Messier AP Challenge Progress

A place to post your Messier images for the Messier AP Award program.
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Jnicholes United States of America
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Messier AP Challenge Progress

#1

Post by Jnicholes »


Hi everyone,

I am accepting the Messier AP Challenge, I just thought I would say. From what I hear, you need to photograph 35 different Messier objects. If this is incorrect, please let me know.

My setup is an 80mm refractor with a 900mm focal length. My camera is my phone, connected by an adapter to the eyepiece, which is a 21mm zoom eyepiece.

Photography app I am using is called Nightcap. Works really well.

All photos I took so far are being posted here, and I will make notes of my progress.
M3 Globular Cluster
M3 Globular Cluster
M8 Lagoon Nebula
M8 Lagoon Nebula
M13 Globular Cluster
M13 Globular Cluster
M16 Eagle Nebula
M16 Eagle Nebula
M17 Swan Nebula
M17 Swan Nebula
M20 Trifid Nebula
M20 Trifid Nebula
M21 Open Cluster
M21 Open Cluster
M22 Globular Cluster
M22 Globular Cluster
M27 Dumbbell Nebula
M27 Dumbbell Nebula
M31 Andromeda Galaxy
M31 Andromeda Galaxy
M45 Pleiades (older photo)
M45 Pleiades (older photo)
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy
M53 Globular Cluster
M53 Globular Cluster
M57 Ring Nebula
M57 Ring Nebula
M64 Black Eye Galaxy
M64 Black Eye Galaxy
M81 Galaxy
M81 Galaxy
M82 Galaxy
M82 Galaxy
And thats it so far. Going out again tonight, will try to add more objects to this list for the Messier AP challenge.

If you are having problems seeing the objects, I can enhance the photos. Let me know if I need to do this.

Jared
Celestron Nexstar 8SE Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
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"Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of finitude we are surrounded by possibilities that are infinite, and the purpose of life is to grasp as much as we can out of that infinitude."

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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#2

Post by Graeme1858 »


Jnicholes wrote: Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:53 pm Hi everyone,

I am accepting the Messier AP Challenge, I just thought I would say.

That's a great start Jared. The awards are 35, 70 and 110 for visual. For imaging the awards are 40, 80 and 110.

Capture.JPG

You don't need to do anything different, just keep imaging. The main thing is enjoy!

Regards

Graeme
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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#3

Post by KingNothing13 »


Keep it going Jared - looking forward to seeing your progress!
-- Brett

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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#4

Post by MistrBadgr »


That is cool, Jared! :) Good Stuff.
Bill Steen
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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#5

Post by XCalRocketMan »


Great start Jared! You'll enjoy the journey. I've been doing this for years and my last M object for the M110 award is 'in the can' (old school remark, I know). Now I just need to upload them all.
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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#6

Post by Jnicholes »


Update:

More to add to the list. Total of 35 images now. All taken last night.
M4 Globular Cluster
M4 Globular Cluster
M5 Globular Cluster
M5 Globular Cluster
M6 Butterfly Cluster
M6 Butterfly Cluster
M7 Ptolemy Cluster
M7 Ptolemy Cluster
M9 Globular Cluster
M9 Globular Cluster
M10 Globular Cluster
M10 Globular Cluster
M11 Wild Duck Cluster
M11 Wild Duck Cluster
M12 Globular Cluster
M12 Globular Cluster
M14 Globular Cluster
M14 Globular Cluster
M15 Globular Cluster
M15 Globular Cluster
M18 Open Cluster
M18 Open Cluster
M19 Globular Cluster
M19 Globular Cluster
M23 Open Cluster
M23 Open Cluster
M24 Milky Way Star Cloud
M24 Milky Way Star Cloud
M25 Open Cluster
M25 Open Cluster
M28 Globular Cluster
M28 Globular Cluster
M29 Open Cluster
M29 Open Cluster
M39 Open Cluster
M39 Open Cluster
M53 Globular Cluster
M53 Globular Cluster
In total so far, I got photos of M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M8, M9, M10, M11, M12, M13, M14, M15, M16, M17, M18, M19, M20, M21, M22, M23, M24, M25, M27, M28, M29, M31, M39, M45, M51, M53, M57, M64, M81, and M82.

35 down.

Jared
Celestron Nexstar 8SE Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
25mm plossl Eyepiece
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Iphone 11 Nightcap app Camera

"Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of finitude we are surrounded by possibilities that are infinite, and the purpose of life is to grasp as much as we can out of that infinitude."

