NG's amateur astronomy and astrophotography

NG's amateur astronomy and astrophotography Images and videos of my attempts to image the skies with my gear. I am Dr. Natarajan Ganesan. I have been interested in Skywatching since I was young.

This page is also to share some useful information in regards to amateur astronomy and astrophotography, in general. A Biomedical Researcher by training and an amateur astronomer and astrophotographer by passion (among others). This page is my journey into the world of Amateur Astronomy and Astrophotography. My Dad introduced me to the wonders of the sky. Eclipses, identifying stars and constellat

ions, and much more. Even today when I look to the skies, I think of him being out there somewhere. My progress, from then on, has been in streaks and spurts over the decades. Initially, it was getting the monthly sky chart in the local newspaper and using a handheld torch under the skies. My interest in Optics pulled me further into the field. My research background helped a bit. My real interest started in the last few years when I started out with my DSLR and a tripod. Gradually moved on to an EQ-1 motorized mount. Recently I got a good tracker with Polar alignment ability. My latest addition is a 4-inch Maksutov with GoTo capabilities. I also have a dedicated 2MP Astro camera. The software that I use is all free and open source. https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajanganesan/

Bit of math here but worth a watch. How much of a sub length is ideal? There is this calculator that helps decide the op...
06/25/2026

Bit of math here but worth a watch. How much of a sub length is ideal? There is this calculator that helps decide the optimal sub exposure length and calculations underlying it

I made a sub-frame calculator for . It's available...

A must share and must watch for any astrophotographer.
06/20/2026

A must share and must watch for any astrophotographer.

Have you ever wondered why your astrophotography images don’t look ...

I wanted to share my image of the Eagle Nebula with the Pillars of Creation that I captured using the DWARF LAB Mini. Th...
06/17/2026

I wanted to share my image of the Eagle Nebula with the Pillars of Creation that I captured using the DWARF LAB Mini.

This is a starless version of the M16 Eagle Nebula. The overall look gave a feel of a serene smiling face. Science meets art 🙂.

This target was on my list for a long time. 'Pillars of Creation' always sounded cool🙂. I wanted to see how many details I could get in this super mini rig.

I heard about Starless processing but never tried it, so I decided to give it a try in SIRIL. I also planned for two sessions to get some good data. I decided to experiment a bit with both my acquisition and processing.

Acquisition Details:

Total Integration: 3 hours over a couple of nights
Date: June 11th and June 15th, 2026
Subframes: 30s subs in EQ mode
Sessions: Session 1 (1 hr) was at Gain 90, while Session 2 (2 hrs) was at Gain 50.
Stacking: Combined into a "Megastack" using Stellar Studio.
Processing Workflow: Took the stacked data into Siril and went starless to perform the initial data stretching. Later as I was bringing them together in GIMP to recompose, the starless version alone looked unique and pleasing.

M16 - Eagle Nebula from my DWARF LAB Mini1h Integration30s|90|Duo-BandUsed SIRIL again after downloading the FITS file. ...
06/11/2026

M16 - Eagle Nebula from my DWARF LAB Mini

1h Integration
30s|90|Duo-Band

Used SIRIL again after downloading the FITS file. Used a similar workflow as earlier—Asinh transformation at 7 stretch. Have to remind myself to do this after Background extraction, Photometric color calibration and removal of green noise; all while being in linear mode. Later adjusted levels and curves in GIMP

C20 - The North America Nebula from my DWARF LAB Mini1h Integration30s|100|Duo-BandTried out SIRIL after downloading the...
06/11/2026

C20 - The North America Nebula from my DWARF LAB Mini

1h Integration
30s|100|Duo-Band

Tried out SIRIL after downloading the FITS file. Used Asinh transformation at 7 stretch. Later adjusted levels and curves in GIMP

What shapes hide within the glow of a star-forming nebula? In this wide-field view of IC 1396 in Cepheus, glowing hydrog...
05/14/2026

What shapes hide within the glow of a star-forming nebula? In this wide-field view of IC 1396 in Cepheus, glowing hydrogen gas forms a diffuse red backdrop for a network of dark, intricate structures. These opaque silhouettes—dense clouds of dust and gas—trace regions where stars are forming or yet to ignite.


Though IC 1396 is often recognized for its brighter features such as the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula, this view focuses on the quieter interplay between emission and obscuration: faint filaments, compact globules, and branching dark lanes emerging from the background glow. The contrast between light and shadow reveals the sculpting influence of stellar radiation on the surrounding interstellar medium.


Captured with a 30 mm smart telescope and minimal processing, the image demonstrates how modest equipment can still record astrophysical structure across wide fields. Even with short individual exposures, the accumulation of nearly two hours of integration brings out both the diffuse emission and the subtle textures of embedded dust.


Acquisition Details:


Scope: DWARF LAB Mini (30 mm smart telescope)
Mode: EQ mode, mosaic
Exposure: 80 Ă— 30 seconds (gain applied)
Total Integration: 1 hour 55 minutes
Filter: Dual-band (H-alpha / OIII)
Processing: Basic stretching in GIMP

Sombrero Galaxy in Dwarflab Mini is tiny in the frame. Yet the shape is distinct if you zoom in.This is a 70min data at ...
05/10/2026

Sombrero Galaxy in Dwarflab Mini is tiny in the frame. Yet the shape is distinct if you zoom in.

This is a 70min data at 30s subs, 80 gain on EQ mode.

05/09/2026

Join us for an exclusive tour of the Kitt Peak National Observatory! In this video, we go behind the scenes at one of the world's premier astronomical sites....

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