James R. Foster
Astroimager James R. Foster resides in downtown Los Angeles. Light pollution there relegates most celestial objects dimmer than magnitude 3 — easily seen under a dark sky — to the “challenge-to-image” category. Foster uses a variety of astroimaging techniques to overcome urban light pollution and capture stunning images of some of the sky’s best sights. Here are a few of the images he’s shot from his home using a 13-inch Cassegrain f/7.5 telescope and an SBIG ST-7E CCD camera.
IC 1470
IC 1470 is a comet-shape emission nebula in Cepheus that spans about 15′. A 12th-magnitude star lies near its center. Rudolph Spitaler discovered the nebula, also known as Sh 2-156, in 1892. Foster combined two lumenence (L) frames of 60 and 30 minutes, respectively — one from Los Angeles and one from Mt. Pinos, California — with RGB frames of 30, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively, to compose this image.
IC 1470 is a comet-shape emission nebula in Cepheus that spans about 15′. A 12th-magnitude star lies near its center. Rudolph Spitaler discovered the nebula, also known as Sh 2-156, in 1892. Foster combined two lumenence (L) frames of 60 and 30 minutes, respectively — one from Los Angeles and one from Mt. Pinos, California — with RGB frames of 30, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively, to compose this image.
James R. Foster
IC 1470
NGC 246 is a planetary nebula some 1,600 light-years distant in Cetus. Also called the Skull Nebula, it spans 4′ and has an apparent magnitude of about 8. NGC 246’s 12th-magnitude central star HIP 3678 is actually two stars. This composite image combines LRGB frames.
NGC 246 is a planetary nebula some 1,600 light-years distant in Cetus. Also called the Skull Nebula, it spans 4′ and has an apparent magnitude of about 8. NGC 246’s 12th-magnitude central star HIP 3678 is actually two stars. This composite image combines LRGB frames.
Face-on spiral galaxy NGC 925 in Triangulum appears some 9.8″ in diameter and has an apparent magnitude of about 10.5. Foster shot L and R frames from Los Angeles and combined them with RGB frames taken at Mt. Pinos to create this composite image.
James R. Foster
NGC 925
Face-on spiral galaxy NGC 925 in Triangulum appears some 9.8″ in diameter and has an apparent magnitude of about 10.5. Foster shot L and R frames from Los Angeles and combined them with RGB frames taken at Mt. Pinos to create this composite image.
Face-on spiral galaxy NGC 925 in Triangulum appears some 9.8″ in diameter and has an apparent magnitude of about 10.5. Foster shot L and R frames from Los Angeles and combined them with RGB frames taken at Mt. Pinos to create this composite image.
The Fireworks Galaxy (NGC 6946) is a 9.6-magnitude, 12′-wide, face-on spiral that lies 10–20 million light-years away on the border between Cepheus and Cygnus. SN 2004et, a young type II supernova, had a magnitude of 12.8 when Stefano Moretti discovered it September 27, 2004, with a 16-inch (0.4 meter) telescope. Foster combined LRGB frames to compose this image.
James R. Foster
NGC 6946 and SN 2004et
The Fireworks Galaxy (NGC 6946) is a 9.6-magnitude, 12′-wide, face-on spiral that lies 10-20 million light-years away on the border between Cepheus and Cygnus. SN 2004et, a young type II supernova, had a magnitude of 12.8 when Stefano Moretti discovered it September 27, 2004, with a 16-inch (0.4 meter) telescope. Foster combined LRGB frames to compose this image.
The Fireworks Galaxy (NGC 6946) is a 9.6-magnitude, 12′-wide, face-on spiral that lies 10-20 million light-years away on the border between Cepheus and Cygnus. SN 2004et, a young type II supernova, had a magnitude of 12.8 when Stefano Moretti discovered it September 27, 2004, with a 16-inch (0.4 meter) telescope. Foster combined LRGB frames to compose this image.
Magnitude 7.2 open star cluster NGC 7380 is some 7,000 light-years distant in Cepheus. Caroline Herschel discovered it in 1787. Emission nebula Sh 2–142 surrounds the cluster. Foster shot LRGB frames of 100, 60, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively, to create this image.
James R. Foster
NGC 7380
Magnitude 7.2 open star cluster NGC 7380 is some 7,000 light-years distant in Cepheus. Caroline Herschel discovered it in 1787. Emission nebula Sh 2-142 surrounds the cluster. Foster shot LRGB frames of 100, 60, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively, to create this image.
