Hahndorf Astro

22/07/2026

There be Dragons (again!)
It's that time of year when the 'The Fighting Dragons of Ara' battle within the fizz of stars in the Milky Way.

Also known as the Rim Nebula, Firebird Nebula and more formally NGC 6188, this emission nebula (def'n: clouds of ionised gas that emit their own light at optical wavelengths) is located 4000 light years from Hahndorf Main St.

Approx 10hrs of data collected over a few nights in June (the clear ones!) with my 6" refractor telescope.

I've also uploaded a wee AI enhanced video using my current image and past attempts as a bit of fun.
Music credits: Pink Floyd - Us & Them.

Thanks for having a wee peep!

20/06/2026

Happy Winter Solstice...Brrrrr!!!🥶

07/04/2026

Thor's Helmet Nebula (NGC 2359)
A distinctively shaped emission nebula in the constellation Canis Major (The Big Dawg!), located approx 12000 light years from Hahndorf.

Scope: Askar 151PHQ Refractor
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM-Pro
Filters: Chroma RGB & 3nm Ha/Oiii
Mount: ZWO AM5n

Nearly 10hrs data acquisition on this one, probably needs a bit more Ha data to bring out all the lovely red filaments festooned around the nebula...next time!

Astrobin (High Res link)
https://app.astrobin.com/i/qmu2p7

30/03/2026

Hahndorf Astro now on Instagram...

0 Followers, 11 Following, 14 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Doug Robertson (.astro)

14/03/2026

NGC 1788, a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion - the blue/white core surrounded by a glowing red ring of hydrogen gas contains relatively young (1 million yrs!!) stars.

HaRGB image taken with an Askar 151PHQ refractor, Hahndorf, Feb 2026.

High Res Version (Astrobin):
https://app.astrobin.com/i/gq0kfk

13/03/2026

The Seagull Nebula (IC2177) - just over 7hrs of data acquisition in this image.

IC 2177, also known as the Seagull Nebula, is located approximately 3600 - 3800 light years away from Hahndorf. The nebula spans about 100 - 240 light-years in diameter.

The Seagull Nebula is a huge cloud primarily made of hydrogen gas located along the border between the constellations of Canis Major and Monoceros.

Referred to as an HII region, this is an area where hot new stars form within these clouds and their intense radiation causes the surrounding ionized hydrogen gas to glow brightly (red in the image).

Askar SQA106
ZWO 2600MM Pro Camera
Chroma RGB ans 3nm Ha filters
ZWO AM5n Mount

Red: 20x180sec
Green: 20x180 sec
Blue: 17x180 sec
Ha: 15x1000sec

Link to high res (Astrobin) version:
https://app.astrobin.com/i/mbfdqk

27/02/2026

"The Flipper Nebula 🐬"
..aka The Dolphin Head Nebula, Sh2-308 is a region located near the center of the constellation Canis Major, composed of ionised hydrogen. It is about 8 degrees south of Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. The nebula is bubble-like and surrounds a Wolf–Rayet star named EZ Canis Majoris.
The nebula was formed about 70,000 years ago by the star EZ Canis Majoris throwing off its outer hydrogen layers, and is approximately 60 light-years across at its widest point.
(from Wiki - ta Wiki!)

Approx 11hrs worth of data acquired in Hahndorf, February 2026.

Telescope: Askar 151PHQ refractor
Camera: ZWO Asi2600MM Pro
Filters: Chroma RGB and 3nm Ha/Oiii
Mount: ZWO AM5n

RGB: 20x60sec each
Ha: 24x1000sec
Oiii: 21x600sec

High Res (Astrobin Link)
https://app.astrobin.com/i/c0y6el

24/01/2026

Added a little more RGB data to my new scope’s Propeller Galaxy pic, a total of 5hr 18 mins data acquisition - seems to have added a little more detail too.

Astrobin High Res Image…
https://app.astrobin.com/i/4ldgzq

10/01/2026

Happy New Year tout le monde!

This is NGC1365 aka the Fornax Propeller Galaxy - a beautiful double-barred spiral galaxy located 56 million light years from Hahndorf in the constellation Fornax.
'Double-Barred' in that within the central bar that connects the main spiral arms, there is another smaller bar within the galactic core.

This is the first image from my newly acquired Askar 151PHQ - a BIG telescope.

I was nervous mounting this big scope (approx 16kg: scope + camera etc) on my AM5n mount - theoretically within its load capacity but things can get a bit hairy close to the sharp end so to speak!

Happy to say that the AM5n performed very well in Heavy Duty mode - no scary noises from the mount and guiding was within acceptable limits given the windier than normal night.

Askar 151PHQ (FL=1057mm / f7)
ZWO 2600MM Camera
Chroma RGB Filters
ZWO AM5n Mount

Red 29x180s
Green 29x180s
Blue 27x180s

This new scope will hopefully allow me to capture more of these 'tiny' cosmic jewels in the future.
Happy camper so far🤩
Doug

28/12/2025

Vela Supernova Remnant - the colourful, wispy leftovers from the explosion of a massive star in the constellation Vela estimated to have 'popped' 11000 to 12300 years ago.

Askar SQA55
ZWO ASI2600MM-Pro Camera
Chroma RGB & 3nm Ha / Oiii Filters
ZWO AM5n Mount

RGB: all 20x60sec exposures
Ha / Oiii: all 24x600sec exposures
Total: 9hrs acquisition time

Processed in Pixinsight using the new Veralux script

Hi Res Version @ Astrobin:
https://app.astrobin.com/i/e485h2