Deep Sky Observations with ZWO ASI294MC 2022

Conditions | Observation Overview | Overview of the Observed Sky Objects | Remarks | References

At the end of March 2022, I borrowed a ZWO ASI294MC from a starfriend, but sent it back to him at the beginning of April, 2022, after one use only. The reason was that I was able to acquire a used ASI294 on April 5, 2022 (these seem hard to get at). The following tests took place in spring 2022 and were rather StellarMate tests than tests of the camera. The photos that were taken during this phase and contains several galaxies are presented elsewhere (on the galaxy page for the ASI294 and on a StellarMate page (see links below)).

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

I looked mostly into sky regions that mainly present galaxies: Virgo, Leo, Canes Venatici, Ursa Major. In summer, I looked more in the direction of Bootes and Ophiuchus.

Overview Map

Click the map for a larger version - it opens in a new window (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Observation Time

The observations started every day when it was sufficiently dark (typically after 9 p.m.).

Observation Location

The observations took partly place in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (Germany) ...:

Coordinates: 49° 15′ N , 8° 43′ E
Coordinates (dec.): 49.25° N, 8.72° E

... and partly in Erkerode (near Braunschweig, Germany):

52° 12' 27.2" N 10° 42' 52.9" E
52.207556° N, 10.714696° E

Equipment Used

StellarMate Astronomy Computer with Camera, GoTo Mount, and Power Supplies, iPad running the StellarMate App

First of all, the ASI224MC camera is needed for taking photos. You also need a GoTo mount and a power supply, typically a power tank. The StellarMate can also be powered from a PowerTank or from a PowerBank. It also provides the power for the camera (if it is a 5V camera like the ASI224). The camera and the mount can be connected to the StellarMate astronomy computer, which is controlled by the StellarMate app running on an iPad (tablet computer).

Telescope Tubes, Focal Reducer

Last, but not least, you need a telescope. Depending on the telescope tube used, focal length reducers have also to also be used. This is indicated for the respective observations.

PS 72/432


	To be able to get into focus with the camera, I used T2 extension sleeves (Explore Scientific).

Photos: PS 72/432 with ASI294 camera and StellarMate (spring 2022)

C5

Photos: C5 with ASI294 camera and StellarMate (spring 2022)

ZWO ASI294: The FOV is about 2.5° x 1.7° for the PS 72/432 and about 1.4° x 0.95° for the C5 with f/6.3 Reducer/Corrector.

General Conditions

In general, the sky above Mühlhausen/Kraichgau is "light-polluted" and does not invite you to search for deep sky objects. Cameras will find the objects even in poor conditions, but really good results are obtained only under dark skies. In Erkerode, the sky is a little bit darker.

Observation Overview

Observation Details

Date 2022	Observed Objects	Further Observations and Remarks	Devices Used	Reducers Used	General Remarks
Apr 3 MH	OC: NGC 2244 G: M 51, M 65, M 66, M 81, M 82, M 95, M 96, NGC 3628	Order: M 81/82, M 65/66/NGC3628 (Leo triplet; M 65 accessed) found in second attempt, NGC 2244, M 51, M 95/96	PS 72/432 on AZ-GTi with ASI294MC, StellarMate )borrowed	---	The ASI294 was vignetting; the stacked photos were saved with 1920 x 1308 pixels (obviously caused by the Live Stacking), although the correct pixel size was shown in the StellarMate app. > Valid for all observations! Photos
Apr 18 MH	OS: M 44, NGC 2238 G: M 51, M 59, M 60, M 65, M 66, M 81, M 82, M 84, M 86, M 89, M 90, M 105, M 108, IC 3483, NGC 3077, NGC 3268, NGC 4567/68 PN: M 97	Order: NGC 2238 (Rosette Nebula), M 65 (+ M 66, NGC 3628; Leo Triplet), M 81 (+ M 82, NGC 3077), M 96 (+ M 95), M 105, M 84 (+ M 86; great galactic Face), M 51, M 108 (+ M 97), M 60 (+ M 59), M 44 (Coma Berenice Cluster), IC 3483 (Zwicky's Triplet), NGC 4567/68 (Siamese Twins), M 89 (+ M 90)	PS 72/432 on AZ-GTi with ASI294MC, StellarMate	---	Notes The alignment rarely reached "complete". Most of the time, I stopped it, because the error was slowly getting larger instead of smaller... The targets selection worked better, if I selected them in the "T" quick menu from a list (many targets do not appear at all on the "Targets" screen...). Photos
Apr 28 Erk	G: M 51, M 59, M 60, M 65, M 66, M 81, M 82, M 84, M 86, M 87, M 89, M 99, M 105, M 108, NGC 3077, NGC 3268, NGC 4567/68 PN: M 97	Order: M 81 (+ M 82, NGC 3077), M 65 (+ M 66, NGC 3628; Leo Triplet), M 105, M 84 (+ M 86; Markarian's Chain; great galactic Face), M 87, M 89, M 99, M 59 (+ M 60), M 108 (+ M 97)	PS 72/432 on AZ-GTi with ASI294MC, StellarMate	---	Notes The alignment went to "complete" more often this time. I mostly stopped it when the error slowly became bigger instead of smaller... I selected most targets from a list in the "T" Quick Menu. The WiFi range was sufficient to operate the StellarMate from indoors later. Photos
May 30 MH	G: M 65, M 66, NGC 3628	Order: M 65 (+ M 66; 10 s, 5 s, 2,5 s, 10 s), NGC 3628	C5 on AZ-GTi with ASI294MC, StellarMate	f/6,3 R/C	Often, the image of M 65/66 was "destroyed" by StellarMate after having stacked about 4 times! With NGC 3628, I reached the 9th frame. All in all, a disappointing evening, but the proof that the C5 works as well (best with an exposure time of 10 s)! Photos
Jul16 MH	GC: M10 C: C/2017 K2 (PANNSTARS)	Order: M 10 without and with comet C/2017 K2 (PANNSTARS) (10 s, 1 s 5 s)	PS 72/432 on AZ-GTi with ASI294MC, StellarMate	---	Tried to photograph M 10 and comet C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS) with StellarMate, PS 72/432 and ASI294; first failed to find the comet, then never managed to reasonably capture both (1° apart) together on one photo.... Photos

