David's Astronomy - Image Highlights 2009

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Image Highlights - 2009

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Shown below are some of my favourite CCD images from 2009
Images from 2009-03-09 onwards are taken using a ST-10XME camera through an 12" LX200R unless otherwise stated

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

Stars

Luyten's Star / HIP 36208 / GJ 273 (Monoceros)
"Luyten's Star" is a nearby red dwarf star, lying approximately 12.4 light years from Earth.

CCD Image (50% scale)
7 x 45 sec exposure (average combine), 1x1 binning, C Filter
2009-01-23 22:13h UT (#344101-07)
8" LX200 Classic + ST-7E

V1722 Aql / Nova Aquilae 2009 (Aquila)
Nova discovered by Koichi Nishiyama, & Fujio Kabashima (Japan)
at magnitude 10.9 on 2009-12-14.40

Image (2009-12-26.77) was taken 12.4 days after discovery.
V filter images taken at same show the nova with magnitude +12.32

Annotated CCD Image (cropped)
3 x 15sec (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-12-26 18:32 h UT (#408034-42)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Clusters

M3 - Globular Cluster (Canes Venatici)

CCD Image (50% size reduction, log scaling cropped)
15s sec exposure (single frame), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-05-51 00:08 h UT (#371125)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
[Larger Image - detail ]

Open Cluster
NGC 663 / Caldwell 10 (Cassiopeia)

CCD Image (75% size)
3 x 45 sec (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-12-11 20:34 h UT (#404268-70)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Nebulae

Planetary Nebula
M97 (Ursa Major)

Colour CCD Image
Cropped to Central Area
Red : 3 x 120 sec exposure (average combine) + 1.216 weight
Green : 3 x 120 sec exposure (average combine) + 1.00 weight
Blue : 3 x 180 sec exposure (average combine) + 1.096 weight
Luminance : 5 x 90 sec exposure (average frame), C Filter
Exposure/Colour Weights based on analysis of RGB frames of four G2V Stars
3x3 binning,
Luminance: 2009-04-22 01:05 h UT (#364272-75)
Colour: 2009-05-10 00:56 h UT (#367191-99)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
[ full frame image ]

IC 443 - Nebula / Supernovae Remnant (Gemini)

CCD Image (50% size)
5 x 120 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-12-11 04:03 h UT (#403443-47)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
[larger image 80% size]

NGC 2264 / Herschel H27-5=H5-8 - Cone Nebula (Monoceros)

CCD Image (75% size)
3 x 120 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-12-11 04:03 h UT (#403391-93)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
[Larger Image, 45s Mosaic]

IC 11 / NGC 281 (Cassiopeia)

CCD Image Mosaic (30% size, 2x3 mosaic)
60 sec, 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-09-26 02:43 h UT (#390314-20)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
[larger view, 75% size]

IC 11 / NGC 281 (Cassiopeia)

CCD Image (50% size)
7 x 60 sec (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-09-26 02:59 h UT (#390329-34)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Part of IC 5067 (Cygnus)

CCD Image (50% size reduction)
8 x 90 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-05-10 00:05 h UT (#367132-40)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
[ full size image ]

Cocoon Nebula
IC 5146 / Caldwell 19 (Cygnus)

CCD Image (50% size, cropped)
10 x 90 sec (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-12-11 20:55 h UT (#404297-317)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Triffid Nebula
M20 (Sagittarus)

CCD Image (35% size reduction)
9 x 20s sec exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter
2009-07-02 23:47 h UT (#374075-83)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Planetary Nebula
NGC 7293 / Caldwell 63 - Helix Nebula (Aquarius)

CCD Image (50% size)
12 x 90s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-10-07 21:36 h UT (#392266-78)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Dark Nebula
SAC B137-8 (Aquila)

CCD Image Mosaic (5x4 frames, 20% size reduction)
Field of View : 1.7 degrees x 1.4 degrees
20s sec exposure,, 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-07-31 00:53 h UT (#379511-36)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
[larger image, 50% size]

Galaxies

M63 (Canes Venatici)		M63 - detail

CCD Image (Linear Scale) 4 x 120s sec exposure (average combine), 2x2 binning, C Filter 2009-01-04 23:24 h UT (#338053-56) 8" LX200 Classic + ST-7E		False Colour CCD Image (Square Root Scale) Inverse Spectrum Image details as left

NGC 2403 / Caldwell 7 / Herschell V-44 (Camelopardalis)		NGC 2403 - detail

CCD Image (60% size reduction, Square Root Scale) 5 x 90s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-04-08 22:31 h UT (#362064-68) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME		False colour CCD Image (60% size reduction, Log Scale) Image details as left

M99 (Coma Berenices)		M99 - detail

CCD Image (Square Root Scale, cropped) 4 x 1 min exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-11-27 06:02 h UT (#400217-21) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME		False Colour CCD Image (square root scale, cropped) Inverse Spectrum Colour Scale Image details as left

