David's Astronomy - Image Highlights 2007

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Image Highlights - 2007

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Shown below are some of my favourite CCD images from 2007.
They are taken using a ST-7E camera through an 8" LX200 unless otherwise stated

| Stars | Clusters | Nebulae | Galaxies | Sun | Moon | Planets | Comets | Asteroids/MPL |

Stars

Barnard's Star, HIP 87937 (Ophiuchus) - June 2006
2nd closest known star system to the Sun only 5.94 light years away
Star with largest known proper motion

Animation of Images taken one year apart,
showing 10 arc sec/year motion of Barnard's Star

Animated CCD Image
a) 2007-06-26 23:07h UT (#201012-18), 7 x 10s (average combine), C Filter
b) 2006-06-25 23:49h UT (#129162-68), 7 x 10s (average combine), C Filter

Motion of Barnard's Star ( 2006-05-06 to 2007-10-01 )
Measured Proper Motion 10.57 arc sec/year, PA 356.28 deg
(based on 3 observation pairs separated by one year)
[ cf. Hipparcos Value 10.358"/yr, 355.6 ]

SS Cyg - Cataclysmic Variable - August/September 2007
Light variation showing dwarf nova event in late August

SS Cyg at minimum - 2007-09-16

CCD Image
30s exposure, 2x2 binning, V Filter, Linear brightness scaling
2007-09-16 20:40 hUT (#213011)

SS Cyg at maximum - 2007-08-23

CCD Image
30s exposure, 2x2 binning, V Filter, Linear brightness scaling
2007-08-23 00:48 hUT (#206216)

[ More images and plots of SS Cyg ]

SU UMa - Cataclysmic Variable - 2007
Animation sequence of images showing variation in SU UMa
(images from 5 separate nights between Apr 2007 & Oct 2007)

Animated CCD Images
180 sec exposure, 2x2 binning, V Filter
2007-04-28 (#192248), 2007-08-08 (#203184), 2007-08-22 (#206056)
2007-08-25 (#207032), 2007-10-17 (#221109)

Altair (Aquila) - October 2007

CCD Image (200% size)
3 sec exposure, 2x2 binning, C Filter
Linear brightness scaling
2007-10-01 20:06 h UT (#217001)

Clusters

M3 - Globular Cluster (Canes Venatici) - April 2007

CCD Image (75% size)
120s exposure, 2x2 binning, C filter,
Square Root brightness scaling, Gamma Correction
2007-04-05 01:34 hUT (#189236)

M11- Open Cluster (Scutum) - May 2007

CCD Image Mosaic, 3x4, (50% size)
30 sec exposure, 2x2 binning, C Filter
Cropped
2007-05-20 01:15h UT (#200083-94)
[larger image, 70% size]

NGC 7510 (Cepheus) - December 2007

CCD Image
3 x 60 sec (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2007-12-22 21:59hUT (#245728-30)

Nebulae

NGC 1555 - "Hind's Variable Nebula" (Taurus) - October 2007
The Nebula is also known as
"Struve's Lost Nebula" and "Burnham's Nebula"
The adjacent bright star is variable star T Tau

Annotated CCD Image
5 x 180s exposure (average combine),
2x2 binning, C Filter, Linear brightness scaling
2007-10-05 04:38 hUT (#219053-57)

M42 (Orion) - December 2007

CCD Image Mosaic (75% size / cropped)
60 sec, 2x2 binning, I Filter
Square root scale, False colour
2007-12-02 02:38hUT (#238009-20)

Galaxies

NGC 3344 (Leo Minor) - February 2007

CCD Image
7 x 180s exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C filter,
2007-02-18 00:01h UT (#176211-17)

False colour CCD Image
Log brightness scaling, Inverse Spectrum
(details as above)

NGC 4244 / Caldwell 26 (Canes Venatici) - March 2007

CCD Image
5 x 180s exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C filter,
2007-03-03 23:46h UT (#180385-89)

