![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/84770f_74587444a9b7f0c603a10e7b4cbb1896.png/v1/fill/w_34,h_39,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/84770f_74587444a9b7f0c603a10e7b4cbb1896.png)
Alistair
Amateur Astronomer
Deep Sky Images
These are a few images taken with an 8" F4 reflector and 10" F4 reflector on a HEQ5 Pro Mount and an NEQ6 Pro mount and a QHY8 OSC CCD.
![helix_alistair_samson](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_41e671ba88e4444490ee0801527a4224.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_106,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_41e671ba88e4444490ee0801527a4224.jpg)
![chicken](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_eb611ca36f2f4b2e9d4a0908b92360e1.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_110,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_eb611ca36f2f4b2e9d4a0908b92360e1.jpg)
![Trifid Nebula in LRGB](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_2cf611026aef4742ab0b5a50f5da9f1a.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_37,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_2cf611026aef4742ab0b5a50f5da9f1a.png)
![Lagoon Nebula in BiColour Narrowband](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_f50f85a7a37e4c1b8d3467afddb042f9.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_37,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_f50f85a7a37e4c1b8d3467afddb042f9.png)
![NGC3576-maxim-S2HaO3-lab1-st3 (Custom)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_b3dff66ba6e64d7a8d3390991299cd4b.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_51,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_b3dff66ba6e64d7a8d3390991299cd4b.png)
![5a78ef8ff4ab4cceed244e241e65fff9.16536x16536_q100_watermark_watermark_opacity-5_watermark_position-6](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_40ce7aa5855442728d44b56c29245c8c.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_36,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_40ce7aa5855442728d44b56c29245c8c.png)
![ngc346](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_69e6d5debbe04f83aeb589dcd241ab79.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_37,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_69e6d5debbe04f83aeb589dcd241ab79.png)
![IC2944-LRGB-st-final2-gmp (Custom).png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_9510ab00b174423db03fda6b31b43c6f.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_37,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_9510ab00b174423db03fda6b31b43c6f.png)
![b97a0da1cc7033d35e7c4000bb511df1.16536x16536_q100_watermark_watermark_opacity-5_watermark_position-6](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_b9de71d42f0140b49694d6a644823814.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_37,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_b9de71d42f0140b49694d6a644823814.png)
![ngc3324surr-stack1-st2 (Large).jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_9711db26caa54137b20d120bcc951609.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_111,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_9711db26caa54137b20d120bcc951609.jpg)
![ngc300-L-startool1 (Custom).jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_36603a6efd92462aa39eaecb0f068a27.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_96,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_36603a6efd92462aa39eaecb0f068a27.jpg)
![ThorsHelmet-RGB-wiped2-gmp (Custom).png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_bdc47e68b1f743c98246f6c11fb42f0d.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_36,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_bdc47e68b1f743c98246f6c11fb42f0d.png)
Effects of Light Pollution
Below are two 60 second unprocessed images taken from my light polluted backyard.
The one on the left is without a filter, and the one on the right is with a light pollution filter.
You can clearly see the difference.
Light pollution affects the background and colour balance of images as well as washes out details that are visible from a dark site away from the City glare.
![60s without LP Filter](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_9cd1b2c092b730b2f6de7058553b9a9f.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_9cd1b2c092b730b2f6de7058553b9a9f.jpg)
A 60s unprocessed image taken with a QHY8 CCD from suburban skies showing the effects of light pollution with the green/yellow cast
![60s with LP Filter](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_14c154cadf734fe2a4c1064d109084fa.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_14c154cadf734fe2a4c1064d109084fa.jpg)
A 60s unprocessed QHY8 CCD image taken on the same night but with a Light pollution filter. The filter has done a very good job of removing sodium and mercury vapour emission lines and restored colour balance which makes processing so much easier.
Early Moon shots
My Very first images taken with a 50mm Celestron refractor I bought off ebay for $30.
I had to fix a broomstick to the scope to keep it steady, but that didn't stop me from imaging the moon with a handheld canon digital compact against the eyepiece, technically known as Afocal imaging.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_07231742116e3cacbb29c93473af6bb1.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_110,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_07231742116e3cacbb29c93473af6bb1.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_ee36eb3b092ecc4d39b23798353e3014.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_110,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_ee36eb3b092ecc4d39b23798353e3014.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_28804989d84e89db67b9270717aa37c5.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_110,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_28804989d84e89db67b9270717aa37c5.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/68adbd_49b39c5c21769e7844b263fb80397f9b.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_110,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/68adbd_49b39c5c21769e7844b263fb80397f9b.jpg)