By: Kyle Artkop & David Palmore Final Presentation By: Kyle Artkop & David Palmore

Our Project We decided we would take RGB images of three different objects, M27, NGC 7023, and NGC6946. This would show how our skills with the programs and telescopes have improved over the course of the semester.

Initial Regrets Some things to keep in mind when observing is one, the telescope can be a little wonky sometimes and you might need to change objects, and two, remember to take flats and darks at about the same exposure time for every filter because it will mess with the data.

M27: Dumbbell Nebula Magnitude: +7.5 R.A.: 19hr 59min. 35s Dec. 22° 43’ 16” Constellation: Vulpecula A planetary nebula discovered by Charles Messier in 1764.

M27 So after taking our flats and darks we took our science images. We used four different filters: red, blue, green, and clear. We took 10-2 minute exposures in each filter. In all, we collected about two hours of data for this object.

Reduction Using normal reduction methods we made a master flat and a master dark then subtracted the images. Then we aligned and used median combine for each filter. When we had one master image for each filter, we opened Photoshop to layer the pictures together. After all the adjusting of the levels and saturation we produced a finished project.

Not really sure why this image looks this way, as the original was much less fuzzy and did not have a ring. M27

NGC 6946 The Firecracker Galaxy Magnitude: +9.6 R.A.: 20hr 34min. 52.3s Dec.: 60° 09’ 14” Constellation: Cepheus & Cygnus NGC 6946 is an intermediate spiral galaxy and was discovered by Sir William Herschel in 1798.

NGC 6946 After taking the calibration images we took our science images. We used the same 4 filters as for M27. These filters vary from those used for NGC 7023 because the Fireworks Galaxy was imaged using the 12” telescope with color filters. We took 10-2 minute exposures in each filter. In all, we collected about two hours of data for this object.

Reduction We followed the same reduction process as we did for M27. You create masters and subtract and then align and combine as normal afterwards, but when the pictures were merged in Photoshop, we noticed that the frames were drastically out of focus with each other. This resulted in the final image having very apparent “color coma” that was irreparable.

NGC 6946

NGC 7023 Iris Nebula Magnitude: +6.8 R.A.: 21hr 1min. 36s Dec.: 68° 10’ 10” Constellation: Cepheus NGC 7023 is a reflection nebula and was discovered by Sir William Herschel in 1794.

NGC 7023 So after taking the flats and darks we took our science images. We used four different filters: R, B, V, and C. These filters differ from those used for M27 because the Iris nebula was imaged using the 20” telescope with photometric filters. Kyle took 10-2 minute exposures in each filter. In all, he collected about two hours of data for this object.

Reduction This reduction similar to that of M27. The difference lies in choosing which filters were used for the RGB frames, as these images were taken on the 20” telescope with Photometric filters. We used R,B,V filters as RGB in that order. You create masters and subtract and then align and combine as usual afterwards, but when the pictures were condensed in Photoshop, it took a moment for us to understand what was being seen. We realized that the excess light of the supermoon on the night sky had added blue and green light to the image.

NGC 7023

The End