Another project to capture as many Caldwell objects as possible. Many of the later ones (60+) are southern hemisphere objects so it is unlikely I will get them here – at least not without some travel.
“The Caldwell Catalogue is an astronomical catalog of 109 bright star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies for observation by amateur astronomers. The list was compiled by Sir Patrick Caldwell-Moore, better known as Patrick Moore, as a complement to the Messier Catalogue.”
| C# | NGC/IC | Con. | Type | Mag. | Size () | Description |
| 1 | 188 | Cep | OC | 8.1 | 14 | |
| 2 | 40 | Cep | PN | 11.6 | 0.6 | |
| 3 | 4236 | Dra | SbG | 9.7 | 21 x 7 | |
| 4 | 7023 | Cep | BN | 6.8 | 18 x 18 | Reflection Nebula |
| 5 | IC 342 | Cam | SBcG | 9.2 | 18 x 17 | |
| 6 | 6543 | Dra | PN | 8.8 | 0.3/5.8 | Cat’s Eye Nebula |
| 7 | 2403 | Cam | ScG | 8.9 | 18 x 10 | |
| 8 | 559 | Cas | OC | 9.5 | 4 | |
| 9 | Sh2-155 | Cep | BN | 7.7 | 50 x 10 | Cave Nebula |
| 10 | 663 | Cas | OC | 7.1 | 16 | |
| 11 | 7635 | Cas | BN | 7.0 | 15 x 8 | Bubble Nebula |
| 12 | 6946 | Cep | ScG | 9.7 | 11 x 9 | |
| 13 | 457 | Cas | OC | 6.4 | 13 | Phi Cas Cluster |
| 14 | 869/ 884 |
Per | OC double | 4.3 | 30 and 30 | Sword Handle |
| 15 | 6826 | Cyg | PN | 9.8 | 0.5/2.3 | Blinking Nebula |
| 16 | 7243 | Lac | OC | 6.4 | 21 | |
| 17 | 147 | Cas | dE4G | 9.3 | 13 x 8 | |
| 18 | 185 | Cas | dE0G | 9.2 | 12 x 9 | |
| 19 | IC 5146 | Cyg | BN | 10.0 | 12 x 12 | Cocoon Neb |
| 20 | 7000 | Cyg | BN | 6.0 | 120 x 100 | Nort American Nebula |
| 21 | 4449 | CVn | IG | 9.4 | 5 x 3 | |
| 22 | 7662 | And | PN | 9.2 | 0.3/2.2 | |
| 23 | 891 | And | SbG | 9.9 | 14 x 2 | |
| 24 | 1275 | Per | Seyfert G | 11.6 | 2.6 x 1 | Per A radio source |
| 25 | 2419 | Lyn | GC | 10.4 | 4.1 | |
| 26 | 4244 | CVn | SG | 10.6 | 16 x 2.5 | |
| 27 | 6888 | Cyg | BN | 7.5 | 20 x 10 | Crescent Nebula |
| 28 | 752 | And | OC | 5.7 | 50 | |
| 29 | 5005 | CVn | SbG | 9.8 | 5.4 x 2 | |
| 30 | 7331 | Peg | SbG | 9.5 | 11 x 4 | |
| 31 | IC 405 | Aur | BN | 6.0 | 30 x 19 | Flaming Star Nebula |
| 32 | 4631 | CVn | ScG | 9.3 | 15 x 3 | |
| 33 | 6992/5 | Cyg | SN | — | 60 x 8 | East Veil Nebula |
| 34 | 6960 | Cyg | SN | — | 70 x 6 | West Veil Nebula |
| 35 | 4889 | Com | E4G | 11.4 | 3 x 2 | Brightest in cluster |
| 36 | 4559 | Com | ScG | 9.8 | 10 x 4 | |
| 37 | 6885 | Vul | OC | 5.7 | 7 | |
| 38 | 4565 | Com | SbG | 9.6 | 16 x 3 | |
| 39 | 2392 | Gem | PN | 9.9 | 0.2/0.7 | Eskimo Nebula |
| 40 | 3626 | Leo | SbG | 10.9 | 3 x 2 | |
| 41 | — | Tau | OC | 1.0 | 330 | Hyades |
| 42 | 7006 | Del | GC | 10.6 | 2.8 | Very distant globular |
| 43 | 7814 | Peg | SbG | 10.5 | 6 x 2 | |
| 44 | 7479 | Peg | SBbG | 11.0 | 4 x 3 | |
| 45 | 5248 | Boo | ScG | 10.2 | 6 x 4 | |
| 46 | 2261 | Mon | BN | 10.0 | 2 x 1 | Hubble’s Variable Neb. |
| 47 | 6934 | Del | GC | 8.9 | 5.9 | |
| 48 | 2775 | Can | SaG | 10.3 | 4.5 x 3 | |
| 49 | 2237-9 | Mon | BN | — | 80 x 60 | Rosette Nebula |
| 50 | 2244 | Mon | OC | 4.8 | 24 | |
| 51 | IC 1613 | Cet | IG | 9.0 | 12 x 11 | |
