ONU Astronomy Image Gallery

This page features images taken by ONU faculty and students.  The equipment used is mentioned in the captions.


We also have a new gallery of galaxy CCD images taken with a professional, ground-based 1.3-m telescope.      

SOLAR SYSTEM          (Click on the images for larger versions.)

	The June 2004 transit of Venus across the Sun was the first such transit since 1882.  Venus is the black dot near the edge of the Sun.  The orangish color is caused by the solar filter. Taken by Dr. Pinkney with an Olympus digital camera held at the eyepiece of a Questar 3.5".
	The gibbous Moon during the June, 2004 transit of Venus. Taken with the  same digital camera through the Questar 3.5".
	Compare the last Moon picture with this one taken by the 12" Meade and the new Canon Digital Rebel XT, an 8 M pixel SLR camera.   Taken April 2005.
	Saturn - on Jan 21, 2006.  The resolution is just high enough to see Cassini's Division in the rings and a dark belt on the planet.  Colors are fairly accurate. Canon Digital Rebel XT + Meade 12" with eyepiece projection. 2 sec, 400 ASA.
	Saturn - on April 26, 2006.  The Earth's perspective has clearly changed since the last image: the shadow cast by the planet on its rings is visible. Canon Digital Rebel XT + Meade 12" with eyepiece project.  2 sec, 400 ASA.
	Comet C/2001 Q4 NEAT - as it appeared from Ada, OH.  The comet was just visible to the naked eye.  It is the fuzzy blob (left of the label).  May 10 or 11, 2004. Canon Digital Rebel XT
	Saturn - Taken by physics graduate  Phil Brewer, 2002.  12" Meade with Pictor CCD
	Venus - only 1 degree from the Moon. May 19, 2007, early evening.  The right- hand exposure brings out the "Earthshine" on the Moon and the passing clouds. Canon Dig Rebel XT, 85-55 mm zoom lens.
	Jupiter - on April 18, 2006.  Its belts are easily seen in this picture. Canon Dig Rebel XT with the Meade 12" using eyepiece projection.  1/3 sec, ISO 400.
	Jupiter - on April 18, 2006.  Planet is over- exposed to make the 4 Galilean Moons visible. Canon Dig Rebel XT + Meade 12" using eyepiece projection.  2 sec, ISO 1600.

GALACTIC and EXTRAGALACTIC                            

	The "Ring Nebula", M57.  A planetary nebula in the constellation Lyra.  The result of an old, pulsating star throwing off its outer shell of atmosphere and leaving behind a hot, white dwarf.  The w.d. is the source of radiation which ionizes the gas.  Oxygen emission lines dominate, making these objects greenish. Canon Dig Reb + 12" + focal reducer.  30 sec, ISO 800.
	Open cluster - a small cluster of stars in the Constellation Cygnus.  The focal reducer creates elliptical halos around stars which make it easier to discern their colors. Canon Dig Reb + 12" + foc reducer, 30 sec, ISO 800
	M13 - a globular cluster in the constellation Hercules.  These clusters contain over 100,000 stars which are older and lower in metals than our Sun.  They orbit in the halo of our Galaxy. Canon Dig Reb + 12", 30 sec, ISO 800
	M3 - a globular cluster in the constellation Canes Venatici.  Canon Dig Reb + 12", 30 sec, ISO 800
	The Orion Nebula, M42.  A region of ongoing star formation including bright, hot stars near the center which produce UV radiation that causes the surrounding gas to glow.  Also called an emission nebula, or HII region. Canon Dig Reb + 12" + foc reducer, 30 sec, ISO 800
	CCD Image of M13, globular cluster in  Hercules.  Taken by physics major Robbie Merrill using our 12 inch Meade Telescope and Pictor 1616XT CCD.