# 149 | M33
Sometimes forgotten about due to it's proximity to M31 (the Andromeda galaxy), M33, also known as the Pinwheel galaxy, is a splendid sight when seen through any scope while observing under dark skies.
Found in the constellation Triangulum, keen-eyed observers under pristine skies may be able discern the galaxy as a faint fuzzy area using only the naked eye.
Marc Paradis imaged M33 this past summer from St-Agapit, Quebec using an Orion 80mm ED refractor riding atop a Losmandy G-11 equatorial mount. Marc took multiple 5-minute exposures using a Canon 300D digital camera set at ISO 1600 and then combined and processed nine of the images using ImagesPlus, Photoshop and NeatImage.
# 148 | M16
Although the star cluster that forms M16, located above the teapot in Sagittarius, can easily be found using binoculars, a dark sky is required to observe the nebulosity that surrounds the cluster. With autumn fast approaching, the observing treasures of the summer Milky Way will soon be disappearing, so don't miss the opportunity that cool, and often bug-free September nights present for skywatching.
Serge Theberge imaged M16 in mid-August from the Toronto RASC's observing site near Collingwood, Ontario. Serge took seven 10-minute exposures at ISO 400 with his Canon 300D digital camera through an 8" f4 Vixen R200SS reflector and afterwards processed the images using ImagesPlus and Photoshop.
# 147 | Venus Rising
Early risers likely have noticed that Venus can once again be easily found. Shining brighter than any other objects in the pre-dawn sky (except for the Moon), Venus is just past it's greatest elongation west of the Sun.
Shaun Lowe of Halifax, Nova Scotia took this image of the Moon and Venus shortly before packing up after a night of Perseid meteor observing on August 12, 2004.
Shaun used a Minolta Dimage 7 camera and took a 30-second exposure at f3.4 using 100 ISO.
# 146 | The Dumbbell Nebula
One of the best, if not the best planetary nebulas to observe, the Dumbbell Nebula appears to be an hourglass suspended amongst the stars. In larger telescopes, the view becomes stunning. Located in the constellation Vulpecula, it is directly overhead soon after dusk, found between Delphinus and the star Alberio.
Jean Guimond recently took this detailed image from his observatory in Cap-Rouge, Quebec.
Jean used the following equipment: SBIG ST-10 MXE CCD camera, CFW-8A filter wheel, SBIG A0-7 and a Celestron 8" f/10 SCT equipped with a Hutech Light pollution filter.
Bin 1X1
L (H-Alpha 150 min(50%) + Clear filter 60 min (50%):
Bin 2x2
R : 16 min (8x120sec)
G : 16 min (8x120sec)
B : 18.7 min (8x140sec)
# 145 | Cassiopeia
Those that observe until the wee hours of the morning will notice that the winter constellations are once again coming into view. Cassiopeia, easily recognized due to its "W" shape, can be seen rising in the north-east near midnight.
On July 25, Stuart Heggie took this image of Cassiopeia using a Nikon D70 with an18-70mm EDIF lens (at18mm) set to f3.5. A 30-second exposure was taken using ISO 800.
# 144 | Auroral Activity
From July 22-26, 2004, auroral activity was quite high, the result of flares erupting from giant sunspot #652 earlier in the week.
Those with clear skies had the fortune to watch spectacular auroras on mulitple nights with hardly any moonlight interfering. Many readers report seeing some of the most fast moving auroras they have ever witnessed.
Philippe Mousette took this image on July 26th from Cap-Rouge, Québec with a Canon 300D digital camera equipped with a fisheye lens. Over the course of the night, a number of images were taken using ISO 1600, with exposure times varying between 4-7 seconds.
# 143 | Sunspot 652
A massive sunspot, currently about the 15 times the size of the Earth, has been transiting the face of the Sun this week. Powerful auroras were seen on July 22nd and 24th, the result of flares exploding from the sunspot a few days earlier.
Rob Bower of Island Grove, Ontario, took this image of sunspot 652 on Saturday, July 24 using a Celestron C8 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with a Daystar filter attached. A 1/30 second exposure at ISO 100 with a Canon 300D digital camera was taken.
Never attempt solar observing without proper filters. See your local astronomy retailer for proper solar equipment.
# 142 | M8 and M20
Summer nights are a great time for sitting under the stars with binoculars. With the Milky Way arcing overhead, the view from a location devoid of light pollution is a sight to behold.
M8 (bottom) and M20 (top), also known as the Lagoon and Trifid nebulas, can be seen as fuzzy patches with the naked eye under pristine skies and are only two of many treasures that can be found while exploring the summer skies.
Les Marczi of Welland, Ontario, used a Takahashi Sky 90 II SV refractor equipped with a focal reducer to take this image of M8 and M20. Les, using a Canon 10D digital camera set at ISO 800, took twenty 40-second images which were then combined and processed using Images Plus and Adobe Photoshop.
# 141 | The Crescent Nebula
NGC6888, also known as the Crescent Nebula, is located in the heart of Cygnus. Observers under dark skies using larger telescopes with an OIII filter, may be able to discern the faint nebula amongst the stars of the Milky Way.
Jean Guimond, from his observatory in Cap-Rouge, Quebec, used a Hydrogen-Alpha filter with an SBIG ST-10 MXE CCD camera, a CFW-8A filter wheel and a Televue Genesis f5 refractor equipped with a Hutech light pollution filter.
Bin 1X1: L (H-Alpha): 120 minutes (8x15)
Bin 2x2: R:20 (5x4 minutes), G:20 (5x4 minutes), B:20 (5x4 minutes)
# 140 | The Return of Venus
Early risers may be able to spot Venus in the morning twilight. Look low in the south-east shortly before dawn.
Sharp-eyed observers may even be able to spot Venus after sunrise. Darryl Archer of Kitchener, Ontario, took this image of Venus at 9:30 a.m. on June 27, 2004.
Darryl, using a Celestron C14 Schmidt Cassegrain telescope operating at f11 with a Philips webcam and an IR filter attached, processed 100 frames (from 3000 taken) using K3CCD Tools, Registack and Photoshop