CCD-Freak

I am also late to the party. This image was shot back in 2015 with an Atik-383L+ OSC and an 8" RC John CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Here is my trusty old Celestron Ultima 8 on a Milburn wdge and a C14 heavy duty tripod set up for some imaging fun. Here is my other cat....Mini Me (yeah the clone of Dr Evil) in her cat throne. John CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Are you using a focal reducer? Looks like the spacing is wrong if you are.

Here are some images made with a 150mm F2.8 Hyper Newt and an ASI-533MCP B33 IC5070 Pelican Nebula M78 NGC2264 B150

My last image of 2020 was actually a test shot to try out an APS-C sensor on my SS15028HNT. M42 with a Canon 100D DSLR 60 x 60" (1 hour total) Processed with Astro Art 7. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Hi everyone... Does anyone use a Sony a6000 for astro imaging??? What do you think of it and how is the noise? Got any sample images to post ??? I am putting together a portable imaging setup and the a6000 might be just the ticket. John CCD-Freak WD5IKX

I will take a look when it clears...Jupiter and Saturn are getting quite low in the West at sunset. We may have to wait until it is better placed. I will be making another imaging expedition to the New Mexico "Boot Heel" in May 2021. I have imaged other asteroids before so I can probably capture this one if I can get enough time on it. BTW.....Sky Safari looks pretty cool. (^8 John CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Thanks I may have to download it to my tablet. I know about it but have never played with it before. Sorry for hijacking this thread.... John CCD-Freak WD5IKX

What software was used for the above What software was used for this ??? John CCD-Freak WD5IKX

I am thinking of getting a smaller more portable mount for quick trips to dark sky sites and the iOptron GEM45 caught my eye. The review I read in S&T sounds pretty good but I was wondering in anyone has one and what they think of it. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

It was a 3500 mile round trip but the weather was perfect. I did months of research to figure out a location with the highest probability for good weather. We got lucky. 😀 The audio track is almost as good as the video. I love the crowd and the church bells ringing in the middle.....I thought...."nice touch" 🤪 John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

This is the only solar related picture of my gear......I was shooting HD video of the 2017 total solar eclipse. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

This scope made me think of the attached cartoon. 8^P John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Does this scope make my butt mount look big ?? 🤪 AT60ED ready for some imaging. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

The car is Phil's Rambler Classsic station wagon which he affectionately called Igor. Igor was a great "scope hauler" and Phil could sleep in the back. The disk around the focuser was a camera mount that I focused with wing nuts. It was "crude but effective" and it was also a great handle for panning the scope around. In this picture I think you can see a camera on the scope. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Speaking of Celestron C8 scopes I found this picture from around 1972 which shows my buddy Phil's early tri color C8 sn 195. All these years later and he still has it and it still puts up fine views. This is a fun thread !! 🙂 John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

I always use a UV-IR filters especially when imaging with a refractor. I have also started using one with my 150 mm F2.8 Hyper Newt since I have found IR causing color problems. The star at the left is normally fairly red but IR leakage causes it to be pink and it also brings out some micro lens artifacts. Bottom line whatever filter you end up using make sure it cuts the IR. NGC7023 90 x 120 seconds (3 hours total) at -5°C Gain= 100 ASI-533MCP Sharpstar 15028HNT (no filter) John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Nice images.....You got part of the B150 dark nebula at the left edge of your wide image. The NGC6946 image has great color. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Here is another Polaroid shot of me with my 8" F7 Newt after I put it on a portable pier. This would be about 1972. My buddy Phil's Criterion RV6 is to the right and my 60mm Sears EQ to the left. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Looks like a Cosmic ray hit to me. John CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Ninja astronomer for sure. 🤪 John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

A buddy of mine had the same scope and we did wide field photography with Polaroid cameras strapped on top of the tube as seen in this picture. This picture also shows my home built 8" F7 Newt on a brick pier and pipe mount. The picture was shot by moonlight with my Polaroid camera circa 1971. This is fun !!!!! 😀 John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

I relentlessly hounded my parents for a telescope for Christmas and they finally got that one. I think it cost about $100 at the time and It was actually a very nice scope with an EQ mount which worked well enough to keep from killing my interest. I saved my allowance and mowed the yard to earn money for the optional clock drive motor. I remember my first view of M42. Fond memories. Here is another Polaroid of it. I made a pier from a fence post so I did not have to fiddle with the tripod when I set it up. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

I look a little different now ..... 50 years and 50 pounds later. 🤪 John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX

Me with my Sears 60mm EQ refractor about 1969. John Love CCD-Freak WD5IKX