Beautiful Digital Images of the Cosmos
Here is a slideshow of astronomical digital images recently captured at KPO, and historical images. The observatory contains many types of optical equipment, cameras, and computer systems to allow us to capture our beautiful digital images of the night sky.
M20-LRGB1-Processed-DeNoised-Watermarked
M16 Eagle Nebula & The Pillars of CreationSHO4
M104 LRGB
M83-HaLRGB-St-2-Processed-Watermarked
M51-HaLRGB-Processed-Topaz-Watermarked
M3-LRGB-Processed-Watermarked
NGC4565-LRGB-Processed-Watermarked
NGC 7023 LRGB Processed Watermarked
NGC 7293 HOS
NGC6960-HOO
Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae
IC 410 (Tadpoles Nebula)
IC417 The Spider & the Fly
Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex
HDR Lunar Eclipse
NGC 2244 - Rosette Nebula
IC 2177 - Seagull Nebula (HOS)
IC 1848 - The Soul Nebula
NGC 7000 SHO
NGC 1499 California Nebula
Details and larger versions of all these astrophotos are viewable on our Astrophotography Blog.
Imaging Equipment and Telescopes at the Observatory
The largest instrument at the observatory is the KPO 18″ Reflector, a standard Newtonian reflecting telescope with an original Coulter 18″ F/4.5 parabolic mirror.
The Sky Sentinel control and imaging software drives the telescope to locate deep sky object targets. The telescope, robotic mount, control electronics, and software were all designed and made by David Hearn, and is a one-of-a-kind custom system.
This 20-year-old telescope was moved out to the new 225 sq ft observing deck, and is protected from the elements by a “roll-back” observatory building.
Going forward the scope will be used for visual observing only, for our private observing sessions.
The new addition in 2022 will be to procure and install a new 12″ Richey-Chretien (RC) astrograph (imaging telescope), mounted on an iOptron CEM-120 robotic mount.
This new system will allow imaging at over 2400mm, which will give high magnification views of smaller galaxies and planetary nebulae.
Since July 2021, most of the recent wide field astrophotos have been captured with the portable astrophotography rig,
The main optic is a Canon 100-400 F5.6L lens. The primary camera is a ZWO ASI1600MM Pro, with a imaging array of 4656 x 3520 (16.4 megapixels).
Guiding is achieved through an Orion 50mm guide scope, fitted with a ZWO ASI120MM-S Super Speed Monochrome CMOS Camera.
The imaging process is automated by the ZWO ASIAIR Pro WiFi Camera Controller.
All of this gear rides atop the iOptron SmartEQ robotic equatorial mount.