| 52 | 4697 | Vir | E4G | 9.3 | 6 x 3 | |
| 53 | 3115 | Sex | E6G | 9.1 | 8 x 3 | Spindle Galaxy |
| 54 | 2506 | Mon | OC | 7.6 | 7 | |
| 55 | 7009 | Aqr | PN | 8.3 | 2.5/1 | Saturn Nebula |
| 56 | 246 | Cet | PN | 8.0 | 3.8 | |
| 57 | 6822 | Sgr | IG | 9.3 | 10 x 9 | Barnard’s Galaxy |
| 58 | 2360 | CMa | OC | 7.2 | 13 | |
| 59 | 3242 | Hya | PN | 8.6 | 0.3/21 | Ghost of Jupiter |
| 60 | 4038 | Crv | ScG | 11.3 | 2.6 x 1.8 | The Antennae |
| 61 | 4039 | Crv | ScG | 13.0 | 3.2 x 2.2 | The Antennae |
| 62 | 247 | Cet | SG | 8.9 | 20 x 7 | |
| 63 | 7293 | Aqr | PN | 6.5 | 13 | Helix Nebula |
| 64 | 2362 | CMa | OC | 4.1 | 8 | Tau CMa Cluster |
| 65 | 253 | Scl | SG | 7.1 | 25 x 7 | Sculptor Galaxy |
| 66 | 5694 | Hya | GC | 10.2 | 3.6 | |
| 67 | 1097 | For | SBbG | 9.2 | 9 x 6 | |
| 68 | 6729 | CrA | BN | 9.7 | 1.0 | R CrA Nebula |
| 69 | 6302 | Sco | PN | 12.8 | 0.8 | Bug Nebula |
| 70 | 300 | Scl | SdG | 8.1 | 20 x 13 | |
| 71 | 2477 | Pup | OC | 5.8 | 27 | |
| 72 | 55 | Scl | SBG | 8.2 | 32 x 6 | Brightest in Scl Cluster |
| 73 | 1851 | Col | GC | 7.3 | 11 | |
| 74 | 3132 | Vel | PN | 8.2 | 0.8 | |
| 75 | 6124 | Sco | OC | 5.8 | 29 | |
| 76 | 6231 | Sco | OC | 2.6 | 15 | |
| 77 | 5128 | Cen | Peculiar Galaxy | 7.0 | 18 x 14 | Cen A radio source |
| 78 | 6541 | CrA | GC | 6.6 | 13 | |
| 79 | 3201 | Vel | GC | 6.7 | 18 | |
| 80 | 5139 | Cen | GC | 3.6 | 36 | Omega Centauri |
| 81 | 6352 | Ara | GC | 8.1 | 7 | |
| 82 | 6193 | Ara | OC | 5.2 | 15 | |
| 83 | 4945 | Cen | SBcG | 9.5 | 20 x 4 | |
| 84 | 5286 | Cen | GC | 7.6 | 9 | |
| 85 | IC 2391 | Vel | OC | 2.5 | 50 | o (Omicron) Vel Cluster |
| 86 | 6397 | Ara | GC | 5.6 | 26 | |
| 87 | 1261 | Hor | GC | 8.4 | 7 | |
| 88 | 5823 | Cir | OC | 7.9 | 10 | |
| 89 | 6087 | Nor | OC | 5.4 | 12 | S Nor Cluster |
| 90 | 2867 | Car | PN | 9.7 | 0.2 | |
| 91 | 3532 | Car | OC | 3.0 | 55 | |
| 92 | 3372 | Car | BN | 6.2 | 120 x 120 | Eta Carinae Nebula |
| 93 | 6752 | Pav | GC | 5.4 | 20 | |
| 94 | 4755 | Cru | OC | 4.2 | 10 | Jewel Box Cluster |
| 95 | 6025 | TrA | OC | 5.1 | 12 | |
| 96 | 2516 | Car | OC | 3.8 | 30 | |
| 97 | 3766 | Cen | OC | 5.3 | 12 | |
| 98 | 4609 | Cru | OC | 6.9 | 5 | |
| 99 | — | Cru | DN | — | 400 x 300 | Coal Sack |
| 100 | IC 2944 | Cen | OC | 4.5 | 15 | – (Lambda) Cen Cluster |
| 101 | 6744 | Pav | SBbG | 9.0 | 16 x 10 | |
| 102 | IC 2602 | Car | OC | 1.9 | 50 | ÷ (Theta) Car Cluster |
| 103 | 2070 | Dor | BN | 1.0 | 40 x 25 | Tarantula Neb. in LMC |
| 104 | 362 | Tuc | GC | 6.6 | 13 | |
| 105 | 4833 | Mus | GC | 7.3 | 14 | |
| 106 | 104 | Tuc | GC | 4.0 | 31 | 47 Tucanae |
| 107 | 6101 | Aps | GC | 9.3 | 11 | |
| 108 | 4372 | Mus | GC | 7.8 | 19 | |
| 109 | 3195 | Cha | PN | — | 0.6 |
BN = Bright nebula
GC = Globular cluster
OC = Open cluster
EG = Elliptical (type) galaxy
DN = Dark nebula
IG = Irregular galaxy
PN = Planetary nebula
SN = Supernova remnant
SG = Spiral (type) galaxy
NGC4565 / Caldwell 38 Spindle Galaxy
Processed 3 different ways – give different results, not sure which I like best. Still too noisy – need many more exposures.
