Sleepy TelescopeASI2600MM Pro
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro: my main deep-sky camera, a cooled monochrome APS-C camera.
The ZWO ASI2600MM Pro is a cooled monochrome camera built around the Sony IMX571 back-illuminated APS-C sensor: 23.5 × 15.7 mm, 6248 × 4176 pixels (26 MP) of 3.76 µm, with a 16-bit ADC.
It is my main deep-sky camera, used on two setups that share the same imaging train: the Takahashi FSQ85-EDX and the Meade 8" ACF, both on the NEQ6 Pro. The train:
- ZWO EFW 7 × 36 mm filter wheel with Antlia LRGB-V Pro and Antlia 3 nm Pro SHO filters
- ZWO off-axis guider with a ZWO ASI290MM Mini guide camera (Sony IMX290, 2.9 µm pixels)
- Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen2 for power, dew heaters and USB
Earlier images with this camera used Baader LRGB and Baader Ha 7 nm 36 mm filters.
A second ASI2600MM Pro, belonging to the rig, works at Swan Reach, South Australia, on the RCOS 16" and the Paramount ME of the Swan Reach remote rig. Its train: a ZWO EFW 7 × 2" filter wheel with Astrodon LRGBSHO 2" filters, an off-axis guider with a ZWO ASI174MM Mini guide camera, and a Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen2.
NGC 6744: Spiral Galaxy in Pavo
A large intermediate spiral galaxy in Pavo, tens of millions of light-years away, often compared to the Milky Way, with extended arms and a distorted companion, NGC 6744A.
NGC 253: The Sculptor Galaxy
The brightest galaxy of the Sculptor Group, about 11 million light-years away: a dusty starburst spiral seen at a high inclination, with prominent dust lanes and bright star-forming knots.
NGC 300: Spiral Galaxy in Sculptor
A late-type spiral galaxy about 6 million light-years away in Sculptor, also known as the Sculptor Pinwheel Galaxy, with loosely wound arms.
NGC 1851: Globular Cluster in Columba
A dense globular cluster in the southern constellation Columba, about 39,500 light-years away, with a very compact core and an extended halo.
NGC 346: Star-Forming Nebula in the Small Magellanic Cloud
The brightest star-forming region of the Small Magellanic Cloud: a young open cluster wrapped in glowing hydrogen gas, about 200,000 light-years away in Tucana.
LDN 1295: The Giraffe Nebula
A deep wide-field exposure of LDN 1295, known as the Giraffe Nebula, highlighting dense dark absorption dust silhouetted against a rich star field in Cassiopeia.
M81, M82 and surroundings
A wide-field capture of Bode's Galaxy (M81) and the Cigar Galaxy (M82), framed by the delicate Integrated Flux Nebula (IFN).
IC 1805: The Heart Nebula in SHO
A spectacular narrowband image of the Heart Nebula in the Hubble palette, showcasing the intricate pillars of gas and dust shaped by the central star cluster Melotte 15.
M31: Andromeda Galaxy
Our nearest galactic neighbor, revealing dense dust lanes and satellite galaxies.
IC 1848: The Soul Nebula
A deep wide-field view of the Soul Nebula in Cassiopeia, showcasing its complex ridges of gas and dust illuminated by young, massive star clusters.
LDN 1228 and LBN 552: Galactic Cirrus
A deep field showcasing the intricate, sweeping dark dust clouds of LDN 1228 and LBN 552, part of a vast galactic cirrus complex in Cepheus.
Sh2-115, Sh2-116 and surrounding LBNs
A deep wide-field view of the complex emission region Sh2-115 in Cygnus, accompanied by the compact HII region Sh2-116 and expansive networks of glowing hydrogen and Lynds Bright Nebulae.
Sh2-157: The Lobster Claw Nebula and Surrounding Region
A stunning wide-field view capturing the glowing emission of the Lobster Claw Nebula (Sh2-157), the delicate Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635), and the sparkling open star cluster M52.
Sh2-114: The Flying Dragon Nebula
A faint, intricate emission nebula in Cygnus showcasing delicate, wispy filaments of glowing hydrogen gas that give it the appearance of a mythical dragon in flight.
M5: Globular Cluster in Serpens
One of the oldest and largest globular clusters in the Milky Way, its blazing core surrounded by a vast swarm of red giants and blue stars.