Fountainwood Observatory Images 

Most of the images in this picture gallery are obtained using the DFM 16’’ f-8 research telescope, housed in the Rob Roeder Telescope Facility (R²TF) of the Fountainwood Observatory on the SU campus. The primary purpose of the R²TF is for research. Currently we are obtaining photometric light curves of quasars and other active galactic nuclei. Occasionally however, some extra time is available during an observation session and we take images for the aesthetic enjoyment of viewing the wonders of the universe. These are presented below. As research continues here at SU we will continue to “grow” this image gallery for your enjoyment.

M13, 06/25/03, DFM 16’’ f-8, SBIG ST-7E, (L, B,V, R) = 3 ´ 1 minute
Image credit Allison Trumble, James Friedrichsen, and Mark Bottorff

NGC 5548 is visible in the lower left hand corner of these two images. The left image is a L = 1 ´ 10 minute exposure and the right image is a L =1 ´ 20 second exposure. (Image credit Mark Bottorff ) Both images were taken with a DFM 16’’ f-8 telescope and an SBIG ST-7E CCD camera (07/20/03). NGC 5548 is a Seyfert galaxy. It has an active nucleus with a supermassive black hole of estimated mass ~ 10⁷ to ~ 3 ´ 10⁷ solar masses. The longer exposure shows the combined light from the many billions of stars that comprise the galaxy as well as light originating from gas near the supermassive black hole. The shorter exposure shows mainly light from the small “star-like” active galactic nucleus (AGN) of NGC 5548. The majority of light from the nucleus is from gas near the central supermassive black hole. The fact that the light of the spiral arms in the outskirts of the galaxy in the longer exposure is not seen in the shorter exposure while the nucleus remains strong indicates that a tremendous amount of energy originates in the nucleus.

Light curves for NGC 5548: SU senior Allison Trumble, adjunct professor James Friedrichsen, and assistant professor Mark Bottorff monitored the light variations of NGC 5548 using SU’s 16-inch f-8 DFM research telescope and SBIG ST-7E CCD camera (Open circles). The upper plot shows light variations of NGC 5548 imaged through a V (visible) band filter. The lower curve shows light variations of NGC 5548 imaged through a B (blue) band filter. All the images that contribute to the data set are 300s unguided exposures. Closed circles show V band data for the same object obtained with the 16-inch SCT University of Nebraska Lincoln research telescope and SBIG ST-7 CCD camera. The vertical dashed lines shows the dates within which the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), Far Ultraviolet Space Explorer (FUSE) observed NGC 5548. Extensive ground based observations greatly assist in our understanding of AGN by providing a behavioral context these objects prior to, during, and after an observation by a space based or large ground based telescope.

NGC 2903, 01/10/04, DFM 16’’ f-8, SBIG ST-7E, (L, B, V, R) = 5 ´ 5 minute. North is approximately down in this image.
Image credit Mark Bottorff

M106, 06/30/03, DFM 16’’ f-8, SBIG ST-7E, L = 5 ´ 1 minute.

Image credit Mark Bottorff

Seyfert’s Sextet, 07/14/03, DFM 16’’ f-8, SBIG ST-7E, L =1 ´ 8 minutes

Image credit Allison Trumble, James Friedrichsen, and Mark Bottorff

NGC 6118, 07/18/03, DFM 16’’ f-8, SBIG ST-7E, L = 1 ´ 10 minute.

Image credit Mark Bottorff

NGC 6384, 07/19/03, DFM 16’’ f-8, SBIG ST-7E, L = 1 ´ 10 minute.

Image credit Mark Bottorff

NGC 6814, 07/19/03, DFM 16’’ f-8, SBIG ST-7E, L = 1 ´ 10 minute.

Image credit Mark Bottorff

Deer Lick Group (detail), 10/15/03, DFM 16’’ f-8, SBIG ST-7E, L = 5 ´ 1 minute.

Image credit Mark Bottorff

NGC 7421 (left) and UGC 11964 (right), 10/22/03, DFM 16’’ f-8 SBIG ST-7E, L = 2 ´ 8 minute

Directions in this image are (approximately) North is up and East is to the left. Image credit Mark Bottorff

NGC 7741, 10/27/03, DFM 16’’ f-8 SBIG ST-7E, L = 1 ´ 10 minute.

Directions in this image are (approximately) North is up and East is to the left. Image credit Mark Bottorff

M 74, 11/19/03, DFM 16’’ f-8 SBIG ST-7E, L = 9 ´ 2 minute.

Directions in this image are (approximately) North is up and East is to the left. Image credit Mark Bottorff

NGC 7006, 09/09/04, DFM 16’’ f-8 SBIG ST-7E, L = 10 ´ 30 seconds.

Directions in this image are (approximately) North is up and East is to the left. Note: The dim background galaxy in the lower right hand corner is MCG +3-53-11. Image credit Mark Bottorff

M 34, 11/18/05, Celestron 5’’ f-10 guide telescope SBIG ST-7, L = 10 ´ 60 seconds.

Directions in this image are (approximately) North is up and East is to the left. Image credit, Brandi Tennant and Caroline Tait.

Fall 2005 Exploring the Universe class imaging project at Southwestern University.