Some images with a MX7C CCD-camera.

The advantages of a cooled CCD camera are obvious. The sensitivity of light is outstanding. Also you can decide immediately if  the image isn't good enough and change the exposure parameters accordingly. The drawback is still the prizetag (compared with the SLR-camera approach). And the laptop computer that goes with it, to make this concept work in the field.

At a dark site, a Ha-filter discloses a lot of intriguing glowing areas in the sky. OK, the exposuretime increases some 30 times compared with the full spectrum, but this gives you ample time to study the sky with your eyes. All images shown here, execpt # 1 and 1.1, are exposed with a Ha-filter attached in front of the CCD-camera.

 

CCD + Halpha

 

This is the simple equipment which enabled the pictures to be taken. It is based on the Starlight Express MX7C colour CCD.

# 1

With my All Sky Mirror 35 km away from Stockholm. Some 30 sec exposure.

All Sky White

 

# 1.1


With my All Sky Mirror 35 km away from Stockholm. Full lightspectrum. Some 30 sec exposure.

# 1.2

With my All Sky Mirror 35 km away from Stockholm.  Some 8 min exposure with a Ha filter.

All Sky Halpha

 

California nebula

# 2

California nebula with a 25 mm lens, F1,5 @ 8 min.

# 3

The dust nebula NGC2175 and Saturnus with a 25 mm lens, F1,5 @ 5 min.

NGC 2175

Rosette nebula

# 4

The Rosette nebula exposed from a dark site.
25 mm, F1,5 @ 6 min.

# 5

The Orion complex, including a part of  Barnard's loop and some light pollution, with a 25 mm lens, F1,5 @ 3 min.  The site is a
suburb of Stockholm.

Suburb Orion
NGC7000

# 6

The HII complex surrounding Deneb, with
a 25 mm lens, F1,5 @ 10 min. 

# 7

IC1396, with a 25 mm lens, F1,5 @ 20 min. 

IC1396

IC1848, IC1805

# 8


Nebulosities surrounding IC1848 (left) and IC1805 (right), close to the double cluster in Perseus.


# 9

The huge nebulosity north of Betelgeuse and Bellatrix in Orion. 25 mm lens, F1,5 @ 8 min.  The site was a very dark rural one.

Sh 2-264

 

# 10

The nebulosity north of Sirius in Canis Major. 25 mm lens, F1,5 @ 8 min.