Interesting edge-on spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices, surprisingly large (14.9′ x 2′) but faint (9.60 but surface brightness 13.3). It is actually intrinsically more luminous than the Andromeda Galaxy. First seen by William Herschel in 1785. Also visible lower right is NGC 4562.
| Object ID | NGC 4565, Caldwell 38 Spindle Galaxy |
| Details | 2019-03-31 |
| Telescope | 203mm RC8 f8 |
| Camera | Atik 460Ex @-20C Badder RGB filters IDAS P1 LP filter |
| Exposure(s) | 10x240s 2×2 RGB Darks |
| Capture | APT |
| Processing | Nebulosity, Photoshop |
Bubble nebula project 2 (NGC 7635)
Added 18 frames of Ha. Much more detail and less noise.
| Object ID | NGC 7635 Bubble nebula (C11) Mag. 10, Size 15’x8′ H II region emission nebula Cassiopeia |
| Details | 2018-09-23 21:15-23:07 UT Bright moonlight |
| Telescope | 200mm f5 Newtonian, MPCC IDAS P2 LPR filter Guided |
| Camera | Atik 460EX, Baader 7nm Ha filter |
| Exposure(s) | 18 x 300s darks, flats |
| Capture | APT |
| Processing | Nebulosity 4, Photoshop |
I did take some RGB colour but as you can see below there is a huge dust mark in it. Normally not a problem as flats will remove it. But when I went to create flats, the dust had disappeared so very difficult to remove. Unless it’s not dust but an out of focus reflection of the bright star? If it is I’ve never seen anything like it in my images before.
Bubble nebula project (NGC 7635)
One of my favourite objects. Trying to do this over a series of nights. Ha first of all then add colour channels. Only 2x300s exposures in Ha so far.
| Object ID | NGC 7635 Bubble nebula (C11) Mag. 10, Size 15’x8′ H II region emission nebula Cassiopeia |
| Details | 2018-09-22 21:40-21:45 UT Bright moonlight |
| Telescope | 200mm f5 Newtonian, MPCC IDAS P2 LPR filter Guided |
| Camera | Atik 460EX, Baader 7nm Ha filter |
| Exposure(s) | 2 x 300s darks, flats |
| Capture | APT |
| Processing | Nebulosity 4, Photoshop |
Rosette Nebula C49 and NGC 2244
Had to discard the L channel as underexposed.
| Object ID | C49 Rosette Nebula and NGC 2244 |
| Details | Nebula and Open Cluster, Monoceros Mag. 9 Size 1.3 degrees |
| Telescope | C80ED @ f5.6 (x0.75 reducer) |
| Camera | Atik 460EX (-15C) and SX filter wheel IDAS P2 LPR filter |
| Exposure(s) | RGB 10x60s each 2×2 darks, no flats or bias |
| Capture | APT, finder guiding with PHD2 |
| Processing | Stacked in Nebulosity, processed in Photoshop and Lightroom |
Double Cluster in Perseus NGC 869 and 884
First image using the C80ED for a long time.
| Object ID | Caldwell 14, NGC 869 and 884 |
| Details | Open Clusters, Perseus |
| Date/Time | 2017-12-10 19:41 – 20:01 UT |
| Telescope | C80ED @ f7.5 IDAS P2 LPR filter |
| Camera | Canon 600D |
| Exposure(s) | 30x30s lights, 10x30s darks ISO 1600 |
| Capture | APT, unguided |
| Processing | Stacked in Nebulosity, processed in Photoshop and Lightroom |
NGC 6960 Western Veil (C34) Reprocessed 2017-03-28
Supernova remnant, Cygnus (“Witch’s Broom”)
Caldwell 34, Finest NGC 99a, SAC110 44
Size 70’x6′
2011-09-20
200mm f5 Newtonian MPCC Guided
Canon EOS 350D MODDED, Astronomik CLS
5x240s 15x180s, darks, flats, ISO 800
Captured in APT
Processed in Nebulosity and PS CS5
First light with the modded 350D. So much easier to capture and process the nebulosity.
Reprocessed in 2017-03-28 with Adobe Lightroom.
Original image:
