Simon Downing

Astrophotographs displayed in this section are taken and composed by members of the Gibraltar Astronomical Society and are displayed with the consent of the artists concerned. 

Simon Downing uses Skywatcher Explorer 300PDS 12" f/5 and Skywatcher Quattro 8" f/4 Newtonian Reflectors on a Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro mount. His autoguiding system is the Orion Mini 50mm Guidescope with the Orion StarShoot AutoGuider. For imaging, Simon uses a modified Canon EOS 650D DSLR (to remove the IR filters) with a Hutech IDAS LPS filter to strongly reduce light pollution. 

Horsehead Nebulaby Simon Downing

This image is comprised of 38 frames at 5 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 800. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was used for these exposures. Post-processing was done in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. 

Dumbbell Nebulaby Simon Downing

This image consists of 20 frames at 4.5 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 800. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was not used for these exposures. Post-processing was done in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. 

M31 Andromeda Galaxyby Simon Downing

This image was made from 22 frames at 5 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 800. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was used for these exposures. Post-processing was done in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. 

The Moon

by Simon Downing

This image was captured in Prime Focus (no Eyepiece Projection) and consists of a single frame of exposure time 1/160 s at ISO 400. The telescope used was Simon's Skywatcher Explorer 300PDS 12" f/5 Newtonian Reflector instead. Post-processing was done in Adobe Photoshop and DeepSkyStacker. 

Rosette Nebulaby Simon Downing

This image consists of 25 frames at 4.5 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 800. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was used for these exposures. Post-processing for the left image was done in Adobe Photoshop and DeepSkyStacker. The right image was using the same data but post-processed in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. 

M13 Great Globular Cluster in Herculesby Simon DowningThis image consists of 20 frames at 2.5 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 800. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was used for these exposures. Post-processing was done in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. 

M16 Eagle Nebula by Simon DowningThis image consists of 14 frames at 3 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 800. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was used for these exposures. Post-processing was done in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. 

M17 Omega Nebulaby Simon DowningThis image consists of 14 frames at 3.5 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 800. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was used for these exposures. Post-processing was done in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. 

C33 Eastern Veil Nebula

by Simon DowningThis image consists of 23 frames at 5 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 800. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was used for these exposures. Post-processing was done in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. 

M45 Pleiades Clusterby Simon DowningThis image consists of 17 frames at 5 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 800. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was used for these exposures. Post-processing was done in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. 

IC443 Jellyfish Nebulaby Simon DowningThis image consists of 30 frames at 5 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 800. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was used for these exposures. Post-processing was done in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. 

IC405 Flaming Star Nebulaby Simon DowningThis image consists of 24 frames at 5 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 800. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was used for these exposures. Post-processing was done in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. 

IC5146 Cocoon Nebulaby Simon DowningThis image consists of 13 frames at 5 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 800. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was used for these exposures. Post-processing was done in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. 

M42 Orion Nebulaby Simon DowningThis image consists of 42 frames at 5 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 400. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was used for these exposures. Post-processing was done in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker. 

NGC6960 Western Veil Nebulaby Simon DowningThis image consists of 20 frames at 5 minutes exposure time per frame, using ISO 800. The Hutech IDAS LPS filter was used for these exposures. Post-processing was done in PixInsight and DeepSkyStacker.