Al Kelly's CCD Astrophotography Page
WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF
CCD ASTRONOMY!
(Last updated
on November 6 , 2009)
On the left is Thor's Helmet as seen by my MX916 CCD
camera. On the right is the Celestron CGE 1400 telescope
which allowed the camera to have the view. My latest images
were made with this equipment.
The goal of this web site is to
promote CCD astrophotography by amateur astronomers. I am a
member of the Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society
(JSCAS) CCD special interest group (SIG), which also exists
for this purpose. The JSCAS CCD SIG invites anyone interested
to participate with us in using CCD cameras for
astrophotography. For more information, e-mail 
On
the left is the Ring Nebula as seen by my old CB245 CCD camera.
On the right is the 32" Newtonian telescope which used to
reside in my Danciger,
Texas observatory and allowed this
camera to have such a view. This telescope now belongs to the Alliance for
Astronomy. Many of the images on this
site were made by this instrument. Some of the other images here
were made with my 17.5" Newtonian in a previous version of
my Backyard
Observatory.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=====================================================================================================
INSTRUCTIONS ON TAKING
AND PROCESSING CCD IMAGES.....
Click here to read a BASIC
INSTRUCTION MANUAL on acquiring and processing astronomical
CCD images. This is a living electronic document constantly
undergoing improvement.
=============================================================
G2V-CALIBRATED COLOR
IMAGING
In 1998, four of us were pleased to present our development of
color CCD astro-image calibration and processing techniques,
including white-balancing with Solar-analog (G2V) star data,
atmospheric extinction correction, and foreground sky color
neutralization. The article also discussed the use of CYAN, MAGENTA, and YELLOW filters rather than the traditional
Red, Green, and Blue filters. If you wish to learn more, click
here to see the FINAL DRAFT of the article which appeared in the
December, 1998 issue of Sky and Telescope. (I updated this draft on May 21, 2000
to reflect an improved method for CMY data conversion)
=============================================================
Most of the color composite
images on this web site have been produced using AIP for Windows
and Photoshop. AIP is a superb image processing program written
by RICHARD BERRY and JIM BURNELL and available from Willmann-Bell. Here is a Powerpoint presentation
on the basic steps in making such composites, emphasizing the use
of downloaded DSS images: DSS
COLOR PROCESSING .'
=============================================================
Here is a selection of RECENT images. Just click on one to see the
enlarged version and use your browser's "BACK" icon to
return here (dozens of other images are accessible by object type
in the table below these images or via the header table at the
top of this page):
L/RGB image of planetary nebula NGC 6826, the "Blinking
Nebula," in Cygnus, made from images taken by Al Kelly with
a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar autoguider with SX AO unit,
and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.6 on 11/5/09 from Friendswood,
Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters. Sixty 60-second
clear-filtered subexposures, nineteen 120-second subexposures in
red, twelve 120-second subexposures in green, and sixteen 120-second
subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart and processed
in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of globular cluster M56 in Lyra, made from images
taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider with SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.6 on
11/4/09 from Friendswood, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters.
Eighteen 120-second clear-filtered subexposures, seven 240-second
subexposures in red, five 240-second subexposures in green, and
six 240-second subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart
and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of spiral galaxy NGC 7479 in Pegasus, made from
images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider with SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.6 on
10/24/09 from Friendswood, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters.
Eight 600-second clear-filtered subexposures, four 420-second
subexposures in red, three 420-second subexposures in green, and
five 420-second subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart
and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of planetary nebula NGC 40 in Cepheus, made from
images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider with SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.6 on
10/23/09 from Friendswood, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters.
Twenty-three 240-second clear-filtered subexposures, five
480-second subexposures in red, three 480-second subexposures in
green, and five 480-second subexposures in blue were self-guided
in Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of globular cluster M15 in Pegasus, made from images
taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.6 on 10/16/09 from
Fort McKavett, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters. Twenty-five
120-second clear-filtered subexposures, five 240-second
subexposures in red, four 240-second subexposures in green, and
six 240-second subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart
and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of galaxy NGC 864 in Cetus, made from images taken by
Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar autoguider, and
a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.6 on 10/16/09 from Fort McKavett,
Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters. Twelve 600-second
clear-filtered subexposures, five 600-second subexposures in red,
four 600-second subexposures in green, and six 600-second
subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart and processed
in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of galaxy NGC 5792 in Libra, made from images taken
by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar autoguider,
and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.6 on 5/20/09 from Dick Miller's
observatory near Lagrange, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters.
