zakky2k

This shot was more of focus-confirmation than an intentional shot for keeping, but happens that the focus was pretty good and I was happy with the result.

Note to self:

a) Need to re-process to hopefully better match the background level in each panel

b) Not too keen on the framing, but NGC2264 is very wide. Already my frames combined cover approx 2x3 degrees...

c) Add another two panels at the top?

Combination of different sets of data taken at slightly different angles led to the apparent vignetting at the corners. 

Ideally the image should be cropped it but I really wanted to leave the galaxy NGC5474 in the frame (bottom-right).

Qualification: Untouched = Unprocessed (limited stretching but no noise reduction, digital development or sharpening), but calibrated with flats and darks...

My first Saturn shot!!! Just caught it before it went into obscurity from my location.

Could not get the SX capture software working to get data from the SuperStar planetcam, so reverted to using the EOS Capture program to grab the Live-View feed from my DSLR, then processed in Registax.

My heavy handedness with the wavelets has left a fair bit of background noise unfortunately, but it was the best setting to bring out the planetary details.

I probably should have used the DSLR for the wider field than the SX planetcam...

Oh well, at least this shot shows that my drift alignment was successful :)

more of a PA test than anything else, but it was an a good altitude in the western part of the sky, so I took 16 x 3 minute shots again with the DSLR and the TV 0.8x FF/FR

The higher sensitivity of the SX SuperStar helped capture a bit more feint detail, but let down by poor PA. Shot during twilight before it set behind the trees around 30 minutes later.

At 17° above the horizon and about 30 minutes available before the tree's branches got in the way, this was never going to be easy, or produce a great result!

Still, got it at last!!!

EOS1Dm3 + Televue 0.8x reducer on Orion 102mm doublet refractor.

Widefield using the un-modded Canon 1D3 and the Televue 0.8x Reducer / flattener on the 102mm

Still very much a work in progress, and a lot of the data may have to be thrown due too poor Polar Alignment and focus, causing bloated, elongated stars...

For the week the nebula was rising around 25° above the horizon from my 50°N latitude, and only for a short time at that.

Stunning!

Great shot!

Great shot and processing!

The stars look even across the field, what scope and mount are you using?

My ancient (circa 2001) EQ3-equivalent mount used instead of my Minitower as the Alt motor burned out! The worst platform I have used for solar photography!

Significant artefacts due to field rotation, yet another disadvantage of Alt/Az mounting...

Data captured with the Astrodon 3nm Ha filter

M57 is in there somewhere... Strange how this same target almost fills the shot of my new guider...

Damn, this is ugly... Really need to try and revisit M33 at some stage.

I did a quick test with my new SX Superstar guider / planetary imager the other night, but there was quite a haze and the mount didnt like this part of the sky, tracking was horrible.

Of course now there's a full moon, if and when there's a break in the clouds, so maybe next year???

One of my early attempts at M51. Have managed several better attempts since then...

Orion 102mm F/7 Premium

Canon EOS1d Mk3

Ioptron Minitower Alt/Az mount

Captured on-camera with D3 remote release sequence

Aligned, stacked and Processed in DSS and Photoshop CS5.

Orion 102mm F/7 Premium

Canon EOS1d Mk3

Ioptron Minitower Alt/Az mount

Captured on-camera with D3 remote release sequence

Aligned, stacked and Processed in DSS (x2 Drizzle) and Photoshop CS5.

Orion 102mm F/7 Premium

Canon EOS1d Mk3

Ioptron Minitower Alt/Az mount

Captured on-camera with D3 remote release sequence

Aligned, stacked and Processed in DSS (x2 Drizzle) and Photoshop CS5.

Orion 102mm F/7 Premium

Canon EOS1d Mk3

Ioptron Minitower Alt/Az mount

Captured on-camera with D3 remote release sequence

Aligned, stacked and Processed in DSS (x2 Drizzle) and Photoshop CS5.

Orion 102mm F/7 Premium

Canon EOS1d Mk3

Ioptron Minitower Alt/Az mount

Captured on-camera with D3 remote release sequence

Aligned, stacked and Processed in DSS (x2 Drizzle) and Photoshop CS5.

Orion 102mm F/7 Premium

Canon EOS1d Mk3

Ioptron Minitower Alt/Az mount

Captured on-camera with D3 remote release sequence

Aligned, stacked and Processed in DSS (x2 Drizzle) and Photoshop CS5.