The Eagle Nebula / Pillars of Creation
June 21, 2020
(Click on Picture for larger view)

The Eagle Nebula & "Pillars of Creation" ... Messier 16
I captured this image early Sunday morning, June 21, 2020. This is a 2hr:15mn exposure. Contained within this nebula is the famous "Pillars of Creation", three magnificent pillars of interstellar gas and dust where new stars are being created. This nebula is relatively close to us at a distance of 7,000 light-years. The approximately 450 stars within it are about 5.5 million years old, compared to our sun's 4.6 billion years of age. This nebula is medium high in the south around 2:30 AM in late June and is within the arm of the Milky Way.

This is the case where I was able to have the capture program N.I.N.A. to automatically slew to the object, center it, then record 2 and a half hours of imaging while I was asleep. I am learning more and more about N.I.N.A.

That 'Techy' Stuf
Telescope: 11" Celestron Edge HD at f/7
Mount: Celestron CGX
Mount setting and alignment via Celestron PWI software
Rig to Indoor Computer Connection: USB 2 196 feet Extender via cat 6 cable
Star Alignment: Celestron StarSense
Focal Reducer: Celestron 0.7X Focal Reducer
Camera: Altair Hypercam 294c Pro TEC
Sensor Temperature: 0°C (32°F)
Filter: Altair Quadband
Capture software: N.I.N.A. v 1.10 BETA015 (now 1.10)
Guiding: PHD2
Binning: 1x1
Post processing in Photoshop CC
Focus Controller: Celestron Auto Focuser
Polar Alignment: QHY Pole Master
Light Frames used: 27 at 300 seconds / Gain: 450
Binning: 1x1
Dark Frames: 30
Flat Frames: 50
Stacked in Deep Sky Stacker
Post Processed in PixInsight and Photoshop CC
Seeing Conditions: 9 (0-10, where 0 is total cloud cover)
Moon: No Lunar Interference
Bortle Light-Pollution zone: 4.5 (can barely see the Milkyway)
Air Temperature: 72°F
Date: June 21, 2019 from 1:00 - 2:40 am Location: My Backyard, Savannah, GA

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