Fourteen 600-second clear-filtered subexposures, ten 600-second
subexposures in red, six 600-second subexposures in green, and
eight 600-second subexposures in blue were self-guided in
Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
* L/RGB image of galaxy NGC 4536 in Virgo, made from luminance
images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.6 on 4/22/09 from the
Texas Star Party in the Davis Mts, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB
filters. RGB chrominance created from BVR POSS plate data from
the DSS. Sixteen 600-second clear-filtered subexposures were
self-guided in Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of galaxy NGC 4395 in Canes Venatici, made from
images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.6 on 4/20/09 from the
Texas Star Party in the Davis Mts, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB
filters. Fourteen 600-second clear-filtered subexposures, six
600-second subexposures in red, four 600-second subexposures in
green, and five 600-second subexposures in blue were self-guided
in Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of galaxy NGC 5033 in Canes Venatici, made from
images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.6 on 4/19/09 from the
Texas Star Party in the Davis Mts, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB
filters. Thirteen 600-second clear-filtered subexposures, five
600-second subexposures in red, three 600-second subexposures in
green, and four 600-second subexposures in blue were self-guided
in Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of galaxy NGC 2683 in Lynx, made from images taken by
Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar autoguider with
SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.6 on 1/30/09 from
Friendswood, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters. Twelve
600-second clear-filtered subexposures, five 600-second
subexposures in red, three 600-second subexposures in green, and
four 600-second subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart
and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of open cluster NGC 2266 in Gemini, made from images
taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider with SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.6 on
1/28/09 from Friendswood, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters.
Twenty 60-second clear-filtered subexposures, five 120-second
subexposures in red, three 120-second subexposures in green, and
four 120-second subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart
and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of spiral galaxy NGC 3184 in Ursa Major, made from
images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider with SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.5 on
1/21/09 from Johnson City, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters.
Seventeen 600-second clear-filtered subexposures, five 600-second
subexposures in red, three 600-second subexposures in green, and
four 600-second subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart
and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of open cluster M36 in Auriga, made from images taken
by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar autoguider
with SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.5 on 1/21/09 from
Johnson City, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters. Twenty-four
60-second clear-filtered subexposures, five 120-second
subexposures in red, three 120-second subexposures in green, and
four 120-second subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart
and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of galaxies NGC 7541 and NGC 7537 in Pisces, made
from images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916,
Lodestar autoguider with SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at
f5.5 on 10/24/08 from Fort McKavett, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB
filters. Ten 600-second clear-filtered subexposures, five
300-second subexposures in red, three 300-second subexposures in
green, and four 300-second subexposures in blue were self-guided
in Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of globular cluster NGC 6934 in Delphinus, made from
images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider with SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.5 on
10/24/08 from Fort McKavett, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters.
Twenty-sex 120-second clear-filtered subexposures, five
300-second subexposures in red, three 300-second subexposures in
green, and four 300-second subexposures in blue were self-guided
in Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of irregular dwarf galaxy UGCA 444 in Cetus, made
from images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916,
Lodestar autoguider with SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at
f5.5 on 10/24/08 from Fort McKavett, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB
filters. Eleven 600-second clear-filtered subexposures, five
300-second subexposures in red, three 300-second subexposures in
green, and four 300-second subexposures in blue were self-guided
in Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of eroded molecular cloud IC 63 near Gamma
Cassiopeia, made from images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight
Express MX916, Lodestar autoguider with SX AO unit, and a
Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.5 on 10/22/08 from Fort McKavett, Texas,
using Astrodon CRGB filters. Twelve 600-second clear-filtered
subexposures, five 450-second subexposures in red, three
480-second subexposures in green, and four 450-second
subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart and processed
in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of edge-on galaxy NGC 7814 in Pegasus, made from
images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider with SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.5 on
10/3/08 from Friendswood, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters.
