Galaxy M83 has a visitor. Asteroid Alexandra passes slowly by the galaxy. M83 is located in the constellation of Hydra, the Water Snake

Venus Visits M45

Taken on April 3rd, 2012
Celestron C14.
Hyperstar 3 at F2. 675mm equivalent.
Series of 45 second exposures with a Canon 450D (XSI) Stacked with short exposures of Venus
Converted to JPG with Canon Zoom Browser.

Picture Credit:
J D Maddy

Monkey Head Nebula

Taken on January 17th, 2012
Celestron C14.
Hyperstar 3 at F2. 675mm equivalent.
Series of 45 second exposures with a Canon 450D (XSi)
Converted to JPG with Canon Zoom Browser.

Picture Credit:
J D Maddy

Rosette Nebula

The Rosette Nebula is located near Orion in the constellation of Monoceros, the Unicorn. Visually, it appears as a wisp of nebulosity. A Canon 450 D captured the color in this nebula taken with a 14" Celestron at F2 using a Hyperstar.

Crescent Venus on May 1st, 2012

Orion Nebula

This One is a one shot color.

Here is what the SEDS website has to say about this nebula: "Located at a distance of about 1,600 (or perhaps 1,500) light years, the Orion Nebula is the brightest diffuse nebula in the sky, visible to the naked eye, and rewarding in telescopes of every size, from the smallest glasses to the greatest Earth-bound observatories and the Hubble Space Telescope."

Diffuse Nebula M42 (NGC 1976), an emission and reflection nebula, in Orion

Taken on August 30, 2009
Celestron GPS11.
Hyperstar 3 at F2. 560mm equivalent.
25 Second exposure at ISO400 with a Canon 450D (XSi)
Converted to JPG with Canon Zoom Browser.

Picture Credit:
J D Maddy

Taken on November 21, 2009
Celestron GPS11.
Hyperstar 3 at F2. 560mm equivalent.
Five 5 Second exposures at ISO 800 with a Canon 450D (XSi)

Stacked with Deep Sky Stacker
Converted to JPG with Canon Zoom Browser.

Picture Credit:
J D Maddy

This is the Silver Coin Galaxy in Sculptor also known as NGC 253.

Taken on November 14th, 2011 at the Mescal Spur Observatory.
Celestron C14.
Hyperstar 3 at F2. 675mm equivalent.
30 Second exposures at ISO1600 with a Canon 450D (XSi)
Converted to JPG with Canon Zoom Browser.

Picture Credit:
J D Maddy

This is Messier object M101. A closer look will find many other small galaxies in the picture. See how many you can find. See below for a listing of some of the galaxies.

Taken on September 15th, 2009 at the Mescal Spur Observatory.
Celestron GPS11.
Hyperstar 3 at F2. 560mm equivalent.
50 Second exposures stacked (5) at ISO1600 with a Canon 450D (XSi)
Converted to JPG with Canon Zoom Browser.

Picture Credit:
J D Maddy

This is Messier objects M81 and M82. M81 is also known as Bodes Nebula and was discovered by Johann Bode is 1774. In 1779, Charles Messier added it to his catalogue. M81 is about 12 Million Light Years away. M82 is also known as the Cigar Galaxy. It is also about 12 Million LY away. Both are located in Ursa Major, the Big Dipper.

Taken on January 11, 2010 at the Mescal Spur Observatory.
Celestron GPS11.
Hyperstar 3 at F2. 560mm equivalent.
45 Second exposures stacked (30) with Deep Sky Stacker at ISO1600 with a Canon 450D (XSi)
Converted to JPG with Canon Zoom Browser.

Picture Credit:
J D Maddy

        Picture Credit:
        J D Maddy

Another view of M101 showing more of the spiral structure.

        Picture Credit:
        J D Maddy

This photo of M42 is taken in the infra-red (IR) spectrum with a Hutech Modified Canon XSI. The modified  camera will show the IR spectrum up to 1000nm beyond the visual range. Normal digital cameras cut off at about 700nm. (nm = nanometers)

      Picture Credit:
      J D Maddy