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Unless otherwise stated all images were taken in a Bortle 8-9 white-zone with a ZWO ASI-178mm mono camera, no filters.

Messier 1, or M1, taken with an amateur telescope from a city balcony.

Messier 1.  20cm SCT, F10, exp 5 sec x 150 frames = 12.5 mins.

M27 taken with an amateur telescope from a city balcony.

Messier 27.  20cm SCT, F10, exp 2 sec x 180 frames = 6 min.

M42 taken with an amateur telescope from a city balcony.

Messier 42.  8cm refractor, F5, exp 5 sec x 95 frames = 8 min.

M57 taken with an amateur telescope from a city balcony.

Messier 57.  2 sec x 100 frames = 3.3 min, limiting magnitude=17.2.

NGC 6543 taken with an amateur telescope from a city balcony.

NGC 6543.  20cm SCT, F10, 3 sec x 145 frames = 7 min.

NGC 7008 taken with an amateur telescope from a city balcony.

NGC 7008.  20cm SCT, F10, 5 sec x 60 frames = 5 min.

M42 taken with an amateur telescope from a city balcony.

M42.  Two-minute exposure taken with a Canon 80D using a 400mm lens, F8, ISO 16,000 and a 1,000 Oaks LP-1 light-pollution filter.

M97 (E=13m M=9.9 LM=18.2 F5 Moon=96%).j

Messier 97.  20cm SCT, F5, exp 3 sec x 260 frames = 13 min, 1,000 Oaks LP-1 filter.

Limiting magnitude is 18.3 with full Moon out (96%).

IC 3568 (E=10m M=10.6 F5 Moon=96%) b.jpg

IC3568 (Lemon Slice Nebula).  Magnitude 10.6, exp 3 secs x 200 frames = 10 min, 1000 Oaks LP-1 filter

Taken under a full moon (96%).

M20 (E=7.2m M=6.3) c.jpg

M20 nebula.  1000 Oaks LP-1 light pollution filter, colored.  Exp 2 secs x 220 frames = 7.2 minutes.

This photo surprised me being done in mag 3.5 skies and through an open window.

The White Zone

An Urban Astronomer's Light Pollution Guide to Balcony Imaging

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