NGC 4565 / Caldwell 38 (Coma Berenices) - March 2007

CCD Image
5 x 180s exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C filter,
2007-03-03 23:46h UT (#180385-89)

Part of Abell 2151 - Galaxy Cluster (Hercules) - April 2007
Some 17 other faint galaxies not annotated

Annotated CCD Image
3 x 180s exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C filter,
2007-04-05 00:55 h UT (#189214-17)

Stephan's Quintet - Galaxy Cluster, NGC 7320 et al (Andromeda) - August 2007

CCD Image,
5 x 120 sec exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
Square root brightness scaling
2007-08-22 23:41 h UT (#206153-57)

NGC 7753 Spiral Galaxy with companion / ARP 86 (Pegasus)

CCD Image
3 x 3 min exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2007-10-20 22:26hUT (#223156-58)

NGC 7753 / ARP 86 - detail

False Colour CCD Image (200% size)
Log scale, False Colour (inverse spectrum)
Image details as above

IC 1613 - irregular galaxy, local group / Caldwell 51 (Cetus) - November 2007
1 min exposure

Annotated CCD Image Mosaic (3x3), 50% size
60sec, 2x2 binning, C Filter
2007-11-17 00:21hUT (#235353-61)

IC 1613 - detailed image - 21 min exposure
(location of image shown by rectangular box above)

CCD Image
slight blur, contrast adjusted
7 x 3 min (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2007-11-17 00:03 hUT (#235346-52)

CCD Image - negative
(Image details as above)

Quasars / Blazars

BL Lac - Blazar (Lacerta) - August - Mid October 2007
Magnitude Variation showing in dataset comprising observations from 19 nights
between 2007-08-08 and 2007-10-19

Earlier image of BL Lac

CCD Image
120 sec exposure, 2x2 binning, R Filter
2006-12-02 18:06h UT (#157058)

Supernovae

NGC 4030 with SN 2007aa (Virgo) - March 2007

CCD Image
5 x 180s exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C filter,
2007-03-12 23:13h UT (#182260-64)

NGC 4036 with SN 2007gi (Ursa Major) - August 2007
2007gi was a Type 1a Supernova discovered 2007/07/31.49 by Koichi Itagaki
at mag +16.3, and has brightened significantly through early August 2007.
Image below (2007-08-13.93) was taken 13 days after discovery.
Estimated magnitude of 2007gi is +12.6 (C filter).

Annotated CCD Image
5 x 120s exposure (average combine),
2x2 binning, C Filter, Log Scale
2007-08-13 22:13 hUT (#204071-75)

NGC 4036 with SN 2007gi - detail

CCD Image - Log Scale (200% size, cropped)
Image details as above

NGC 7721 with SN 2007le (Aquarius) - October 2007
2007le was a Type 1a Supernova discovered 2007/10/13.79 by Berto Monard at mag +15.2

Image below (2007-10-19.87) was taken 6.1 days after discovery.
Measured magnitude +13.8

Annotated CCD Image
5 x 120s exposure (average combine),
2x2 binning, C Filter, Linear brightness scaling
2007-10-19 20:54 hUT (#222130-34)

Extragalactic novae

Sun

Sunspot 953 - Late April / Early May 2007

Sunspot Group 953 through Solar Filter + V Filter

Visual Band CCD Image
0.11s exposure, 1x1 binning, Solar Filter + V filter
2007-04-28 15:01h UT (#193161)

False Colour CCD Image (65% size)
0.2s exposure, 1x1 binning, Solar Filter + V filter
2007-04-28 14:08h UT (#193019)

False Colour CCD Image (65% size)
0.11s exposure, 1x1 binning, Solar Filter + V filter
2007-04-28 14:36h UT (#193132)

Sun - Visible Light
Montage of Images 2007-04-27 to 2007-05-06

CCD Image Mosaic (60% size)
0.11s exposure, 2x2 binning, Solar Filter + V filter
2007-04-30 17:05h UT (#194005-16)
with inserts from
2007-04-28 15:01h UT (#193161)
2007-04-27 11:38h UT (#192042)
2007-05-06 08:43h UT (#195017)
[ Full Size Image ]