Eighteen 600-second clear-filtered subexposures, five 600-second
subexposures in red, three 600-second subexposures in green, and
four 600-second subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart
and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of globular cluster M92 in Hercules, made from images
taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider with SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.5 on
9/6/08 from Friendswood, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters.
thirteen 120-second clear-filtered subexposures, five 240-second
subexposures in red, three 240-second subexposures in green, and
four 240-second subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart
and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of globular cluster M13 in Hercules, made from images
taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider with SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.5 on
8/26/08 from Jack Petersen's observatory near Johnson City,
Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters. Six 60-second clear-filtered
subexposures, five 60-second subexposures in red, three 60-second
subexposures in green, and four 60-second subexposures in blue
were self-guided in Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and
Photoshop.
L/RGB image of nebula M16 in Serpens, made from images taken by
Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar autoguider with
SX AO unit, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.5 on 8/26/08 from Jack
Petersen's observatory near Johnson City, Texas, using Astrodon
CRGB filters. Eight 60-second clear-filtered subexposures, five
60-second subexposures in red, three 60-second subexposures in
green, and four 60-second subexposures in blue were self-guided
in Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of galaxy NGC 4448 and background galaxies inComa
Berenices, made from images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight
Express MX916, Lodestar autoguider, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at
f5.5 on 6/6/08 from the Texas Star Party near Fort Davis, Texas,
using Astrodon CRGB filters. Eight 600-second clear-filtered
subexposures, five 420-second subexposures in red, three
420-second subexposures in green, and four 420-second
subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart and processed
in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of open cluster NGC 6520 and dark nebula B86 in
Sagittarius, made from images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight
Express MX916, Lodestar autoguider, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at
f5.5 on 6/6/08 from the Texas Star Party near Fort Davis, Texas,
using Astrodon CRGB filters. Three 600-second clear-filtered
subexposures, five 240-second subexposures in red, three
240-second subexposures in green, and four 240-second
subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart and processed
in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of reflection nebulae NGC 6914 and 6914A, surrounded
by emission nebulae and dust in Cygnus, made from images taken by
Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar autoguider, and
a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.5 on 6/5/08 from the Texas Star Party
near Fort Davis, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters. Eight
600-second clear-filtered subexposures, five 420-second
subexposures in red, three 420-second subexposures in green, and
four 420-second subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart
and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of planetary nebula PK318+41.1 in Virgo, made from
images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.5 on 6/5/08 from the
Texas Star Party near Fort Davis, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB
filters. Nine 600-second clear-filtered subexposures, five
300-second subexposures in red, three 300-second subexposures in
green, and four 300-second subexposures in blue were self-guided
in Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of spiral galaxy NGC 4725 in Coma Betenices, made
from images taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916,
Lodestar autoguider, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.5 on 6/3/08
from the Texas Star Party near Fort Davis, Texas, using Astrodon
CRGB filters. Eleven 600-second clear-filtered subexposures, five
480-second subexposures in red, three 480-second subexposures in
green, and four 480-second subexposures in blue were self-guided
in Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of open cluster NGC 6819 in Cygnus (the "Foxface
Cluster"), made from images taken by Al Kelly with a
Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar autoguider, and a Celestron CGE
1400 at f5.5 on 6/2/08 from the Texas Star Party near Fort Davis,
Texas, using Astrodon CRGB filters. Five 240-second subexposures
in red, three 240-second subexposures in green, and four
240-second subexposures in blue were self-guided in Astroart and
processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of spiral galaxy NGC 4535 in Virgo, made from images
taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.5 on 6/2/08 from the
Texas Star Party near Fort Davis, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB
filters. Nine 600-second clear-filtered subexposures, five
420-second subexposures in red, three 420-second subexposures in
green, and four 420-second subexposures in blue were self-guided
in Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
L/RGB image of globular cluster M19 in Ophiucus, made from images
taken by Al Kelly with a Starlight Express MX916, Lodestar
autoguider, and a Celestron CGE 1400 at f5.5 on 6/1/08 from the
Texas Star Party near Fort Davis, Texas, using Astrodon CRGB
filters. Nine 300-second clear-filtered subexposures, five
240-second subexposures in red, three 240-second subexposures in
green, and four 240-second subexposures in blue were self-guided
in Astroart and processed in AIP4WIN and Photoshop.