NGC 4088 / ARP 18 (Ursa Major)		NGC 4088 - detail

CCD Image (100% size scaling, cropped) 3 x 90s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-04-19 21:59 h UT (#363040-42) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME		Negative CCD Image (100% size scaling, cropped) Image details as left

M83 (Hydra) at altitude of only +2d 53m Declination -29d 52m		M83 - detail

CCD Image (Linear Scale, 50% size reduction) 120 sec exposure (single frame), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-05-11 22:13h UT (#368036) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME		CCD Image (Background gradient corrected, smoothed, cropped to central area) Image details as left

Hickson 50 (Ursa Major) reportedly the faintest, most challenging of the Hickson catalogue Distance ~ 2 billion light years		Hickson 50 - detail / annotated H50A (PGC 34447, catalog mag +18.7, meas mag +16.1), H50B (PGC 34452, catalog mag +18.2, meas mag +16.4), H50C (PGC 34444, catalog mag +18.7, meas mag +17.0), H50D (PGC34448, catalog mag +18.7, meas mag + 17.0), H50E (PGC 34453, catalog mag +?.?., meas mag +17.7)

Annotated CCD Image (50% size reduction) 6 x 90 sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-05-11 23:55h UT (#368132-38) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME		Annotated Negative CCD Image (250% size enlargement, cropped) Image details as left

NGC 383 and adjacent galaxies - "Pisces Cloud" / ARP 331 (Pisces) Cluster of mainly elliptical galaxies

Annotated CCD Image 3 x 2 min exposure (average combine),3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-12-11 20:27h UT (#404263-65) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Supernovae
NGC 1015 with SN 2009ig (Cetus) SN 2009ig (Type Ia) was discovered 2009/08/20.48 by Lick Observatory Supernova Search Magnitude at discovery +17.5 (C) (Rochester Supernova site \| LOSS Discovery Image \| Joel Nicolas Image \| Reference Image) Image below (2009-09-27.02) was taken 37.5 days after discovery. SN 2009ig - Estimated Magnitude +14.3 (C)		NGC 1015 with SN 2009ig - detail

Annotated CCD Image (Linear Scale, cropped) 7 x 20s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-09-27 00:22 hUT (#391241-49)		CCD Image (Log Scale, 200% size, Cropped) Image details as left

NGC 7479 Barred Spiral Galaxy with SN 2009jf (Pegasus) SN 2009jf (Type Ib) was discovered 2009/09/27.33 by Lick Observatory Supernova Search Magnitude at discovery +18.0 (C) (Rochester Supernova site \| Reference Image \| Discovery Image ) Image below ( 2009-10-07.94) was taken 10.6 days after discovery. Estimated Magnitude of SN2009jf +15.3		Earlier Image of NGC 7479 ( 2004-09-07)

Annotated CCD Image (Cropped) 9 x 30s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-10-07 22:27 h UT (#392324-32) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME		CCD Image, 3x60s exposure (median combine), C Filter 2004-09-07 21:59h UT (#71057-59) 8" LX200 + ST-7E

NGC 3423 with SN 2009ls (Sextans) SN 2009ls (Type II) was discovered 2009/11/23.779 by Koichi Nishiyama and Fujio Kabashima Magnitude at discovery +xx.x (Rochester Supernova site \| Discovery Image \| Reference Image) Image below (2009-12-11.16) was taken 17.4 days after discovery. SN 2009ls - Estimated Magnitude +14.6 (C)		NGC 3423 - detail (2009-12-11.16) SN 2009ls marked by white cross-hairs. Estimated Magnitude +14.6 (C)

Annotated CCD Image (Linear Scale, cropped) 5 x 60s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-12-11 03:52 hUT (#403383-87) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME		CCD Image (Linear Scale, 200% size, Cropped) Image details as left

IC 65 with SN 2009mf (Andromeda) SN 2009mf (Type II) was discovered 2009/12/06.750 by Ron Arbour Magnitude at discovery +16.1 (C) (Rochester Supernova site \| Discovery Image ) Image below (2009-12-11.82) was taken 5.1 days after discovery. SN 2009mf marked by white cross hair

Annotated CCD Image (Linear Scale, 200% size, cropped) 5 x 60s exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-12-11 19:35 hUT (#404189-93) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Light Curve for BL Lac showing magnitude variation - Nov 2007 to March 2008 Dataset comprising observations from 32 nights between 2007-11-15 and 2008-03-12 Note 0.5 mag brightening between 2008-02-19 & 2008-02-24, which seems to have lasted for 4-7 days.

