Telescope - Meade 16" (0.4m) LX200R Advanced Coma-Free SCT Optical Tube, 4064mm FL (f/10)
Focusing Mechanism - Optec TCF-S (CCDSoft Interface)
Instrument - SBIG STL-1001E (1024x1024, 24 micron pixel) Class 1 CCD
Filters - Custom Scientific Johnson-Cousins B,V,R,I, and Clear
Mount - Software Bisque Paramount ME

Telescope - PlaneWave Instruments 20" (0.5m) CDK20 Modified Dall-Kirkham, 3454mm FL (f/6.8)
Focusing Mechanism - PlaneWave Instruments Hedrick Focuser, Custom Robofocus
Instruments - SBIG STL-11000M (4008x2672, 9 micron pixel) Class 1 CCD, SBIG AO-L Active Optics, SBIG FW8-STL Filter Wheel (Photo Coming Soon)
Filters - Astrodon Trubalance I-Series L,R,G,B ; Astrodon Narrowband 6nm FWHM H-alpha, 6nm FWHM SII, 6nm FWHM OIII; Custom Scientific Johnson-Cousins V
Mount - Software Bisque Paramount ME

The Miller Observatory is outfitted with a myriad of equipment well suited to taking beautiful astronomical images in full color. In addition to making observations for science research, we often take images and process them for aesthetic purposes. See below for a sample of images taken from the observatory. Please click on the thumbnails on the left to bring up a higher resolution image.

