zakky2k

After a frantic email exchange with iOptron support, it became apparent that my Minitiower mount wasnt going to be available for the transit.
So after blowing off the dust from my ancient EQ1 equivalent, fixing up some very unstable mating for the vixen dovetail, as I more or less ready to snap a few shots before the clouds rolled in.

First light with my new CCD, the QSI RS 8.3.
As I added the IGP coverplate, it's basically the same as a 683 wsg-8.
Only one clear night so far, lets see what happens to the weather over xmas and new year!
All images taken through my Orion 102mm F/7 doublet

First opportunity of 2014 for observing...

2 clear nights only...

New year, new filters, new photos!

The clouds left way to crisp cold but clear skies from December 29th till Jan 3rd, allowing for a few chances to snap some pic during my Christmas break.

Various targets from over the past couple of years
Scope: Orion 102mm f/7 Premium, Doublet APO
Mount: Ioptron minitower Alt-Az
Camera: Canon EOS 1D mkIII, Canon tc-80-n3 remote-control.
Accesories: Some shots use the Teleview NPR-1073 0.8x Reducer / flattener

My first chance to spend some quality star-time with the 1600GTO.
Its a beast of a mount and built with awe inspiring quality, looks positively underwhelmed with my current scope!
Polar alignment, Drift alignment, Remote control via Maxim DL, Planetary imaging, Long exposures, Calibration frames and further image processing were all on the menu this time, a few of them personal firsts.

Collection of various landscapes at night

The best of the rest, as I was learning to image in LRGB. Reduced exposure times is a big problem for these images (mainly due to Alt/Az, the iOptron Minitower is not the greatest photographic platform).
The FoV from the SX SuperStar is very narrow (it is just a guider / planetary camera after all) so a lot of objects do not fit very well.

All shots taken with a 102mm Orion and SX superstar for imaging (unguided on the AP1600GTO)

Taken with the Baader Herschel "Cool Ceramic" prism, with an Orion 102mm f/7 Premium scope, mounted on an Ioptron Minitower Alt-Az.Camera: Canon EOS 1D mkIII

Some solar white-light tests using the Baader Herschel Wedge and the SX superstar

My first light with the new Starlight Xpress guider/planetary camera.
These are my attempts at using this small (6.4mm x 4.75mm sensor, 1.25" barrel enclosure) but fairly Hi-Res CCD (1392 x 1040) as an economic entry in to LRGB/Ha imaging.
The Xagyl filter wheel was used with both Baader LRGB and Astrodon 3nm Ha filters.
As I'm still working with an Alt/Az mount, exposure times are typically around 45 seconds and un-guided...
Can't wait to move-up to an equatorial mount!