Welcome to Austrophotography

• Gum Nebula

  A huge but very faint Ha emission nebula which was only discovered in 1950s by Colin Gum. This 2.5 hour image taken with a very wide lens and 6nm Ha filter shows its full extent, which is equivalent to 72 moons across. It is thought to be a supernova remnant from over a million years ago.

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• Gum Mosaic

  Mosaic of 30 panels totalling approx. 20 hours imaging using a mono camera and 6nm Ha filter. The area covers 22 x 18 degrees. The image contains many features including dark and emission nebulae, supernova remnants, cometary globules and even a galaxy. Check the link to see latest full resolution from Astrobin site.

  Latest Version
• Vela SNR

  4-panel Ha and OIII narrowband image showing Gum 14, 15 and 17 nebulae on the right and the Vela supernova remnant (SNR)- the shockwave from a supernova explosion 11,000 years ago. Also seen is the pencil nebula (top middle) and the Puppis A SNR (bottom middle).

• Gum 14

  A quick 2 hour image of Gum 14 at 360 mm using L-extreme filter plus 10 min RGB stars added. A small reflection nebula NGC 2626 is seen at the bottom right.

• Shockwave

  Focussing on part of the Vela SNR showing the ionised oxygen filaments in blue and red hydrogen emissions. The much smaller Puppis A SNR can also be seen on the right hand side.

• Oxygen Filaments

  Inverted greyscale of just the oxygen filaments in the Vela SNR.

• Pencil Nebula

  Formed from the shockwave of the Vela supernova, this is the brightest part of the remnant and is travelling at 400,000 miles per hour!

• Puppis A SNR

  Close up of the much smaller remnant from this supernova 3,700 years ago (100 ly diameter and 6,500 ly away).

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• Vela Dark Nebula

  2 hours imaging focussed on the dark region at the bottom of the Gum nebula-this dark nebula is next to another- called Sandqvist 111- but doesn't appear to have its own designation.

• Gum 12b

  The outer edge of the Gum nebula. This borders another SNR in Antila and the interaction between the two can be seen in the opposing curved emissions. The right hand side contains 32 galaxies of which NGC 2997 can be just seen on the bottom right which is 40 Mly away.

• H-alpha mosaic

  Wide field of 3 panels covering three bright emission nebulae (l to r): Lambda Centauri (aka Running Chicken), Statue-of-Liberty & Carina.

• The Great Carina Nebula

  The brightest and best nebula in the sky! It is 4 times larger than Orion and is 8,500 ly away. Fantastic images can be obtained relatively easily with this target even in near 'real-time'.

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• Keyhole Nebula

  At the centre of Carina, a dark keyhole shaped region about 7 ly across. Next to it is Eta Carinae, a highly luminous hypergiant star about 150 times larger than the sun and 4 million times brighter: big enough to be on the verge of a supernova. Other features that are visible are small Bok globules including the 'defiant finger' and an open star cluster. Image taken at 1250 mm with a C90 MAK f/14 scope.

  Supernova
• Gabriela Mistral

  Taken at the corner edge of Carina, the centre of the image shows a nebula that is meant to look like the Chilean poet. The wispy nebula on the right has no designation. This is a 5-hour dataset of 5 min exposures using the SHO palette.

• Banana and co

  A lesser imaged section of Carina: Banana nebula 12,000 ly away and about 75 ly across. Also in the frame is the Whirling Dervish nebula and an open cluster IC 2581 towards the top left. A 5 hour dataset with a few seconds of RGB stars added.

• Statue-of-Liberty

  A 5 hour OSC dataset acquired at f/6 360mm showing the well known figure. The whole nebula is classified as NGC 3576.

• Running Chicken

  Lambda Centauri or Running Chicken nebula. Another 5 hour OSC dataset displayed in SHO pallette. Bok globules, dense cold dust about 1 ly in size can be seen towards the centre and are called Thackeray globules after their discoverer in 1950. On the bottom left of the image the small blue dot is planetary nebula Hf69.

• Centaurus A

  Aka Hamburger galaxy, discovered in Parramatta in 1826 by James Dunlop. It is approx. 12 Mly away. This image was taken with a C90 MAK f/14 'spotting' scope.

• Centaurus A (700mm)

  Result from Askar103 scope (2 hours).

• Omega Centauri

  Largest globular cluster in the milky way, 150 ly in size and containing 10 million stars. Taken with the C90 MAK.

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• Rosette Nebula

  Also referred to as the skull nebula. It is 135 ly across and 5,000 ly away. This is a 4 hour image and shown in SHO. Hundreds of new stars are being formed in the centre of this nebula.

• Rose and Cone

  A 2 hour per panel mosaic in starless Halpha from the Rosette to the Cone Nebulae.

• Seagull Nebula

  5 hours at 360 mm and rendered in SHO palette. This was the first object in Gum's catalogue. The seagulls eye is a triple star (HD53367). Towards the bottom a blue 'bow wave' of gas is created by radiation from the star close by.

