This page is dedicated to my nebula images. Many of the black and white shots are taken through a special H alpha filter. This filter allows only a very narrow wavelength (color) of light to pass through. This H alpha wavelength happens to be very common in most nebula. This filter is commonly used when photographing nebula because it filters out nearly all light pollution and other colors of light that would otherwise overwhelm the details of the nebula. As an added benefit, stars tend to look smaller and sharper in the images because emit very little H alpha light.  By the way, H alpha light is actually very deep red.

 

But of course, the color pictures are very cool too so I added some of those as well! Color images are much more difficult to take and process. The camera only takes black and white images so a series of pictures is taken through special red, green, and blue filters. Later these images are combined in the computer to produce the finished color image.

 

Another technique is to combine H alpha images with the color images. This allows for greatly enhanced detail within the color image. I will use this technique when ever possible from now on.

 

I will add more info about each object and it's acquisition later when I get bored. *-)