Walt Watson Astrophotography

Cassiopeia - Cepheus border region narrow band wide field photo where ionized Hydrogen are reds and Oxygen are blues. Core objects are the Bubble (NGC 7635), Lobster Claw (SH2-157), Cave Nebula(SH2-155), and the open star cluster M52. Equipment: Telescope: SVBony SV555 Camera: ZWO ASI2600mc pro Mount: ZWO AM3 FIlters: ASKAR Duo Band Ha/Oiii filter Processed in SIRIL and Photoshop

Cassiopeia - Cepheus border region narrow band wide field photo where ionized Hydrogen are reds and Oxygen are blues. Core objects are the Bubble (NGC 7635), Lobster Claw (SH2-157), Cave Nebula(SH2-155), and the open star cluster M52.

Updated 03/02/26

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The Open Star Cluster NGC 6940 in the constellation Vulpecula is ~1 billion years old and therefore contains a beautiful population of older red giants. Discovered by William Herschel in 1784. (Per Wikipedia). Taken 11/2/2025 ,processed during last weeks Bomb Cyclone Equipment: Telescope: SVBony SV503 102ed Camera: ZWO ASI533 mc pro Mount: ZWO AM5 Controller: Mini PC running NINA, Phd2, Stellarium Filters: Generic Skyglow Processed in SIRIL, Graxpert, and Affintiy Photo 2 Exposure: 1.5 hours

The Open Star Cluster NGC 6940 in the constellation Vulpecula is ~1 billion years old and therefore contains a beautiful population of older red giants. Discovered by William Herschel in 1784. (Per Wikipedia).

Taken 11/2/2025 ,processed during last weeks Bomb Cyclone

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It looks great. Great resolution with that C11.

Looks great for such a little scope. Nice details. Good color punch. It's great your getting those clear nights. My location on the other hand has just been pummeled by a Bomb Cyclone and I am still waiting for power... I envy you.

The Little Rosette Nebula(Sh2-170) resembles the larger Rosette Nebula(Sh2-275). It is also the dot of the Cosmic Question mark. Rendered in RGB and SHO Hubble palette for comparison.In the SHO photo ionized Sulfur are reds, Hydrogen are yellows, and Oxygen are blues. Equipment: Telescope: SVBony SV503 80ed Camera: ZWO ASI533 mc pro Mount: ZWO AM5 Controller: Mini PC running NINA Filter: UV/IR cut, Askar Color Magic S0 and HO duo band filters Skies: Bortle 3 Total Exposure: 8 hours Processed in SIRIL, Graxpert, and Photoshop

The Little Rosette Nebula(Sh2-170) resembles the larger Rosette Nebula(Sh2-275). It is also the dot of the Cosmic Question mark. Rendered in RGB and SHO Hubble palette for comparison.In the SHO photo ionized Sulfur are reds, Hydrogen are yellows, and Oxygen are blues.

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This is a small part of Perseus Molecular Cloud flare region in the constellation ARIES, which is just west of the of the Embryo Nebula. This region includes a compact trio of dark nebulae (B202,B204,and B206) amongst others and bright reflection and emission nebulae. Equipment: Telescope: SVBony SV503 80ed Camera: ZWO ASI533 mc pro Mount: ZWO AM5 Controller: Mini PC running NINA Filter: UV/IR cut Skies: Bortle 3 Total Exposure: 2 hours Processed in SIRIL, Graxpert, and Photoshop

This is a small part of Perseus Molecular Cloud region in the constellation ARIES, which is just west of the of the Embryo Nebula. This region includes a compact trio of dark nebulae (B202,B204,and B206) amongst others and bright reflection and emission nebulae.

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I guess this is a murder...

Believe me when I tell you I stare at them all the time. Space is an amazing place.

Good Ol' Lrrr!

Perseus Molecular Cloud (PerMCld) has dark, reflection,and emission nebulae plus star clusters. This photo covers part of the cloud and contains Omicron Persei Cloud (IC 348) on the left and the Embryo Nebula (NGC 1333) on the upper right. Updated to highlight cloud details 02/17 Exposure 7 hours, 12/17/2025 Skies: Bortle 3-4 (moonless dark sky) Equipment: Telescope: SVBony SV555 Camera: ZWO ASI2600mc pro Mount: ZWO AM3 FIlters: SVBony UVIRcut Processed in SIRIL and Photoshop

Perseus Molecular Cloud (PerMCld) has dark, reflection,and emission nebulae plus star clusters. This photo covers part of the cloud and contains Omicron Persei Cloud (IC 348) on the left and the Embryo Nebula (NGC 1333).

Updated to highlight cloud details 02/17

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Thanks for the repost!

The Lobster Claw (SH2-157) and Bubble (NGC 7635) is a rich complex nebulae region in Cassiopeia. This is a mosaic photo in which ionized Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues) are imaged using the Hubble palette. Summer data processed this past frigid week Equipment: Telescope: SVBony SV503 102ed Camera: ZWO ASI533 mc pro Mount: ZWO AM5 Controller: Mini PC running NINA, Phd2, Stellarium Filters: ZWO duo band Ha/Oiii and Askar C1 duo band Sii/Oiii Processed in SIRIL, Graxpert, and Affintiy Photo 2.