• Seagull Halpha

  Wide 3-panel starless view of the Seagull nebula complex in H alpha using a mono camera. The nebula at the bottom left is NGC 2353 and the bright tip of the wing on the right is Sh2-297.

• Orion Wide Field

  Shot in just 1 hour from Kangaroo Valley in gale force winds using a non-modified camera at 135 mm. This wide FOV takes in Orion, Running man, Horsehead, Flame and M78 nebulae. To the right of Orion is the '13th pearl' nebula: within this is a dark empty region that is not well understood called the cosmic keyhole.

• Great Orion Nebula

  Orion Nebula (M42) is easily visible in relatively bright skies. It is a beginner target but actually difficult to capture without overblowing the core containing the stars in the trapezium and mini-Orion's belt. This is a HDR combination of short and long exposures. Also featured is the Running Man nebula which is both an emission and reflection nebula.

• Horsehead Nebula

  Dark nebula next to the star Alnitak. This image is a combination of Ha data (shot in backyard) added to colour data (from dark sky image previously). Also seen is the Flame nebula and two small reflection nebulae.

• Horsey

  L-extreme filter 25 x 4 min subs. Added spikes on next night under poor conditions. Added a bit more yellow to the flame.

• Boogeyman

  4.5 hours using a OSC camera and Ha filter showing the converted red channel. The Boogeyman (aka LDN 1622) is on the bottom left of Barnard's loop- a massive arc of Ha emission that runs around Orion. On the other side you can see the emission parts of M78 and in the top right, the flame nebula.

• M78

  A reflection nebula the opposite side of Barnard's loop to the Boogeyman. This is a cropped version of a 2 hour image taken from a dark sky site.

• Witch Head

  Reflection nebula caused by light from one of the brightest stars in the sky Rigel, just below it, illuminating the dust. Also known as IC 2118.

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• The Magellanic Clouds

  A pair of interacting dwarf galaxies; the large (LMC) and small (SMC) magellanic clouds pictured here next to the Milky Way, which is an extremely rare arrangement in the universe. There is also a 'magellanic bridge' of gas connecting LMC and SMC. This image is a stack of 13 s exposures from a tripod in dark sky.

• Large Magellanic Cloud

  The second closest galaxy to the milky way at 160,000 ly. It has an off centre bar and diffuse arms due to interactions with SMC and milky way. SN1987A, which was the closest observable supernova reaching a magnitude of 3 was also in the LMC. This image is a 135mm combination of Ha and RGB data.

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• LMC Mosaic

  Mosaic of 24 panels taken at 360 mm to give high resolution coverage (2 arcs/pix) of the entire region. In total 36 hours of imaging in OSC dual narrowband. There are 285 designated targets in this FOV. Surveys have shown 60 globular clusters, 400 planetary nebulae & 700 open clusters. Original has been greatly reduced for uploading- check link for better version.

  Higher resolution version
• Tarantula Nebula

  Extremely luminous and one of the largest Ha regions in the sky. If it was as close as Orion it would be bright enough to cast shadows. The centre contains many massive stars including R136a1, the biggest known- 200 times size of the sun and 5 million times brighter.

• Small Magellanic Cloud

  135 mm image of combined Ha and RGB data from backyard and dark site respectively. There are also two globular clusters in this image: 47 Tuc, which is the second brightest in the sky, and the smaller 75 Tuc.

• SMC Mosaic

  A four-panel mosaic in duoband. In 2023 it was discovered that the SMC is split into two different parts 16,000 ly from each other. A comparison with broadband data is shown in the Image Comparison tab.

• N70

  300 light year diameter super bubble.

• The Milky Way

  Panorama shot from many stacked shots taken with a static tripod in Blue Mountains. This southern hemisphere view is compared to the ESO image beneath which covers both hemispheres. The link has more detailed maps from latest scientific surveys.

  Galaxy Map
• MW Close Up

  Image of Ptolemy's cluster taken at 135 mm shows the bands of stars and dust forming the central Milky Way bulge. This is only 17 min of data and also shows the butterfly cluster.

• Fighting Dragons

  Fighting dragons of Ara (aka Rim nebula). This is about a 5 hour dataset. RGB stars have been added. A slightly wider FOV reveals the dragons' 'egg'.

• Rho Ophiuchi Complex

  First ever dark sky image taken in Blackheath (Blue Mountains, Bortle 3) in 2022. Data is about 52 min of 30 sec subs, unguided and using a non-dedicated camera. Colourful region of the sky containing lots of emission, reflection and dark nebulae.

• Lobster Nebula

  This also has the name 'War and Peace' nebula as in Infrared it looks like a dove and a skull. This images uses RGB data to add star colours.

• Cat's Paw Nebula

  A large emission nebula right next door to the Lobster and about the same distance of 5,500 ly away.

• Blue Horsehead

  Another dark sky image (Bortle 2). Approx 2 hours dataset shows off this reflection nebula which is adjacent to the more frequently imaged Rho Ophiuchi nebula.

