Selected astroimages from 2004 through 2019 including galaxies, light and dark nebulas, planetary nebulas, globular star clusters, open clusters, and miscellaneous objects. Images are in approximate chronological order with exceptions. Earliest data were captured with a SBIG ST8-XE or STL-11000M research grade CCD camera and Takahashi FSQ 106 astrograph refractor or Optical Guidance Systems Ritchey-Chretien 12.5 inch telescope operating in Palm Springs, California. Beginning in April, 2008 some images were obtained on a 24 inch R-C telescope with 11000M camera atop Mt. Lemmon near Tucson, Arizona. In October, 2010 this was replaced by the 32 inch Schulman Foundation R-C telescope (generally known as the "Schulman telescope") maintained on Mt. Lemmon by the University of Arizona. The 11000M camera initially used on the 32 inch scope was replaced by an STX-16803 in early 2011. In 2019 the Schulman telescope became available for online astroimaging by amateurs and professionals under the management of the University of Arizona SkyCenter.

Image capture and processing for the images displayed here utilized specialized software including TheSky6 Professional Edition, ACP Planner and Capture, CCDStack, Adobe Photoshop, Noise Ninja, MaximDL, RegiStar, PixInsight, FITS Liberator, Filezilla, and CCDSharp. Total exposure times for each image were typically 3 - 6 hours and in some cases over 20 hours. Luminance frames were generally processed separately from RGB color composites which were then united in Photoshop. H-alpha blending used various techniques.

Features on this site include a search function, user-controlled slide show, full resolution downloads, variable magnification, and easy purchase of prints or other products (coasters, cups, etc.) with images of selected items. To access some features use the "search", "slideshow", or "buy" buttons. Functionality may be incomplete with cell phone viewing. All material is copyrighted. Downloading images for personal use is free. Prints and image-bearing products may be purchased directly from this web site or made yourself from downloads.

THE 32 INCH SCHULMAN TELESCOPE AND ITS SUPPORT SYSTEMS ARE ENGINEERED FOR FULLY REMOTE OPERATION AND PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT FACILITY FOR WORLDWIDE USE OVER THE INTERNET BY AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL ASTROPHOTOGRAPHERS AND ASTRONOMERS. For further information and to obtain access please visit the Schulman Telescope web site at www.schulmantelescope.org or contact the University of Arizona Science SkyCenter (Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter) at http://Skycenter.arizona.edu.

Email to jds4@ix.netcom.com for questions, information, or commercial use.

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY by JOSEPH D. SCHULMAN

Astrophotography by Joseph D. Schulman

NGC 4845 (NGC 4910) in NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. It is over 65 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo (The Virgin). NGC 4845 has a striking flat and dust-mottled spiral disc surrounding a bright galactic bulge which contains a supermassive black hole inferred from its effect on the galaxy’s innermost stars; these stars experience a strong gravitational pull from the black hole and revolve around the galaxy’s centre much faster than otherwise. From the motion of these central stars, astronomers estimate the mass of the black hole — for NGC 4845, hundreds of thousands of times heavier than the Sun. This technique was used to discover the supermassive black hole at the centre of our own Milky Way — Sagittarius A* — which is four million times the mass of the Sun. In 2013 a new flare at the centre of NGC 4845 arose from its central black hole engulfing a brown dwarf star or large planet.

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NGC 4845 (NGC 4910) in NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. It is over 65 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo (The Virgin). NGC 4845 has a striking flat and dust-mottled spiral disc surrounding a bright galactic bulge which contains a supermassive black hole inferred from its effect on the galaxy’s innermost stars; these stars experience a strong gravitational pull from the black hole and revolve around the galaxy’s centre much faster than otherwise. From the motion of these central stars, astronomers estimate the mass of the black hole — for NGC 4845, hundreds of thousands of times heavier than the Sun. This technique was used to discover the supermassive black hole at the centre of our own Milky Way — Sagittarius A* — which is four million times the mass of the Sun. In 2013 a new flare at the centre of NGC 4845 arose from its central black hole engulfing a brown dwarf star or large planet.

NGC4845 NGC 4845 NGC4910 NGC 4910 Hubble space telescope