Moon

Montage of Lunar Images taken during Eclipse - 3rd March 2007

[larger image]

New Moon (3% Phase) - 18th April 2007

Digital Photo (EOS 400D)
1/13s, f/5.6, ISO 800, 300mm (33% size, cropped)
2007-04-18 20:08 hUT
[ Larger Image ]

Copernicus and surrounding area - April 2007
(Moon at 75% Phase)

CCD Image
0.5s, 1x1 binning, R Filter
Unsharp Masked, 150% Size, Cropped
2007-04-26 21:04 hUT (#191044)

Moon (70% phase) - May 2007

CCD Image Mosaic (30% size)
0.11 sec exposure, 1x1 binning, B Filter,
Unsharp Mask Sharpened
2007-05-25 23:43h UT (#200009-20)
[larger image, 60% size]

Planets

Saturn - February 2007

CCD Image (insert 300% size) 0.2s exposure, 1x1 binning, C filter, 2007-02-14 21:58h UT (#175133)

Venus - March 2007 (mag -4.0, 86% phase, angular diameter 12")

CCD Image (with insert at 300% size) 0.11s exposure, 1x1 binning, B Filter 2007-03-03 18:38 h UT (#180010)

Mars at Opposition - December 2007 CCD Images taken with 8" LX200 operating at f/36 Apparent Diameter 16 arc secs

CCD Image (approximate colour) Red : 0.2s (R), Green: 0.2s (V), Blue : 0.5s (B) 2x2 binning 2007-12-19 22:19hUT (#245374-93)

Mars - detail

CCD Image (approximate colour) Red : 0.2s (R), Green: 1s (V), Blue : 1s (B) 1x1 binning, Unsharp Masked 2007-12-19 21:00hUT (#245198-281)		CCD Image (150% size) 15 x 0.2s, 1x1 binning, R Filter Aligned and Stacked (average combine) Unsharp Masked 2007-12-19 18:55hUT (#244305-22)

Comets

Comet 17P/Holmes - October/November 2007
Comet 17P/Holmes - Montage of Images 2007-10-25 to 2007-11-16

CCD Image Montage (30% size) Images from 2007-10-25 to 2007-11-16 2x2 binning, various exposures [Larger Image, 50% size]

Comet 17P/Holmes - explosive eruption - Late October 2007
Frames taking on Oct 25th, 29th 30th showing rapidly expanding coma		Rotational Gradient Processed Images taking on Oct 25th, 29th 30th, Nov 2nd, 3rd, 5th

Animated CCD Images 5 x 10s exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter, Log Scale Frame 1 : 2007-10-25 20:45h UT (#227055-59) Frame 2 : 2007-10-29 04:43h UT (#228038-42) Frame 3 : 2007-10-30 04:47h UT (#229035-39)		Animated CCD Images Various Exposures Rotational Gradient (15 deg)

Comet 17P/Holmes - passing through starfield in Perseus, 2007-10-30

CCD Image Mosaic (5 x 6), 35% size 20s exposure, 2x2 binning, C Filter, Log Scale 2007-10-30 04:57h UT (#229040-69) [ 70% Size ]

Comet 17P/Holmes - passing through starfield in Perseus, 2007-11-28

Part of CCD Image Mosaic (6 x 7), 35% size 30s exposure, 2x2 binning, C Filter, Linear Scale 2007-11-28 21:22h UT (#237063-104) [ Full Mosaic, 70% Size ]

Comet 8P/Tuttle - December 2007
Comet 8P/Tuttle - passing through star field in Cassiopeia

Animated Sequence of CCD Images (8 frames) 60s exposures , 2x2 binning, C Filter 2007-12-22 23:22h UT (#245766-845) [ Part of a larger 2.5 MB animation of 80 frames ]