• Lagoon Nebula

  Starless rendering of the Lagoon nebula which is near the Trifid nebula. Shot at 360 mm with L-extreme filter.

• Lagoon at 700mm

  My first monochrome narrowband image: 2 hours of Ha and O3 with 30 mins colour stars.

• Chinese Dragon

  Small areas of reflection nebula have been captured in this emission target using combination of L-extreme and UV/IR-cut filters. This is a lesser known area next to the Lagoon nebula.

• Trifid Nebula

  A combination of emission (red) and reflection (blue) nebula with some dark dust lanes in it too. Image acquired at 360mm which also shows the milky way background. The open cluster to the right is Webb's cross.

• First Light- Trifid

  Another look at the Trifid; this time first light on new Askar103 f/6.8 telescope. Best 90% of 60s subs (approx 6.5 hours) as some were less well focussed due to sharp temperature drop. This image is at 700 mm FL giving 1.1 arc sec resolution.

• Anteater Nebula

  Another dark sky reflection nebula, 400 ly away, this time shot at 360mm. The dusty part is one of the darkest in the milky way. There are three blue reflection nebulae (NGC 6726, 6727 & IC 4812) and a smaller white one (NGC 6729). Also shown is the globular cluster (NGC 6723) which is much further away at 30,000 ly. Approx. 3 hours of data on a freezing night in 2023.

• Pillars of Creation

  My best effort on this so far. 4 hours using 700mm Askar103.

The best of the rest

• Eastern Veil

  Had only 1 hour to capture this and only reaching 20 degrees in sky between rooftops and cut down trees.

• Wishing Well Cluster

  120 x 30s with IR cut filter and then 15 x 4 min of L-extreme to bring out the red emission in background.

• Trifid Close Up

  A close up acquired at 1250 mm using a very slow f/14 C90 MAK at 0.8 arc sec resolution.

• Veil Nebula

  1 hour of 5 min Ha and 1 hour of 5 min O3 combined at only 23 degs altitude.

• Anteater (wide)

  3 hour of 2 min subs showing the dust trail from the Anteater. Bortle 4.

• Clear Sky

  Not strictly an Astro photo but waiting for clouds to clear...

• Light Pollution

  View towards east, 100 km from Sydney and still get light pollution spoiling it! Single images combined.

• Test

  View towards west, 10 s single image test focus wasnt great- might need to use brighter star.

• Redid with check rawtherapee settings

• Test 2

  Used light painting on monument...trying stuff out while waiting for MW to rise.

• Milky Way

  Easier to process in DSS compared to back yard.

• Milky Way

  Using sequator still works best with wide angle.

• Trifid Nebula

  10 mins of 30 s 3200 ISO easy to process but not any better than back yard shot.

• Rho Ophiuchi

  The shot I came for: difficult but colourful region, 50 mins of 30s subs, ISO 3200...want to return with longer exposure/guiding.

• Panorama

  Two of previous pics stitched together- next time try 3 panels and try to get the centred

• Astro landscape

  Stack and single foreground combined- slightly in wrong position but probably more real than most you see!

• The search for dark sky continues

  2 hour drive, wind, freezing cold and mostly clouds...

• Camping at Kangaroo Valley

  Hurricane winds for 2 days, best efforts..

• CatKV2

• CatKV3

• CatKV4

• Small Magellanic Cloud

  Approx 30 x 1 min at f/2 135mm

• Orion wide HaRGB

  Changed the starless Ha to red (channels in PS) and added to RGB as screen (PS).

• Horsehead

  For comparison with previous results

• Horsehead in HaRGB

  Colourised to red the starless Ha and added to original as lighten layer- crop from 135mm.

• Skyscape

  10 s shot at the end of the night; can see Mars in the centre and Pleiades to the left

• Pleiades

  30x 1 min subs

• Witch Head

  Approx 1 hour on this target. The reflection nebula is due to Rigel.

• Rosette HaRGB

  30 x 50s by accident...this took a lot of processing. Combined previous h alpha into red channel using IP.

• BMAS

• BMAS2

  Dark doodad 60 x 1 min guided

• BMAS3

  Vela 4xpanels visible light version approx 30 mins each

• BMAS4

  Carina composed of visible and narrowband

• Blue horsehead

  Bitterly ice cold 3 hours of 2 min subs at Hampton oval.

• Jenolan Caves Road laybay

  Just the 4 hour round trip to take this photo...stack 4 min using tripod every 30 deg to take 5 vertical panels while the MW is roughly horizontal in the sky. Overlaid car as the landscape was a bit sparse.

• MW reformatted

  The largest MW section I have (which is still only half of it) reformatted using ICE software.

• MW arch over the BMAS dark site

  mosaic of 5 sections of foreground merged with same from sky (stack of 4 min of 13 s subs for MW).

• Anteater

  3 hours 20 mins split between guided 2 mins and 4 min subs.

• Anteater revisited

  Processed to bring out more dust by using starless layer in PS.

• B4 location

  30 min from home to try and get a wide field view of Veil under B4 (1.06 ratio) instead of B6 (10.6).