	VdB 152: A Cosmic Smoke Trail Date: July 16,17,18,28,30, August 1, 8, 10, 12, 21, 2009 Telescope: Pentax 125 SDP f/6.4 Mount: Software Bisque Paramount ME Camera: SBIG STL-11000M with Remote Guide Head Exposure: (HaL)RGB - Ha = 1020 min (30 min Subframes), LRGB = 610,100,100,100 min (10 min Subframes); Total=32.17 hours. Binned 1x1. Processing: Data reduction in CCDStack and Processing in Adobe PhotoShop CS3. This object is incredibly difficult to process as everything of interest in this field is extremely dim. Considerable time went into gradient removal due to light pollution. Still, the background is not as flat as we would like it. This object proves the difficulty of widefield broadband imaging from even a minor to moderately light polluted area. To date, this is the longest total exposure image that has ever taken from the Miller Observatory.
	NGC 6888: The Crescent Nebula Date: August 1, 10, 12, 13, 21, 2009 Telescope: PlaneWave Instrument CDK20 Mount: Software Bisque Paramount ME Camera: SBIG STL-11000M with SBIG STL-CFW8 & AO-L Exposure: Ha, OIII = 5 hrs (20 min subframes). R, G, B = 1.2 hrs (10 min subframes); Total=14 hours. Binned 1x1. Processing: Data reduction in CCDStack and Processing in Adobe PhotoShop CS3. Image construction is as follows: Luminosity = OIII+Ha, Red = Ha, Green = average(Ha, OIII), Blue = OIII. Broadband RGB data blended with narrowband images to yield natural colored stars. This is the first image taken after the upgrade to the 20" focuser to allow an unvignetted beam to reach the chip. CLICK HERE to view the H-alpha image and CLICK HERE to see the OIII image.
	M42: The Great Orion Nebula Date: December 12, 2008 Telescope: Takahashi FSQ106N Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-11000M Exposure: Ha = 10x20min, 12x2min, 10x30sec; Total=3.8 hours. Binned 1x1 Processing: Data reduction in CCDSoft and Processing in Adobe PhotoShop CS3. The three sets of stacked images at the three different exposure times were used to detect the full dynamic range of the nebula, and were blended accordingly in Photoshop.
	NGC1499: The Calirfornia Nebula Date: November 18,20, 2008 Telescope: Takahashi FSQ106N Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-11000M Exposure: Ha = 13x15min; R = 8x15min; G,B = 6x15min; Total = 8.25 hours. Binned 1x1 Processing: Data reduction in CCDSoft and Processing in Adobe PhotoShop CS3. (HaL)(HaR)GB construction, with L being an average of R, G, and B images. H-alpha image can be found by CLICKING HERE.
	NGC7023: Dusty Iris Date: October 28,29,31 2008 Telescope: Takahashi FSQ106N Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-11000M Exposure: LRGB=240:80:80:80 min. All subframes are 10 min. Total = 8 hrs. Binned 1x1. Processing: Data reduction in CCDStack and Processing in Adobe PhotoShop CS3.
	A Gaseous Grouping Around M52 Date: October 15,27,28, 2008 Telescope: Takahashi FSQ106N (Mobile Observatory) Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-11000M Exposure: Ha = 14x15min; R,G,B = 12x10min; Total = 9.5 hours. Binned 1x1 Processing: Data reduction in CCDSoft and Processing in Adobe PhotoShop CS3. (HaR)(HaR)GB construction.
	NGC281: The Pacman Nebula in Mapped Color Date: September 15,16, 2008 Telescope: PlaneWave Instruments CDK20 (East Dome) Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-11000M guided by SBIG Remote Guide Head on Astrodon MOAG, SBIG STLCFW-8,SBIG AO-L Exposure: SII,Ha,OIII= 4x30min; Total = 6 hours. Binned 1x1 Processing: Data reduction in CCDSoft and Processing in Adobe PhotoShop CS3. Modified Hubble Palette narrowband image construction. A combination of H-alpha and SII were used as the red channel (30% H-alpha), H-alpha was used as the green channel, OIII was used as the blue channel, and a mixture of OIII and H-alpha (15% OIII) was used as a luminance channel.
	IC63 & IC59: A Combination of Emission & Reflection Date: September 15,30 2008 Telescope: PlaneWave Instruments CDK20 (East Dome) Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-11000M guided by SBIG Remote Guide Head on Astrodon MOAG, SBIG STLCFW-8,SBIG AO-L Exposure: Ha = 8x30min; R,G,B = 12x5min; Total = 7 hours. Binned 1x1 Processing: Data reduction in CCDSoft and Processing in Adobe PhotoShop CS3. (HaR)(HaR)GB construction. This image is of IC59 & IC63, and exhibits an exquisite mix of H-alpha emission and reflection, both of which are induced upon the nebulae by the nearby star Gamma Cassiopeia, which is slightly variable and is around 2.5 mag. The streak seen in the lower left of this image is a diffraction spike from this star, which is off, but near the edge of the CCD chip.
	A Unique Look at M27: The Dumbbell Nebula Date: September 18,19,26, 2008 Telescope: PlaneWave Instruments CDK20 (East Dome) Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-11000M guided by SBIG Remote Guide Head on Astrodon MOAG, SBIG STLCFW-8,SBIG AO-L Exposure: Ha = 8x30min, OIII = 8x30min. Total = 8 hours. Binned 1x1 Processing: The LRGB construction was formed with the following: L = 25% OIII, 75% Ha; R = Ha; G = Avg(Ha,OIII), B = OIII. This is a variation of the "bicolor" narrowband technique. Data reduction in CCDSoft and Processing in Adobe PhotoShop CS.