Magnitude 7.2 open star cluster NGC 7380 is some 7,000 light-years distant in Cepheus. Caroline Herschel discovered it in 1787. Emission nebula Sh 2-142 surrounds the cluster. Foster shot LRGB frames of 100, 60, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively, to create this image.
NGC 7640 is a magnitude 10.9 barred spiral galaxy in Andromeda. Seen edge-on and spanning about 10.7′, NGC 7640 is 19 million light-years away. Foster shot individual LRGB frames and combined them into this composite image.
James R. Foster
NGC 7640
NGC 7640 is a magnitude 10.9 barred spiral galaxy in Andromeda. Seen edge-on and spanning about 10.7′, NGC 7640 is 19 million light-years away. Foster shot individual LRGB frames and combined them into this composite image.
NGC 7640 is a magnitude 10.9 barred spiral galaxy in Andromeda. Seen edge-on and spanning about 10.7′, NGC 7640 is 19 million light-years away. Foster shot individual LRGB frames and combined them into this composite image.
Planetary nebula PK 85+4.1 in Cygnus is also known as Abell 71. An OIII filter helps locate this faint, magnitude 15.2 nebula, which appears as a 2.8′ by 2.5′ roundish haze. Foster imaged PK 85+4.1 in LRGB frames of 90, 60, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively.
James R. Foster
PK 85+4.1
Planetary nebula PK 85+4.1 in Cygnus is also known as Abell 71. An OIII filter helps locate this faint, magnitude 15.2 nebula, which appears as a 2.8′ by 2.5′ roundish haze. Foster imaged PK 85+4.1 in LRGB frames of 90, 60, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively.
Planetary nebula PK 85+4.1 in Cygnus is also known as Abell 71. An OIII filter helps locate this faint, magnitude 15.2 nebula, which appears as a 2.8′ by 2.5′ roundish haze. Foster imaged PK 85+4.1 in LRGB frames of 90, 60, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively.
PK 102-2.1 is a faint, 15th-magnitude planetary nebula found in the constellation Lacerta. The nebula is also known as Abell 79. An OIII filter will help locate this challenging planetary. Foster imaged PK 102-2.5 in LRGB. The L component of this image comprises 72 minutes.
James R. Foster
PK 102-2.1
PK 102-2.1 is a faint, 15th-magnitude planetary nebula found in the constellation Lacerta. The nebula is also known as Abell 79. An OIII filter will help locate this challenging planetary. Foster imaged PK 102-2.5 in LRGB. The L component of this image comprises 72 minutes.
PK 102-2.1 is a faint, 15th-magnitude planetary nebula found in the constellation Lacerta. The nebula is also known as Abell 79. An OIII filter will help locate this challenging planetary. Foster imaged PK 102-2.5 in LRGB. The L component of this image comprises 72 minutes.
James R. Foster
IC 1470
NGC 246 is a planetary nebula some 1,600 light-years distant in Cetus. Also called the Skull Nebula, it spans 4′ and has an apparent magnitude of about 8. NGC 246’s 12th-magnitude central star HIP 3678 is actually two stars. This composite image combines LRGB frames.
NGC 246 is a planetary nebula some 1,600 light-years distant in Cetus. Also called the Skull Nebula, it spans 4′ and has an apparent magnitude of about 8. NGC 246’s 12th-magnitude central star HIP 3678 is actually two stars. This composite image combines LRGB frames.
Face-on spiral galaxy NGC 925 in Triangulum appears some 9.8″ in diameter and has an apparent magnitude of about 10.5. Foster shot L and R frames from Los Angeles and combined them with RGB frames taken at Mt. Pinos to create this composite image.
James R. Foster
NGC 925
Face-on spiral galaxy NGC 925 in Triangulum appears some 9.8″ in diameter and has an apparent magnitude of about 10.5. Foster shot L and R frames from Los Angeles and combined them with RGB frames taken at Mt. Pinos to create this composite image.
Face-on spiral galaxy NGC 925 in Triangulum appears some 9.8″ in diameter and has an apparent magnitude of about 10.5. Foster shot L and R frames from Los Angeles and combined them with RGB frames taken at Mt. Pinos to create this composite image.
The Fireworks Galaxy (NGC 6946) is a 9.6-magnitude, 12′-wide, face-on spiral that lies 10–20 million light-years away on the border between Cepheus and Cygnus. SN 2004et, a young type II supernova, had a magnitude of 12.8 when Stefano Moretti discovered it September 27, 2004, with a 16-inch (0.4 meter) telescope. Foster combined LRGB frames to compose this image.