Comet 8P/Tuttle - colour image

Approximate Colour CCD Image (CBVR) Luminance : av 3x 30s (C), Red : av 3 x 30s (R), Green : av 3 x 30s (V), Blue : av 3 x 60s (B) 2007-12-22 18:09h UT (#245554-65)

Asteroids / Minor Planets

Kuiper Belt Object - MPL 2003 EL61 - March 2007
(passing through starfield in Coma Berenices)
Estimated Mag 17.3
(mag limit of image +18.5)
2003 EL61 is third largest known object in the Kuiper Belt,
with a diameter of ~1500 km

Annotated CCD Image
10 x 180s exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C filter,
2007-03-15 22:38h UT (#183238-47)

MPL 2003 EL61 - Animation of images taken 5 days apart

Animated CCD Image
10 x 180s exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C filter,
2007-03-15 22:38h UT (#183238-47)
and
2007-03-20 20:58h UT (#184013-23)

Dwarf Planet - 1 Ceres (moving through starfield in Cetus)

Annotated CCD Image,
3 x 20 sec exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2007-12-06 01:38h UT (#239172-74)

Animation showing motion of 1 Ceres over 85 minutes

CCD Image Animation (2 frames)
3 x 20 sec exposure (average combine),
2x2 binning, C Filter, Linear Scale
2007-12-06 00:13h UT (#239125-27)
2007-12-06 01:38h UT (#239172-74)

MPL 2007 XH16 - December 2007
2007 XH16 is a 565m diameter asteroid which passed by the
earth on 2007-12-24 at a distance of 8.1 lunar distance (LD).
A sequence of images were recorded showing the asteroid
streaking through a star field in Aries
Asteroid appears as a 30 arc sec streak in this 30 sec exposure

CCD Image
30 sec, 2x2 binning, C Filter
2007-12-25 00:24hUT (#246134)

MPL 2007 XH16 - showing rapid motion (1.0 arc min per minute)

CCD Image Animation
30 sec exposures / 20 frames
2x2 binning, C Filter
2007-12-25 00:21 to 00:33hUT (#246129-48)

Unexpected Visitor to Observatory

Hedgehog at door to Observatory - 2007-04-27

Digital Images, 2007-04-27

Re-Analysis of Pre-2007 Images

Re-analysis of 2005 Image of M1
M1 showing CM Tau - the pulsar at heart of Crab Nebula
CM Tau is the remnant of the supernova of 1054

CM Tau is an example of an optically variable pulsar.
These are rapidly rotating neutron stars with
strong magnetic fields, radiating in the radio, optical, and X-ray regions.
Pulsars emit narrow beams of radiation, and periods of their light changes
coincide with rotational periods (from 0.004 to 4 s), while amplitudes
of the light pulses reach 0.8 mag

Annotated CCD Image (150% size, cropped)
Richardson-Lucy sharpened
14 x 60 sec exposure (average), 1x1 binning, C filter
2005-10-09 04:43 h UT (#99235-48 {S98} )

[ Interenet picture of Pulsar CM Tau on web at
http://www.scioly.org/eventpages/ ]

Re-analysis of 2006 Image of M33

M33 - detail, showing named HII regions

Annotated CCD Image Mosaic (75% size)
3 min exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
Rotated & Cropped
2006-11-16 22:24 h UT (#152233-45)
(Un-annotated Image, 75% size)

M33 - Variable 83 (S-Dor type variable)

Annotated CCD Image
5 x 3 min exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2006-11-16 23:24 h UT (#152276-80)
( Image details as above )

This Web Page:	Image Highlights - 2007
Last Updated :	2015-05-15
Site Owner :	David Richards
Home Page :	David's Astronomy Web Site

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David's Astronomy Pages (Image Gallery)Image Highlights - 2007

Asteroids / Minor Planets

Unexpected Visitor to Observatory

Re-Analysis of Pre-2007 Images

David's Astronomy Pages (Image Gallery)
Image Highlights - 2007