	Markarian's Chain Date: March 11 - April 7, 2008 Telescope: Takahashi Epsilon 250 (East Dome) Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-11000M Exposure: LRGB. 9:3:2:3.8 hrs. All subframes 10 min. L binned 1x1; RGB binned 2x2. Total = 17.8 hrs. Processing: All reduction and combining performed with CCDSoft. Processing in Adobe Photoshop CS. Russ Croman's Gradient Xterminator was used.
	NGC2244, etc.: The Rose Date: February 15, 2008 Telescope: Takahashi Epsilon 250 (East Dome) Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-11000M Exposure: Ha. 180 min. All subframes 5 min binned 1x1. Total = 3 hrs. Processing: All reduction and combining performed with CCDSoft. Processing in Adobe Photoshop CS.
	NGC2264: The Christmas Tree Nebula Region Date: January 24, 2008 Telescope: Takahashi Epsilon 250 (East Dome) Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-11000M Exposure: Ha. 210 min. All subframes 5 min binned 1x1. Total = 3.5 hrs. Processing: All reduction and combining performed with CCDSoft. Processing in Adobe Photoshop CS.
	M31 & Friends Date: November 1, 2007 Telescope: Takahashi Epsilon 250 (East Dome) Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-11000M Exposure: LRGB. 60:40:15:40 min. All subframes 5 min. L binned 1x1; RGB binned 2x2. Total = 2.58 hrs. Processing: All reduction and combining performed with CCDSoft. Processing in Adobe Photoshop CS.
	Comet Holmes Date: November 1, 2007 Telescope: Meade 16" LX200R OTA (West Dome) Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-1001E Exposure: No Filter. 5 min. All subframes 10 s binned 1x1. Total = 5 min. Processing: All reduction and combining performed with AIP4Win. Processing in Adobe Photoshop CS.
	IC1805: The Heart Nebula Region Date: September 6 - October 4, 2007 Telescope: Takahashi Epsilon 250 (East Dome) Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-11000M Exposure: HaRGB. 420:150:90:120 min. All subframes 5 min and binned 2x2. Total = 13 hrs. Processing: All reduction and combining performed with CCDSoft. Note that Ha and R frames were combined as R channel as well as for the Luminance channel. Processing in Adobe Photoshop CS. Click Here to see the 7 hrs of H-alpha data.
	M51: The Whirlpool Galaxy Date: April 29, 2007 Telescope: Meade 16" SCT (West Dome) Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-1001E Exposure: LHaRGB. 50:45:25:25:25 min. All subframes 5 min binned 1x1. Total = 2.83 hrs. Processing: All reduction and combining performed with AIP4Win. Note: Ha and R images combined as R channel. Processing in Adobe Photoshop 7.0.
	M65, M66, NGC3628: The Leo Triplet Date: April 19, 2007Telescope: Takahashi Epsilon 250 (East Dome) Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-1001E Exposure: LRGB. 90:35:35:35 min. All subframes 5 min binned 1x1. Total = 3.25 hrs. Processing: All reduction and combining performed with AIP4Win. Processing in Adobe Photoshop 7.0. Russ Croman's Gradient Xterminator was used.
	M81 & M82 Date: February 19, 2007 Telescope: Takahashi Epsilon 250, Meade 16" SCT (East, West Domes) Mount: Software Bisque Paramount Camera: SBIG STL-1001E Exposure: LHaRGB. Field (Tak Epsilon 250)-60:60:45:45:45 min. Each Galaxy (Meade 16")- L=90 min. All subframes 1.5 min, except for 3 min Ha subframes binned 1x1. Total = 6.25 hrs. Processing: All reduction and combining performed with AIP4Win. Processing in Adobe Photoshop 7.0. Russ Croman's Gradient Xterminator was used. 16" data resampled down to combine with Epsilon 250 data to boost resolution due to poor image scale on Epsilon 250.

Unlike many small private facilities, the Miller Observatory has a track record of being a facility that can produce observations to further research in the science of astronomy. Our facility has the tools necessary to obtain accurate photometry (down to 0.002 mag. differential photometry) of objects down to ~16 mag. The telescopes here at the Miller Observatory have been used to produce science that has been published in refereed scientific journals (see the list of publications at the bottom of this page). We have worked to obtain observations for several institutions, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Texas at Austin.

The response curve of one of our SBIG STL-1001E CCDs, showing an extremely linear response which is ideal for photometry.

Since our observatory contains a myriad of different optical systems which can be coupled to one of our two, very sensitive and linear SBIG STL-1001E CCD detectors, we can accommodate for many different types of photometric observing programs. These programs can also be semi-automated on a night to night basis using our scripting software. While we typically have a full observing schedule, we are open to suggestions and are willing to obtain photometry for your research program given that there is enough time in our current observing schedule. Please contact us for more information and questions.