Nebulae are massive clouds of dust and gas. There are many different types of nebulae including; emission nebula, planetary nebula, reflection nebula, dark nebula, and supernova remnant.
Bright deep-sky objects, like nebulae, make great beginner deep-sky astrophotography targets because they are easier to focus, frame, and process compared to dimmer, smaller objects like most galaxies.
They also vary in color combinations, and compositions making them a popular deep-sky object to photograph. Some of my absolute favorite nebulae in the night sky include the Orion Nebula and the stunning Eagle Nebula.
Below, is an assortment of nebulas I have captured using my camera and telescope from the backyard.
M27 – The Dumbbell Nebula The Dumbbell Nebula is well photographed by professional and amateur night sky photographers alike. It was one of the first deep-sky objects I imaged way back in 2011. A member of the astronomy forum I was a part of suggested that I give it a try, as it is a…
The Sadr Region in the Cygnus refers to the hydrogen emission nebula surrounding Sadr (Gamma Cygni) in the cross of the constellation Cygnus. In this area of the night sky, you will also find even more deep-sky astrophotography targets such as the Butterfly Nebula (IC 1318), and the Crescent Nebula. Sadr (a supergiant) has 12…
Photographing the Sadr Star in Cygnus If you follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed that I was poking around in the middle of the constellation Cygnus last weekend, specifically centered on to the extremely bright Sadr star. I really wanted to post a really snazzy wide field photo of this region on this…
Backyard Astrophotography Summer would not be complete without spending a night enjoying the dazzling beauty that is the constellation Sagittarius. The “teapot” asterism just clears my fence to the south of my backyard in central St. Catharines. From my latitude, August is my last chance to image the many star clusters and nebulae that populate…
One of the best ways to enjoy astronomy under a dark sky is to go camping. Campgrounds are usually well away from city light pollution, meaning that you will be able to enjoy many more stars in the sky than you are used to seeing at home. In mid-summer, the sun sets very late at…
The Wizard Nebula through my 80mm Telescope Clear August Nights More consecutive clear summer nights have allowed me to put in some serious time on the Wizard Nebula! In fact, this is the most amount of exposure time I have put into any object! Over 7 Hours! Truth be told, I would have hopped over…
IC 5164 – The Cocoon Nebula Imaged with an 80mm Refractor We have had a stretch of clear nights this summer, and I have been taking full advantage! This year I decided to spend some time in the sweet spot of the sky, Cygnus the Swan. This area of the night sky rises high overhead…
In early February 2014, I captured the Witch Head Nebula using my camera and telescope. This is a good example of what you can expect to capture using a stock DSLR camera under relatively dark skies. IC 2218 is a reflection nebula in the constellation Eridanus, bordering Orion. It is illuminated by the bright star, Rigel,…
How the Rosette Nebula looks with a Stock DSLR Will an unmodified Canon DSLR pick up the red nebulosity? Happy New Year! I was finally graced with some clear skies that showcased the beautiful winter milky way on Monday. The moon was about 19% lit, and it didn’t set until about 10:30 pm, so about…
M42 & M43, The Orion Nebula (& Running Man) Imaged Friday, Nov 29, 2013 from Ontario, Canada. Camera Equipment and Settings: Telescope: Explore Scientific ED80 with WO Flat III 0.8x FR/FF Mount: Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro Synscan Guiding: Meade DSI Pro II and PHD Guiding Guide Scope: Orion Mini 50mm Camera: Canon EOS 450D (Stock) ISO:…
Below, you will see an image of the Pacman Nebula using a stock (non-modified) DSLR camera. A Canon EOS Rebel Xsi (450D) to be exact. I have often said that an entry-level DSLR camera is probably the best astrophotography camera to start out with. DSLR cameras are affordable, versatile, and can be used for more…
My Attempt at the Soul Nebula IC 1848, The Soul Nebula Imaged Weds., Oct 2, 2013 32 subs 4 Minutes Each totaling 2 Hours, 8 Minutes PHOTO DETAILS Updated Version: The Soul Nebula Scope: Explore Scientific ED80 with WO Flat III 0.8x FR/FFMount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro SynscanGuiding: Meade DSI Pro II and PHD GuidingGuide Scope:…