Bold: First observation during this observation period; G = galaxy, GH = galaxy cluster, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, P = star pattern, DN = dark nebula, GN = galactic nebula, PN = planetary nebula

Overview of the Observed Sky Objects

Object details can be obtained via the links to the deep sky objects in question. Due to the large field of view, especially with the PS 72/432, often several galaxies appear on one photo. Even more galaxies can be identified by evaluating the photos with nova.astrometry.net!

DSO-Details	Name	Sternbild	Typ	Tubus	Bemerkungen
C/2017 K2	C/2017 K2 (PANNSTARS)	---	K	PS72	Not on the image or only at the edge of the image
M 10		Ophiuchus	KS	PS72	Looks fairly small in this configuration
M 44	Coma Berenices Cluster	Coma Berenices	OC	PS72	Fits the image well with PS72/ASI294
M 51	Whirlpool Galaxy, with NGC 5195	Canes Venatici	G	PS72	Small
M 58		Virgo	G	PS72	Small, together with M 89/90
M 59		Virgo	G	PS72	Small, together with M 60
M 60		Virgo	G	PS72	Small, together with M 59
M 65		Leo	G	PS72, C5	Small, together with M 66 and sometimes also with NGC 3628 (Leo Triplet)
M 66	with M 65	Leo	G	PS72, C5	Small, together with M 65 and sometimes also with NGC 3628 (LeoTriplet)
M 81	Bode Galaxy	Ursa Major	G	PS72	Small, together with M 82, auch mit NGC 3077
M 82	Cigar Galaxy	Ursa Major	G	PS72	Small, together with M 81, auch mit NGC 3077
M 84		Virgo	G	PS72	Together with M 86, NGC 4402 and NGC 4387 as Great Galactic Face
M 86		Virgo	G	PS72	Together with M 84, NGC 4402 and NGC 4387 as Great Galactic Face
M 87		Virgo	G	PS72	Cengter of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster, many more galaxies on the photo
M 89		Virgo	G	PS72	Together with M 90 and NGC 4567/68, partly also with M 58
M 90		Virgo	G	PS72	Together with M 89 and NGC 4567/68,partly also with M 58
M 95		Leo	G	PS72	Together with M 96, sometimes also with M 96 and M 105
M 96		Leo	G	PS72	Together with M 95 and sometimes also with M 105, sometimes with both of them...
M 97	Owl Nebula	Ursa Major	PN	PS72	Sometimes together with M 108 on the photo
M 99		Coma Berenices	G	PS72	Small, together with NGC 4298/4302
M 105		Leo	G	PS72	Small, together with M 96
M 108		Ursa Major	G	PS72	Nearly edge-on; sometimes together with M 97 on the photo
IC 3483	Zwicky's Triplet	Virgo	G	PS72	Together with the Siamese Twins NGC 4567/68, M 58, and M 89
NGC 2238/44	Rosette Nebula	Monoceros	G	PS72	Only photographed the star clusterNGC 2244
NGC 3077		Ursa Major	G	PS72	Irregular galaxy close to M 81/82 (also on the photo)
NGC 3628	Member of the Leo Triplet	Leo	G	PS72, C5	Member of the Leo Triplet;photographed alone and together with M 65/66
NGC 4567/68	Siamese Twins, Butterfly Galaxies	Virgo		PS72	Tiny and at the edge on my photo...

G = galaxy, GH = galaxy cluster, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, DS = double star, SP = star pattern, DN = dark nebula, GN = galactic nebula, PN = planetary nebula

Remarks

Preparation

When searching for deep sky objects, a good preparation is obligatory - you read this, and I can confirm it. "Good preparation" means, on the one hand, that you compile a list of objects that you want to observe, including notes on where and how to find them.

On the other hand, even when doing "quick astro photography" with the ZWO ASI294MC camera (a variety of "video astronomy") more technology has to be prepared than for purely visual observation, especially if you just put a small Dobson or Maksutov telescope on the terrace table for this... Above, I describe, what equipment I use and need for taking photos with the ZWO ASI294 camera and the StellarMate astronomy computer.

References

Books

Michael Feiler & Philip Novak (2014). Deep Sky Reiseatlas, Oculum Verlag
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=2014
Ronald Stoyan (2014). Deep Sky Reiseführer, Oculum Verlag
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=2015
Erich Karkoschka (2016). Atlas für Himmelsbeobachter, Kosmos Verlag
www.kosmos.de/buecher/ratgeber/astronomie/einsteiger/6598/atlas-fuer-himmelsbeobachter?number=15147