NGC 6523, Lagoon Nebula, Messier 8, and
NGC 6514, Trifid Nebula, Messier 20

Posted 2007 June 17, updated June 19

© 2007 P. Amoils

The Lagoon Nebula (NGC 6523, M8) (left) and the Trifid (NGC 6514, M20) (right) in Sagittarius, taken on Sunday, June 10, 2007.

This is a (cropped) first-light image with Percy's new Televue 60 mm APO refractor. He took 31 thirty-second exposures with a Canon 20DA (set to automatic dark frame subtraction) and processed them with Maxim DL and Photoshop CS.

Percy writes: "Not bad for an uncooled camera and a 2 and 1/2 inch refractor from a site one kilometre from Sandton city. Also, the telescope was 45 degrees from horizon in an East direction towards Alexander Township."

The wider-field image below was taken on 2007 July 18 with the same equipment (Televue 60 millimeter refractor and Canon 20DA) and consists of five 5-minute images (binned 2x2). This higher-contrast image replaces one Percy took on the 12th.

© 2007 P. Amoils

For comparison, see Percy's image of the Lagoon and Trifid imaged with his 12.5-inch 'scope.

Keywords: Astronomy, deepsky observing, deep sky observing, astrophotography, Percy Amoils

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