Hackleby

M8 (The Lagoon Nebula) is a giant interstellar cloud in the constellation Sagittarius. Estimated to be between 4,000-6,000 light years from the Earth. Like many nebulas, it appears pink in time-exposure colour photos but is grey to the eye peering through binoculars or a telescope. The nebula contains a number of Bok globules (dark, collapsing clouds of protostellar material). Image captured 17th May and comprises 5 x 300s stacked subs, processing done in Photoshop.

First attempt at M104 (Sombrero Galaxy). I have been waiting patiently since arriving back in New Zealand to have a crack at this wonderful object which is breaking clear of my tree line around 23:30 hours. I feel the need to upgrade my camera as its very old and noisy which is making for tough editing of my hard earned data.

NGC 2070 (Tarantula Nebula), will try again when the moon is not in the sky to see if more detail can be captured.

NGC4755 The Jewel Box is an open star cluster in the constellation Crux (Southern Cross). Single 300s exposure under a moon lit sky.

NGC4755 The Jewel Box is an open star cluster in the constellation Crux (Southern Cross). Single 300s exposure under a moon lit sky.

NGC3766 The Pearl Cluster. My first attempt at a 10 minute exposure and none too shabby. Slowly but surely I am getting to grips with the numerous techniques involved, a massive, massive learning curve but so rewarding every time something new is learnt.

Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) is proving to be harder to photograph that I imagined. To say its a little camera shy is an understatement as it takes to hiding behind the clouds when ever my camera is about. This 120 second exposure is the best that I have managed to date and shows a little of its tail. I'm hopeful that as it travels further north and gets brighter, the skies will be kind and allow me better opportunity to photograph this visitor before its gone for another 8000 years or so.

Taken from back my garden in Huntly, New Zealand on 23rd December 2014. First good night under the stars since September and got to try out auto guiding for the first time. This is a merger of a 30s sub and a 300s sub to try and retain some of the core detail.

Second attempt at processing this image, Instead of stacking I have just taken the best 180 second raw file and tweaked it in Photoshop. Surprisingly enough it has changed colour and resembles something more akin to other images I have seen. I don't know why but after stacking in DSS the first image had a green hue which made the image look like a giant praying mantas.

I have had another go at the processing of the photos in this album, instead of stacking lights, flats, darks and bias frames I have just used the best raw file in each set and tweaked the histogram. This image is a single 150 second exposure tracked with mount only, and tweaked slightly in Photoshop. I'm happy with the way this one has turned out compared to the washed out original image I first posted.

NGC 3372 also known as The Carina Nebula, Great Nebula in Carina, the Eta Carinae Nebula as well as the Grand Nebula is a large bright nebula that has within its boundaries several related open clusters of stars. Taken on the 24nd August using 10 x 180 second subs stacked in DSS and processed in Photoshop. Visit Southern Skies by Clint Hackworth on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Southern-Skies-by-Clint-Hackworth/1458070374460337

NGC 5128 also known as Centaurus A is a prominent galaxy in the constellation of Centaurus. This image was taken straight after M83 and process the same way.

Messier 83 or M83 also known as the Southern Pinwheel galaxy (also designated NGC 5236) is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Hydra. Taken on the 23nd August using 5 x 180 second subs stacked in DSS and processed in Photoshop.

Messier 20 or M20, known as the Trifid Nebula (also designated NGC 6514) is a nebula and star cluster in the constellation Sagittarius. This image was taken straight after IC2602 and process the same way with the same poor results :(

IC2602, also known as the Theta Carinae Cluster or Southern Pleiades, is an open cluster in the constellation Carina. This image was my first attempt at using subs of longer than 30 seconds. Polar alignment took some achieving but the resulting 150 second subs proved it was worthwhile, shame I stuffed up the flats. Taken on the 22nd August using 5 x 150 second subs stacked in DSS and processed in Photoshop.

Sunday 13th April 2014, second DSO attempt under heavy light pollution and a big moon

Sunday 13th April 2014, first DSO attempt under heavy light pollution and a big moon