WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 55that records luminance data. The second
is a wide FOV, low-resolution telescope
that takes the color data. By combin-
ing these two data sets, I can create
hybrid-composite images. This technique
has allowed me to greatly increase my
image production despite the fickle Idaho
weather, as I can gather both types of data
on a single night instead of needing to
have two clear evenings. The two different
FOVs have the added bonus of providing
more perspective on the targeted object.
This type of double-setup facilitates my
current project of imaging the 159-object
van den Bergh catalog of ref lection
nebulae in its entirety. I currently use
a 12-inch Astro-Physics 305mm f/3.8
Riccardi-Honders astrograph/FLI ProLine
16803 CCD camera combination for the
luminance data and a 4.2-inch Takahashi
FSQ-106 astrograph/SBIG STL-11000M
CCD camera combination for the color
data. As you can see, my commitment to
the dust continues!My telescopes, cameras, and I have
come a long way from my first astroim-
aging days. Since I published those early
nebula images, many other astrophotog-
raphers have begun to shoot this type
of hidden night-sky object. I feel proud
to have helped bring dusty nebulae into
the forefront of astroimaging, and I look
forward to many years of capturing these
most elusive and previously overlooked
deep-sky gems. You may see my collection
at http://www.tvdavisastropics.com.Te van den Bergh catalog
vdB 130
Magnitude: 9.5
Surface brightness: bright
(12-inch Astro-Physics
Riccardi-Honders astrograph
at f/3.8 and an FLI ProLine
16803 CCD camera, 4.2-inch
Takahashi FSQ-106 refractor
at f/5 and an SBIG STL-11000M
CCD camera, 12.6 hours of Hα/
OIII/LRGB exposure)vdB 27
Magnitude: 9.1
Surface brightness: faint
(12-inch Astro Systeme
Austria N12 astrograph
at f/3.5, 10.6 hours of
exposure through an SBIG
STL-11000M CCD camera)vdB 24
Magnitude: 8.8
Surface brightness: moderate
(4.2-inch Takahashi FSQ-106
refractor at f/5, 2.5 hours of
exposure through an SBIG
STL-11000M CCD camera)vdB 20–23
Magnitudes: 2.9–4.2
Surface brightnesses:
moderate to very bright
(12-inch Astro Systeme Aus-
tria N12 astrograph at f/3.5
and 4.2-inch Takahashi FSQ-
106 refractor at f/5, 10 hours
of exposure through an SBIG
STL-11000M CCD camera)VIEW MORE VAN DEN BERGH OBJECTS FROM THOMAS V. DAVIS AT http://www.Astronomy.com/toc.