Alfred North Whitehead
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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#7

Post by Graeme1858 »


Your collection is expanding rapidly Jared. Well done. Your M6 is really nice.

Regards

Graeme
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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#8

Post by Jnicholes »


Update:

I’ve got some unfortunate news. There’s a wildfire in my state. As a result, there’s a lot of smoke in the air. It’s been this way since the campout I went on, so I have been unable to do ANY astronomy and astrophotography.

I won’t be able to do any astronomy or astrophotography until the smoke clears up. I have to put all my astronomy projects on hold.

When it will clear up, I don’t know.
Celestron Nexstar 8SE Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
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"Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of finitude we are surrounded by possibilities that are infinite, and the purpose of life is to grasp as much as we can out of that infinitude."

Alfred North Whitehead
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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#9

Post by Graeme1858 »


Jnicholes wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 7:51 pm I’ve got some unfortunate news.......

That's a shame Jared!

There are no time constraints on the challenge though!

Regards

Graeme
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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#10

Post by Jnicholes »


@Graeme1858 I saw on the front page that it’s your birthday. Happy Birthday!

Smoke is still in the air, still waiting for clear skies.
Celestron Nexstar 8SE Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
25mm plossl Eyepiece
Goto mount
Iphone 11 Nightcap app Camera

"Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of finitude we are surrounded by possibilities that are infinite, and the purpose of life is to grasp as much as we can out of that infinitude."

Alfred North Whitehead
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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#11

Post by Graeme1858 »


Thanks for that Jared.

Hope the smoke clears soon.

Regards

Graeme
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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#12

Post by Jnicholes »


Update:

Finally got clear skies. Going stargazing tonight.
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"Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of finitude we are surrounded by possibilities that are infinite, and the purpose of life is to grasp as much as we can out of that infinitude."

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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#13

Post by Graeme1858 »


Jnicholes wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 11:58 pm Update:

Finally got clear skies. Going stargazing tonight.

Good luck!

Regards

Graeme
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Celestron 9.25 f10 SCT, f6.3FR, CGX mount.
ASI1600MM Pro, ASI294MC Pro, ASI224MC
ZWO EFW, ZWO OAG, ASI220MM Mini.
APM 11x70 ED APO Binoculars.

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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#14

Post by Jnicholes »


Update.

Skies FINALLY got clear for good! Went stargazing last night, and got 2 more Messier objects for the list. After the second object, my battery pack broke and needed repair, so I had to stop.

M2 Globular Cluster
M2 Globular Cluster
M52 Open Cluster
M52 Open Cluster
Also got this photo. Doesnt qualify for the challenge, but wanted to share it. Making a report after this.
Saturn
Saturn
Jared
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"Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of finitude we are surrounded by possibilities that are infinite, and the purpose of life is to grasp as much as we can out of that infinitude."

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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#15

Post by Graeme1858 »


Two more to add to the list!

I hope you get your power supply problem fixed!

Regards

Graeme
______________________________________________
Celestron 9.25 f10 SCT, f6.3FR, CGX mount.
ASI1600MM Pro, ASI294MC Pro, ASI224MC
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APM 11x70 ED APO Binoculars.

https://www.averywayobservatory.co.uk/
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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#16

Post by AstroBee »


Congrats on the messier images Jared. Keep it up!
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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#17

Post by Jnicholes »


Graeme1858 wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 7:27 pm Two more to add to the list!

I hope you get your power supply problem fixed!

Regards

Graeme
Correction, 3 more. I have 37 right now.

Got the power supply fixed, by the way. Simple fix.

Going out again tonight. It’s almost a 3/4 waxing moon in Sagittarius, so DSO viewing may be limited. Then again, I got these pictures last night under the same circumstances, so we will see.

Jared
Celestron Nexstar 8SE Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
25mm plossl Eyepiece
Goto mount
Iphone 11 Nightcap app Camera

"Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of finitude we are surrounded by possibilities that are infinite, and the purpose of life is to grasp as much as we can out of that infinitude."

Alfred North Whitehead
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Re: Messier AP Challenge Progress

#18

Post by Jnicholes »


http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/2021/09/som ... d.html?m=1

I have to cancel going out to do astronomy tonight. Smoke just rolled in.
Celestron Nexstar 8SE Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
25mm plossl Eyepiece
Goto mount
Iphone 11 Nightcap app Camera

"Our minds are finite, and yet even in these circumstances of finitude we are surrounded by possibilities that are infinite, and the purpose of life is to grasp as much as we can out of that infinitude."

Alfred North Whitehead
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