James R. Foster
NGC 6946 and SN 2004et
The Fireworks Galaxy (NGC 6946) is a 9.6-magnitude, 12′-wide, face-on spiral that lies 10-20 million light-years away on the border between Cepheus and Cygnus. SN 2004et, a young type II supernova, had a magnitude of 12.8 when Stefano Moretti discovered it September 27, 2004, with a 16-inch (0.4 meter) telescope. Foster combined LRGB frames to compose this image.
The Fireworks Galaxy (NGC 6946) is a 9.6-magnitude, 12′-wide, face-on spiral that lies 10-20 million light-years away on the border between Cepheus and Cygnus. SN 2004et, a young type II supernova, had a magnitude of 12.8 when Stefano Moretti discovered it September 27, 2004, with a 16-inch (0.4 meter) telescope. Foster combined LRGB frames to compose this image.
Magnitude 7.2 open star cluster NGC 7380 is some 7,000 light-years distant in Cepheus. Caroline Herschel discovered it in 1787. Emission nebula Sh 2–142 surrounds the cluster. Foster shot LRGB frames of 100, 60, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively, to create this image.
James R. Foster
NGC 7380
Magnitude 7.2 open star cluster NGC 7380 is some 7,000 light-years distant in Cepheus. Caroline Herschel discovered it in 1787. Emission nebula Sh 2-142 surrounds the cluster. Foster shot LRGB frames of 100, 60, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively, to create this image.
Magnitude 7.2 open star cluster NGC 7380 is some 7,000 light-years distant in Cepheus. Caroline Herschel discovered it in 1787. Emission nebula Sh 2-142 surrounds the cluster. Foster shot LRGB frames of 100, 60, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively, to create this image.
NGC 7640 is a magnitude 10.9 barred spiral galaxy in Andromeda. Seen edge-on and spanning about 10.7′, NGC 7640 is 19 million light-years away. Foster shot individual LRGB frames and combined them into this composite image.
James R. Foster
NGC 7640
NGC 7640 is a magnitude 10.9 barred spiral galaxy in Andromeda. Seen edge-on and spanning about 10.7′, NGC 7640 is 19 million light-years away. Foster shot individual LRGB frames and combined them into this composite image.
NGC 7640 is a magnitude 10.9 barred spiral galaxy in Andromeda. Seen edge-on and spanning about 10.7′, NGC 7640 is 19 million light-years away. Foster shot individual LRGB frames and combined them into this composite image.
Planetary nebula PK 85+4.1 in Cygnus is also known as Abell 71. An OIII filter helps locate this faint, magnitude 15.2 nebula, which appears as a 2.8′ by 2.5′ roundish haze. Foster imaged PK 85+4.1 in LRGB frames of 90, 60, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively.
James R. Foster
PK 85+4.1
Planetary nebula PK 85+4.1 in Cygnus is also known as Abell 71. An OIII filter helps locate this faint, magnitude 15.2 nebula, which appears as a 2.8′ by 2.5′ roundish haze. Foster imaged PK 85+4.1 in LRGB frames of 90, 60, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively.
Planetary nebula PK 85+4.1 in Cygnus is also known as Abell 71. An OIII filter helps locate this faint, magnitude 15.2 nebula, which appears as a 2.8′ by 2.5′ roundish haze. Foster imaged PK 85+4.1 in LRGB frames of 90, 60, 60, and 60 minutes, respectively.
PK 102-2.1 is a faint, 15th-magnitude planetary nebula found in the constellation Lacerta. The nebula is also known as Abell 79. An OIII filter will help locate this challenging planetary. Foster imaged PK 102-2.5 in LRGB. The L component of this image comprises 72 minutes.
James R. Foster
PK 102-2.1
PK 102-2.1 is a faint, 15th-magnitude planetary nebula found in the constellation Lacerta. The nebula is also known as Abell 79. An OIII filter will help locate this challenging planetary. Foster imaged PK 102-2.5 in LRGB. The L component of this image comprises 72 minutes.
PK 102-2.1 is a faint, 15th-magnitude planetary nebula found in the constellation Lacerta. The nebula is also known as Abell 79. An OIII filter will help locate this challenging planetary. Foster imaged PK 102-2.5 in LRGB. The L component of this image comprises 72 minutes.
