Saturday 26 September 2009

Wired.com

I got published on Wired.com!
Click here to see my images on Wired.com

Thanks Betsy for posting my images. It makes all the hard work of producing these images seem worthwhile when others appreciate them too :)

Monday 21 September 2009

M33 - Triangulum Galaxy

M33 Triangulum galaxy by Arran Hill

Full size image can be seen here : M33 with Canon 400D

M33 in Triangulum
3 x 15 minute exposures (45 minutes)
Skywatcher 200P Newt / Canon 400D
Salisbury (Dark sky site)

M33, also known as the Triangulum galaxy, has a diameter of about 50,000 light years. It is the third largest galaxy in the Local Group, a group of galaxies that also contains the Milky Way Galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy, and it may be a gravitationally bound companion of the Andromeda Galaxy.

M45 - The Pleiades or Seven Sisters

M45 Pleiades Seven Sisters, by Arran Hill

Full size image can be seen here : The Pleiades with Canon 400D

M45 in Taurus
12 x 15 minute exposures (3 hours)
Skywatcher 200P Newt / Canon 400D
Sailsbury (Dark sky site)

M45 is also known as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters. Unfortunately in this close up image the full seven are not visible. This is one of the closest star clusters to us, and is clearly visible to the naked eye as a 'cloudy patch' in the night sky. The cluster is dominated by hot blue stars which are lighting up the dust cloud they are passing through.

Monday 14 September 2009

IC 1805 - Heart Nebula

IC 1805 Heart Nebula by Arran Hill

Full size image can be seen here : Heart Nebula with Atik 314L+

IC 1805 in Cassiopeia
26 x 15 minute exposures (6 hours 30 minutes)
Skywatcher 8" Newt / Atik 314L+
Chatham (Light polluted site)

This is a narrowband Hydrogen Alpha view of the very centre of the Heart Nebula. Click here for a wider view.

NGC 281 - Pacman Nebula in Hubble Palette

NGC 281 Pacman Nebula by Arran Hill

Full size image can be seen here : Pacman Nebula with Atik 314L+

NGC 281 in Cassiopeia
69 x 15 minute exposures (17 hours and 15 minutes)
Approx. 6 hours per filter (SII, Ha, OIII)
Skywatcher 8" Newt / Atik 314L+
Hoo Peninsula (Fairly dark sky site)

This open star cluster with associated nebulosity, also known as the Pacman Nebula, is 10,000 light years away from us, and is in our very own Milky Way. This image uses the Hubble Palette, which is falsely coloured, to reveal more delicate structure than a true colour representation would.

M16 - Eagle Nebula

M16 Eagle Nebula by Arran Hill

Full size image can be seen here : M16 with Atik 314L+

M16 in Serpens
5 x 15 minute exposures (75 minutes)
Skywatcher 8" Newt / Atik 314L+
Hoo Peninsula (Fairly dark sky site)

M16, also known as the Eagle Nebula, is 6,500 light years away. This area of the sky was made famous by the Hubble photograph entitled 'The Pillars of Creation'. These so called pillars are approximately 57 trillion miles high, and get their name due to the new star formation that happens there. This image was taken with a narrowband Hydrogen Alpha filter.

M27 - Dumbbell Nebula

M27 Dumbbell Nebula by Arran Hill

Full size image can be seen here : M27 with Atik 314L+

M27 in Vulpecula
6 x 15 minute exposures (90 minutes)
Skywatcher 8" Newt / Atik 314L+
Romney Marsh (Dark sky site)

M27, also known as the Dumbbell Nebula, is a planetary nebula about 1,300 light years away. This image was produced using narrowband Ha and an OIII filters, representing red and blue. From those a synthetic green channel was created to make a full colour image.