Can you comprehend it?

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by warrior

Cool pics as always Dave.

I need some advice on Lenses I bought a Celestron Nexstar-8 it came with a

40mm lens what other size lens should I buy first.

A lot depends on what you are looking to see. I'd get something in the 12mm range and then maybe 20mm range too. 40 mm is nice and wide but not very powerful. If you are in town I think I have a 25 mm Plossl I could donate to you, and you would be more than welcome, if you bring your scope over, to use the better lens I have too. I have a pretty good selection you could pick through.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

Last years shot

This years shot...

The Horsehead Nebula (also known as Barnard 33 in emission nebula IC 434) is a dark nebula in the constellation Orion. The nebula is located just to the south of the star Alnitak, which is farthest east on Orion's Belt, and is part of the much larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. The Horsehead Nebula is approximately 1500 light years from Earth. It is one of the most identifiable nebulae because of the shape of its swirling cloud of dark dust and gases, which is similar to that of a horse's head when viewed from Earth. The shape was first noticed in 1888 by Williamina Fleming on photographic plate B2312 taken at the Harvard College Observatory.

The red glow originates from hydrogen gas predominantly behind the nebula, ionized by the nearby bright star Sigma Orionis. The darkness of the Horsehead is caused mostly by thick dust, although the lower part of the Horsehead's neck casts a shadow to the left. Streams of gas leaving the nebula are funneled by a strong magnetic field. Bright spots in the Horsehead Nebula's base are young stars just in the process of forming.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

This years shot...

The Horsehead Nebula (also known as Barnard 33 in emission nebula IC 434) is a dark nebula in the constellation Orion. The nebula is located just to the south of the star Alnitak, which is farthest east on Orion's Belt, and is part of the much larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. The Horsehead Nebula is approximately 1500 light years from Earth. It is one of the most identifiable nebulae because of the shape of its swirling cloud of dark dust and gases, which is similar to that of a horse's head when viewed from Earth. The shape was first noticed in 1888 by Williamina Fleming on photographic plate B2312 taken at the Harvard College Observatory.

The red glow originates from hydrogen gas predominantly behind the nebula, ionized by the nearby bright star Sigma Orionis. The darkness of the Horsehead is caused mostly by thick dust, although the lower part of the Horsehead's neck casts a shadow to the left. Streams of gas leaving the nebula are funneled by a strong magnetic field. Bright spots in the Horsehead Nebula's base are young stars just in the process of forming.

Nice work Dave, very cool.

[Dave Lane]

Newest image I finished today. This is a Narrowband "Hubble Palette" image of M8 the Lagoon Nebula. I'll redo it for a bit better resolution but for my first ever Narrowband image it looks OK.

The Lagoon Nebula (catalogued as Messier 8 or M8, and as NGC 6523) is a giant interstellar cloud in the constellation Sagittarius. It is classified as an emission nebula and as an H II region.
The Lagoon Nebula was discovered by Guillaume Le Gentil in 1747 and is one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the naked eye from mid-northern latitudes. Seen with binoculars, it appears as a distinct oval cloudlike patch with a definite core. A fragile star cluster appears superimposed on it.

The Lagoon Nebula is estimated to be between 4,000-6,000 light years from the Earth. In the sky of Earth, it spans 90' by 40', translates to an actual dimension of 110 by 50 light years. Like many nebulas, it appears pink in time-exposure color photos but is gray to the eye peering through binoculars or a telescope, human vision having poor color sensitivity at low light levels. The nebula contains a number of Bok globules (dark, collapsing clouds of protostellar material), the most prominent of which have been catalogued by E. E. Barnard as B88, B89 and B296. It also includes a funnel-like or tornado-like structure caused by a hot O-type star that emanates ultraviolet light, heating and ionizing gases on the surface of the nebula. The Lagoon Nebula also contains at its centre a structure known as the Hourglass Nebula (so named by John Herschel), which should not be confused with the better known Hourglass Nebula in the constellation of Musca. In 2006 the first four Herbig-Haro objects were detected within the Hourglass, also including HH 870. This provides the first direct evidence of active star formation by accretion within it.

Or full sized image here:

http://api.ning.com/files/2KKUOu2hs3...dianM8NB22.jpg

[Dave Lane]

And all from my backyard in town...

[chasedude]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

And all from my backyard in town...

Another good one Dave! Keep em com'n

[Iowanian]

Sounds like you're looking for God.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Sounds like you're looking for God.

Hey if there was one and I found him I'd be pumped. Maybe he is just gone away and thats why there are no miracles anymore.

...and no Insane Clown Posse posts please and thank you

[King_Chief_Fan]

wow...that is impressive stuff. It leaves little doubt about the creativity God had when he created the universe...Awesome

[Saulbadguy]

Hey look, Orion is bankrupt.

[MoreLemonPledge]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

With my new interest in astronomy and getting a new camera yesterday for my new telescope I present this fun quick little video. I might bump this thread when I start getting some images from deep space objects.

[4th and Long]

[4th and Long]

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by 4th and Long

Fantastic shots!

[warrior]

Originally Posted by MoreLemonPledge

Nice