NGC 383 and adjacent galaxies - "Pisces Cloud" / ARP 331 (Pisces)
Cluster of mainly elliptical galaxies

Annotated CCD Image
3 x 2 min exposure (average combine),3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-12-11 20:27h UT (#404263-65)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Moon

Moon - 2009-12-11
(Phase 26.9%, Angular diameter: 31' 18", Distance: 381,845 km)

CCD Image Mosaic (40% size)
0.12 sec exposure, 2x2 binning, B Filter
2009-12-11 04:34h UT (#403453-57)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME
[Larger Image, 75% size]

Planets

Major Planets

Mars

CCD Image (with enlarged insert)
0.12s sec exposure (single frame), 1x1 binning, B Filter
2009-12-11 04:18 h UT (#403417)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Jupiter

CCD Image (cropped)
10 x 0.2s sec exposure (average combine), 1x1 binning, B Filter
2009-09-18 00:52 h UT (#388076-85)
Unsharp Masked
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Saturn

CCD Image (cropped)
0.2 sec exposure (single frame), 1x1 binning, C Filter
2009-03-10 00:08 h UT (#356183)
12" LX200R (at f/5.8) + ST-10XME

Uranus

Annotated CCD Image
2s exposure, 1x1 binning, C Filter
2009-12-26 21:02h UT (#408209)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Dwarf Planets

Dwarf Planet (136199) Eris Observation of Eris on 2009-09-20, lying in starfield in Cetus Faint object marked by cross-hairs lies at the forecast position of Eris on 2009-09-20, has approximately the correct magnitude (+18.3 measured vs. +18.7 predicted), and is not present on either a DSS Reference Image or on follow-up image taken 3 weeks later Eris is the largest known object in the Kuiper Belt with estimated diameter of 2,500 km (it was previously known at 2003 UB313) The bright star in the image is HIP 7802 (mag +8.8)

Annotated CCD Image (cropped) 18 x 60 sec (average median combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-09-20 00:08 h UT (#389461-80) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

(136199 Eris) - higher contrast image 18 minutes total exposure, sum combined

Negative CCD Image (cropped) 18 x 60 sec (sum combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-09-20 00:08 h UT (#389461-80) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

136199 Eris - Image Detail (2009-09-20)		DSS Reference Image

Negative CCD Image (cropped) 237% size enlargement 18 x 60 sec (sum combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-09-20 00:08 h UT (#389461-80) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME		Negative Reference Image (cropped) DSS-2-Red Survey [ http://archive.eso.org/dss/dss ]

136199 Eris - Image Detail (2009-09-20)		Later Image of same area (2009-10-08)

CCD Image (237% size, Negative, Cropped) 18 x 60 sec (sum combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-09-20 00:08 h UT (#389461-80) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME		CCD Image (237% size, Negative, Cropped) 30 x 60 sec (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-10-08 00:11 h UT (#392459-88) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

(134340) Pluto
moving through starfield in Sagittarus (2009)
Animation show 5 arc min motion over 96 hour interval (4 days)

CCD Animation
Frames : 3 x 20s exposures (aligned, average combine & cropped),
3x3 binning , C Filter
1) 2009-05-27 00:59 h UT (#369205-07)
2) 2009-05-29 00:56 h UT (#370020-22)
3) 2009-05-31 00:18 h UT (#371134-36)

12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Dwarf Planet (136472) Makemake - 2009-11-27
Makemake is the third largest dwarf planet in the solar system
with diameter of approximately 1,500 km
(it was previously known as 2005 FY9)

Makemake is show by white cross-hairs
passing through starfield in Coma Berenices
at a distance 52.14 AU from Earth
Measured Mag of +16.8 (Cv) vs. Predicted Mag of +17.1
(Edge On spiral galaxy is IC 3587)

Annotated CCD Image (cropped)
11 x 60 sec exposure (median combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter
2009-11-27 04:01 h UT (#400065-83)
12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

Comets

First Light Image for ST-10XME camera and 12" LX200R scope C/2007 N3 (Lulin) passing through starfield in Leo - 2009-03-09

CCD Image (Linear Scale) 30s sec exposure, 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-03-09 21:08 h UT (#356006) 12" LX200R (at f/5.8) + ST-10XME

C/2007 N3 (Lulin) passing through starfield in Gemini - 2009-03-21

CCD Image (Linear Scale) 5 x 90s sec exposure (median combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-03-21 21:52 h UT (#358043-47) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME

C/2006 W3 (Christensen) passing through star field in Vulpecula - 2009-08-07

CCD Image (50% size reduction) 3 x 30s sec exposure (average combine), 3x3 binning, C Filter 2009-08-07 22:27 h UT (#382003-05) 12" LX200R (at f/5.7) + ST-10XME		CCD Image (logs scale, 100% size, cropped, ) Image details as left

Asteroids / Minor Planets

No images of asteroids/minor planets taken during 2009

(see images above of the former minor planets Eris and Makemake ,
which are now officially recognised as being Dwarf Planets)

This Web Page:	Image Highlights - 2009
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 - 2009