M57: The Ring Nebula
The Ring Nebula in the constellation of Lyra is a planetary nebula. The star in the center is quickly spitting out its atmosphere into space. Quite soon it will become a white dwarf (a dead star).
Images taken: Nov. 8, 2006, by Eric Solomon and Mallory Blasingame
Telescope: Meade 12 in at f/6.55, (f=2m).
Camera: SBIG ST-10 CCD
Exposures: 30 sec red, 45 sec green, 120 sec blue.
Image processing: CCDoops + CCDSoft + CCDsharp + Photoshop CS.
Images taken: Oct. 19 & 25, 2005, by Bobby Pelts and Alex Vega.
Telescope: Meade 12 in with f/4.66 focal reducer (f=54in).
Camera: SBIG ST-7 CCD
Notice the faint, 14.8 mg spiral galaxy IC1296 on the picture.
Exposures: 15+20 min red, 15+20 min green, 2x15+2x20 min blue (2h20m total).
Image processing: CCDoops + CCDSoft + CCDsharp + Photoshop CS.
Images taken: Nov. 7, 2004, by Jennifer Blackwood and Matt Sharpe.
Telescope: Meade 12 in with f/4.66 focal reducer (f=54in).
Camera: SBIG ST-7 CCD
Seeing: 3.3 as.
Exposures: 15 min red, 15 min green, 2x15 min blue (1 hour total).
Lucy-Richardson deconvolution brings out more detail, as seen in the image on the right.
Image processing: CCDoops + CCDSoft + CCDsharp + Photoshop CS.