My first star party, success! (pictures)

[i Drew]

Thank you for the nice advice i received in the forum, just want to report that it was a success!

Here are some pictures of the site at Mt Tamalpais, CA. Also tried to take a star trail picture.

There were a dozen telescopes, the club were devided into 2 location some went to Yosemite park.

I actually wonder why there are red and blue specs...i don't think they're stars.

[michaelmorris]

Great photos. It looks like a superb location.

The red and blue specs on the longer exposure images are almost certainly thermal noise from the camera.

[i Drew]

Great photos. It looks like a superb location.

The red and blue specs on the longer exposure images are almost certainly thermal noise from the camera.

It was a really nice location considering it's only 40min away from the city, the low fog cover the light from the city very well, it was pretty dark last night.

Is there a way to reduce the thermal noise so those res and blue spots wont show? Thanks!

[knobby]

I,m not taking the mickey ... but keeping the sensor cold is probably the only way to reduce the noise.

what camera is it ? what exposure time ? what ISO ?

[i Drew]

I,m not taking the mickey ... but keeping the sensor cold is probably the only way to reduce the noise.

what camera is it ? what exposure time ? what ISO ?

Its my old Canon 30D, I have it on 25 and 400 ISO and just left the bulb on for maybe 10min or more, i'ts my first time doing it I guess I should have lowered the aperture and shorter exposure time? ..... Oh and mickey?

[JamesF]

Stunning view in pic 4. Is that San Francisco in the distance?

James

[knobby]

Its my old Canon 30D, I have it on 25 and 400 ISO and just left the bulb on for maybe 10min or more, i'ts my first time doing it I guess I should have lowered the aperture and shorter exposure time? ..... Oh and mickey?

Sorry , taking the Mickey is an English term meaning to ridicule someone in a friendly humerous manner !

Maybe try turning the cameras noise reduction off and do the noise reduction afterwards with a software ? as you can see i'm clearly no expert ! just trying to be helpful

hope you dont mind, I've copied one of the pics and used a program called neat image on it to give you an idea

[i Drew]

Stunning view in pic 4. Is that San Francisco in the distance?

James

Yes sir, that is San Francisco.