============================================================
ALL IMAGES
PROCESSED BY THE AUTHOR (AL KELLY) FOR THIS WEBSITE FROM DSS
(DIGITIZED SKY SURVEY) DATA ARE SUBJECT TO THE COPYRIGHT
PROVISIONS SHOWN AT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: http://archive.stsci.edu/dss/copyright.html .
THE THUMBNAIL
DESCRIPTIONS FOR ALL SUCH IMAGES ARE DENOTED BY AN *
=============================================================
About CCDs and
Astrophotography
- A Charge-Coupled
Device (CCD) is a silicon-wafer electronic component
which was developed and first manufactured in 1970. Its
key characteristic is the ability to use the
photoelectric effect to efficiently convert impinging
photons to electrons, which can be stored and counted.
During the 70's CCDs were used to make the first
experimental all-digital astronomical images at visible
wavelengths. In the 80's CCDs began to establish
dominance as the primary detectors at the focus of
professional telescopes. In the 90's and early 00's the
CCD explosion reached the marketplace of amateur
astronomers with many commercial instruments available,
such as the Santa Barbara Instruments Group (SBIG),
Starlight XPress, and Apogee line of cameras. Also in the
90's, The CCD Camera Cookbook
by Richard Berry, Veikko Kanto, and John Munger
established itself as an invaluable tutorial for the
construction of inexpensive, high-quality CCD cameras for
amateur astronomers. Much as with the now-venerable
practice of amateur telescope making, CCD astronomers
found that doing- it-yourself yielded excellent
equipment, low cost, and immense satisfaction. Although
the Cookbook Camera technology now is essentially
obsolete, its application led to significant imaging
advances by amateurs.
Although many astronomers emphasize the differences among
visual astronomy, film astrophotography, and CCD
astrophotography, there are more basic similarities than
differences. In each case there is a system for rendering
a graphic portrayal of the light coming from a distant
object. For the eye it is the brain's visual cortex and
memory; for film it is millions of light- sensitive
halide crystals and chemical processing of plastic and
paper materials; and for the CCD it is an array of
thousands (or millions!) of light-sensitive silicon cells
and computerized digital processing of generated
electrons. Each system provides best results under dark
skies, with steady atmospheric conditions, and using the
best quality optics. Each system depends on a high
signal-to-noise ratio to discriminate the desired image
(signal) from random confusion (noise)....garbage
in, garbage out always applies.
Click the following items for more detailed information:
=============================================================
To learn about the
Cookbook CCD Camera system click on the Cookbook
Camera Home Page
=============================================================
Active links
to other astronomy resources on the Internet
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Astronomical Image Research Library
Adam Block's Images from the Kitt Peak
Public Observing Program
Doug Clapp's Astronomy and ST-6 CCD
Imaging Page
Robert Dalby's Hundred Foot Observatory
Page
Fort Bend Astronomy Club
("Bendonites") Home Page
Rob Gendler's Astroimaging Homepage
Ed Grafton's CCD Imaging Page
"Doc" Greiner's Astronomy
Information Page
Dietmar Hager's Astroimages
IAU: Central Bureau for Astronomical
Telegrams
JSCAS Home Page
Steve Lee's Astronomy and CCD Home Page
Jeff MacQuarrie's CCD Images Page
Dr. Fabio Marino's Astronomy and CCD
Home Page
William McClaughlin's CCD Images
Dick Miller's Website on Arp Peculiar
Galaxies
Northeast Kansas Amateur Astronomers'
League (NEKAAL) Home Page
Kunihiko Okano's CCD Gallery Home Page
Michel Peyro's Astronomy and CCD Home
Page
Arnie Rosner's Rent-a-Scope Website
Gregg Ruppel's Astronomy Page
Johannes Schedler's Astrophotography
Page
Michael Stecker's Website of
Astrophotogrpahers
Space Telescope Science Institute
(STScI) Digitized Sky Survey
Latest STScI Images from the Hubble
Space Telescope
Useful Formulas for Astronomers and
Astrophotographers
UTAH SKIES Website
John Vicker's Back River Observatory and
CCD Atlas Page
Dennis Webb's Amazing Arpgalaxy Page
Rob West's CCD Images Page
