023ixf appeared (2023-05-16)

Note: Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) and the supernova SN 2023ixf with and without labels.

Scroll the slider to switch between the images of M101 with SN 2023ixf and its version with the labelScroll the slider to switch between the images of M101 with SN 2023ixf and its version with the label
The Galaxy M101 and the supernova SN 2023ixf captured with my C8 SCT (2023-05-24). 20x10 seconds exposure time
The Galaxy M101 and the supernova SN 2023ixf captured with my C8 SCT (2023-05-24). 20×10 seconds exposure time
M45 integration (2023-02-08)

Imaging the Pleiades from a light polluted sky

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Imaging the Pleiades from a light polluted sky

Less than 1 minute Reading time: Minutes

In the last few weeks I was actively chasing the green comet, but finally yesterday I decided to go back to something more traditional and I did some DSO imaging from my light polluted sky.

With Messier 45, the Pleiades, as my target, my goal was to capture the blue nebulosity that surrounds this magnificent star cluster.

My imaging setup was equipped with an Explore Scientific ED80CF APO 80mm triplet refractor and a cooled ZWO ASI533MC PRO OSC camera, making for a 60 minutes of total integration time. Despite the challenges posed by high clouds and the Moon, my trusty Optolong L-Pro light pollution filter did its job and delivered good results. Below you can see the detailed setup I used for this imaging session.

Date: 2023-02-08
Location: my driveway in Richmond Hill (ON)
Outside temperature: +1°C
Scope and camera: Explore Scientific ED80CF APO, ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10 °C), Optolong L-Pro 2″
Focuser: ZWO EAF
Mount: Celestron AVX
Guiding: Orion Mini 50mm, ZWO ASI224MC, IR cut filter, PHD2
Software: NINA, PixInsight, NoiseXTerminator, BlurXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: 60 minutes (30×120 seconds)
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
Size: 1.35 x 1.35 deg
Radius: 0.954 deg
Pixel scale: 4.05 arcsec/pixel

Here is the final image of the Pleiades, with its blue nebulosity that surrounds the cluster shining bright amidst the light pollution of the city.
 
Clear skies!
M45 integration (2023-02-08)
Rosette Nebula in Narrowband (2022-11-26)

The Rosette Nebula in narrowband

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The Rosette Nebula in narrowband

Less than 1 minute Minutes

A few nights ago I imaged the Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237) from my driveway, with only 30 minutes total image integration.

My original plan was to going out with my Celestron 8 SCT and imaging Mars, but unfortunately the seeing was very bad for planetary imaging.

I did not give up, but I decided instead to switch to my small refractor and collect some narrowband images of deep sky objects. My main target for the night was the Rosette Nebula (also known as NGC 2237).

I used the brand new SpectrophotometricColorCalibration (SPCC) tool in PixInsight for the very first time (for those who might be interested, the link is here).

Gaia Data Release 3 currently represents the state of the art in terms of stellar astrometry and photometry, and is based on measurements made from space.

Guiding during the imaging session was a bit bumpy and I had some headache because I had to slightly change my processing routine and PixInsight configuration. I have to confess that the color of the stars is more accurate with this new process and I like the final result.

As usual, you can see the final processed image with stars and its starless version.

Setup
Date: 2022-11-26
Location: my driveway in Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Explore Scientific ED80 CF
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10 °C)
Filters: Optolong L-eXtreme 2″
Mount: Celestron AVX
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope:Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: NINA, PixInsight, NoiseXTerminator, Pixel Math (for star reduction), Starnet (for the starless version of the nebula), GIMP
Total integration time: 30 minutes (6×300 seconds).
Calibration frames: 1 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
Size: 1.35 x 1.35 deg
Radius: 0.956 deg
Pixel scale: 4.06 arcsec/pixel

Note: Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237) and its starless version. You can also open the image of the Rosette Nebula in its original resolution.

Scroll the slider to switch between the images of the Rosette Nebula and its starless versionScroll the slider to switch between the images of the Rosette Nebula and its starless version
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