The Lobster Claw (SH2-157) and Bubble (NGC 7635) is a rich complex nebulae region in Cassiopeia. This is a mosaic photo in which ionized Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues) are imaged using the Hubble palette. Summer data processed this past frigid week

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Thank you! Space is a grand place which helps with taking photos...

Stellar region in the constellation Cassiopeia. This photo is my wide field exploratory shot of an area that contains reflection and dark nebulae, open star clusters, and HII regions. If weather cooperated I was planning to investigate some areas further with my narrow field of view scope. - The weather never did cooperate, maybe this summer I will shoot some of the interesting areas with a narrow field higher res scope. Set up: Telescope: SVBony SV555 Petzval Astrograph Camera: ASI2600mc pro Mount: ZWO AM3 mount Filter: SVBony UV/IR cut Controller: Mini PC running NINA and PHd2 acquisition and guiding software.

Stellar region in the Cassiopeia. This is my wide field exploratory photo of an area that contains reflection and dark nebulae, open star clusters, and HII regions. If weather was good the plan was to shoot some areas in higher res

-Weather was poor, maybe this summer

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LoL!

The Surfboard Galaxy (M108) is a barred spiral ~ 46 Mly from Earth in the Ursa Major constellation. The view is almost edge on giving it a surfboard appearance. It contains a massive black hole in it's center about ~8x larger than the Milky Ways (Per Wiki). Equipment: Telescope: SVBony SV503 80ed Camera: ZWO ASI533 mc pro Mount: ZWO AM5 FIlter: UV/IR cut Processed with SIRIL, Graxpert, Photoshop Total exposure: 3 hours

The Surfboard Galaxy (M108) is a barred spiral ~ 46 Mly from Earth in the Ursa Major constellation. The view is almost edge on giving it a surfboard appearance. It contains a massive black hole in it's center about ~8x larger than the Milky Ways (Per Wiki).

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This object is very dim. I had my scope stare at it for 10 hours just to get enough signal for this photo. If I do another 10 hours the bat might be easier to see.

I think this is the bat....

There is a bat in there. I had to look that one up to find it. The wings extend outwards from the center I believe...

typo correction: The Flying Bat Nebula is (SH2-129) not(SH2-29)

The Flying Bat Nebula (SH2-29) and the Giant Squid Nebula (Ou-4, ),and the Dark Seahorse Nebula (B-150) in Cepheus at ~ 2300 ly distant from Earth. This is a winters day update to a previous post. Taken last June and reprocessed with some newly acquired tools. The scope exposure period was 10 hours over 4 nights for this photo. Set up: Telescope: SVBony SV555 Petzval Astrograph Camera: ASI2600mc pro Mount: ZWO AM3 mount Filter: ASKAR C1 Duo Band (Ha/Oiii) Controller: Mini PC running NINA and PHd2 acquisition and guiding software.

The Flying Bat Nebula (SH2-29) and the Giant Squid Nebula (Ou-4, ),and the Dark Seahorse Nebula (B-150) in Cepheus at ~ 2300 light years distant from Earth. This is a winters day update to a previous post. Taken last June and reprocessed with some newly acquired tools.

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SH2-140 is an emission nebula. Some refer to it unofficially as the Peak a Boo nebula because it is partially blocked by dense clouds of the Cepheus molecular cloud complex. It is a stellar nursery where dense clouds glow illuminated by UV radiation. (per Wiki). Exposure 4 hrs, 10/03/25 Wide field photo taken at the same time as my previous narrow field post. Equipment: Telescope: SVBonySV555 Petzval astrograph Camera: ZWO ASI2600 mc pro Mount: ZWO AM3 Controller: Mini PC running NINA, Phd2, Stellarium Filters: ASKAR C1 duo band Ha/Oiii Processed in SIRIL, Graxpert, and Affintiy Photo 2

SH2-140 is an emission nebula. Some refer to it unofficially as the 'Peak a Boo' nebula because it is partially blocked by dense clouds of the Cepheus molecular cloud complex. It is a stellar nursery where dense clouds glow illuminated by UV radiation. (per Wiki).

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Messier 106 (M106) galaxy group is shown here in a wide field photo of the region in the constellation Canes Venatici. They are a loose collection of galaxies ~ 20 to 30 million light years from Earth (Per Wiki). This photo was taken over 3 nights of observing. Equipment: Telescope: SVBony SV503 80ed Camera: ZWO ASI2600 mc pro Mount: ZWO AM5 FIlter: UV/IR cut and Ha/Oiii Exposure: 4 hours UVIR cut, 3 hours Ha/Oiii Sky: Bortle 3 Frame exposure: 3 min Camera Temp: -12C Processed in SIRIL, SIRILIC, Graxpert, Photoshop

Messier 106 (M106) galaxy group is shown here in a wide field photo of the region in the constellation Canes Venatici. They are a loose collection of galaxies ~ 20 to 30 million light years from Earth (Per Wiki). This photo was taken over 3 nights of observing.

