Notes on these images. Images were acquired with SBIG STL-11000M, ST-10XME or ST-2000XM cameras equipped with the appropriate color filter wheel at prime focus. The 24" R-C reflector or 6" refractor at Star Hill, New Mexico, a Takahashi FRC-300 at New Mexico Skies, or the 10" or 14" Meade LX-200GPS telescopes at Morristown, NJ, were used for these pictures.
This image is of the spiral galaxy M33 (Triangulum or Pinwheel Galaxy), one of the local group of galaxies. It was taken in September, 2008, from New Mexico Skies using the Takahashi FRC-300 telescope and an SBIG STL-11000M camera. A total of 1.5 Hrs exposure were required to yield this LRGB image.
M31, the great galaxy in Andromeda. Taken at the Star Hill Observatory with the 6" refractor riding piggyback on the 24" R-C telescope in October, 2005. The SBIG ST-10+CFW-8A camera was used and this LRGB image represents 14 - 21 combined images per filter. This picture shows only the central area of this large nearby galaxy, due to the relatively small field of view of the CCD chip at the high focal ratio (f/10) used here.
The edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 891 (Caldwell 23), Taken at New Mexico Skies in September, 2008, with the FRC-300 telescope and the large format SBIG STL-11000M camera. The dark central stripe running down the center of this galaxy is due to light absorbing 'dust' which obscures the light from its constituent stars. This is a single 15 minute exposure luminance-only image. There are dozens of much smaller galaxies visible in this frame.
This is a luminance-only image of the NGC7331 group of galaxies in Pegasus. The group includes several smaller hard to see galaxies in this raw, unprocessed image. Taken in October, 2007, at Star Hill using the 4" Televue NP101 and SBIG ST010XME camera.
This is M51 the famous Whirlpool galaxy in Canes Venatici. This bright galaxy is about 37 million light years distant, and color photos show many bright pink areas within the numerous spiral arms. This object is thought actually to be two galaxies, the larger central bright disk and its gravitationally bound partner at the lower edge of the image. This luminance only image (17 exposures) was taken with the 14" Meade LX200GPS in July 2005.
This is the symmetrical face-on spiral galaxy (type Sc) M74 in Pisces. This magnitude 9.4 galaxy is about 35 million light years distant. This luminance only image (36 exposures of 30-45 sec each) was taken with the 24" R-C telescope at Star Hill, New Mexico (f/8) in October 2004.
This is the edge-on spiral galaxy M65, one of the Leo triplet. It's visual brightness is only 9.3, and is about 35 million light years distant. This luminance only photo was taken with the 10" Meade LX200GPS at Morristown, NJ.
This is the face-on spiral galaxy M100 in Coma Berenices. This galaxy is about 60 million light years distant, and is of about magnitude 10. This luminance only photo was taken with the 14" Meade LX200GPS (f/6.3) at Morristown, NJ.
This is another face-on spiral galaxy M101 in Ursa Major. This galaxy is fairly close at about 24 +/- 2 million light years distant, and is of about magnitude 10. This luminance only photo was taken with the 14" Meade LX200GPS (f/6.3) at Morristown, NJ.