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Wow! Very nice Lunar photos.

The Great Pegasus Globular Star Cluster (M15) is about 10Kly further away than the Great Hercules Globular Cluster at about 35Kly from Earth. It is one of the oldest (~ 12.5 billion years) and dense globular star clusters and contains a possible intermediate black hole. Equipment: Telescope: SVBony SV503 102ed Camera: ZWO ASI533 mc pro Mount: ZWO AM5 Controller: Mini PC running NINA, Phd2, Stellarium Filters: SVBony UV/IR cut Processed in SIRIL, Graxpert, and Affintiy Photo 2 Exposure: 1.5 hours

The Great Pegasus Globular Star Cluster (M15) is about 10Kly further away than the Great Hercules Globular Cluster at about 35Kly from Earth. It is one of the oldest (~ 12.5 billion years) and dense globular star clusters and contains a possible intermediate black hole.

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Tribble Nebula (NGC 1624), part of the Dark Nebula Barnard 20, and a compact HII region (LBN 717). This region is part of the Perseus molecular cloud complex. The Tribble Nebula is an emission nebula with an embedded star cluster named after a iconic Star Trek episode. Equipment: Telescope: SVBony SV503 80ed Camera: ZWO ASI533 mc pro Mount: ZWO AM5 Filters: SVBony UV/IR cut Data collection: Data Collection time: 2.5 hours total Frame exposure: 5 minutes Camera temp: -12C

Tribble Nebula (NGC 1624), part of the Dark Nebula Barnard 20, and a compact HII region (LBN 717). This region is part of the Perseus molecular cloud complex. The Tribble Nebula is an emission nebula with an embedded star cluster named after an iconic Star Trek episode.

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The Fossil Footprint Nebula (NGC 1491). This is re-rendering of data collected in October using the palette developed Hubble mission team, where Sulfur are reds, Hydrogen are yellows and Oxygen are blues. Updated during many winter weeks of poor weather on Cape Cod. Equipment: Telescope: SVBony SV503 102ed Camera: ZWO ASI533 mc pro Mount: ZWO AM5 Controller: Mini PC running NINA, Phd2, Stellarium Filters: ZWO duo band Ha/Oiii, Askar C1 duo band SO/Oiii Processed in SIRIL, Graxpert, and Affintiy Photo 2

The Fossil Footprint Nebula (NGC 1491). This is re-rendering of data collected in October using the palette developed Hubble mission team, where Sulfur are reds, Hydrogen are yellows and Oxygen are blues. Updated during many winter weeks of poor weather on Cape Cod.

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The Lawnmower Star Cluster (NGC 663) in Cassiopeia. Sitting high in the winter's northern sky it's silhouette resembles the common yard machine. It is a young open cluster containing ~ 400 stars, many much hotter and more massive than the our sun. Exposure: 1.5 hours Equipment: Telescope: SVBony SV503 102ed Camera: ZWO ASI533 mc pro Mount: ZWO AM5 Controller: Mini PC running NINA, Phd2, Stellarium Filters: SVBony UV/IR cut Processed in SIRIL, Graxpert, and Affintiy Photo 2

The Lawnmower Star Cluster (NGC 663) in Cassiopeia. Sitting high in the winter's northern sky it's silhouette resembles the common yard machine. It is a young open cluster containing ~ 400 stars, many much hotter and more massive than the our sun.

Exposure 1.5 hours

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The Tulip Nebula (SH2-101). This is a wide field photo of the Tulip Nebula region taken earlier this year. Located in the constellation Cygnus it is about 70 light years across. (Per Wiki) Telescope: SVBony SV555 Camera: ZWO ASI2600 mc pro Mount: ZWO AM3 Controller: Mini PC running NINA, Phd2, Stellarium Filters: ASKAR Colormagic duo band Ha/Oiii Skies: Bortle 3-4 Processed in SIRIL, Graxpert, and Affintiy Photo 2.

The Tulip Nebula (SH2-101). This is a wide field photo of the Tulip H II emission nebula region taken earlier this year. Located in the constellation Cygnus it is about 70 light years across and ~ 6000 light years from Earth. (Per AstroBackyard)

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Horsehead (Barnard 33) and Flame (NGC 2024) nebulae. It is a stunning region in the constellation Orion. This is a 2 panel mosaic HOO photo rendered so the ionized emissions of hydrogen are red and oxygen are blue. This is my one year on BlueSky anniversary post! Equipment: Telescope: SVBony SV503 80ed Camera: ZWO ASI533 mc pro Mount: ZWO AM5 FIlters: ASKAR Ha/Oiii duo band filter Processed in SIRIL and Photoshop Skies: Bortle 4

Horsehead (Barnard 33) and Flame (NGC 2024) nebulae. It is a stunning region in the constellation Orion. This is a 2 panel mosaic HOO photo rendered so the ionized emissions of hydrogen are red and oxygen are blue. This is my one year on BlueSky anniversary post!

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