SGL Summer competition (revised)

[admin]

The nights are getting quite short now. So to stop people going stur crazy we're having a competition .

To celebrate Steve new book "Making Every Photon Count" the competition is going back to basics:

Anything Astro related goes. But it has to be taken with a dSLR or Digicam. No astro CCD's or Webcams. The images must be taken using an UNDRIVEN mount, I was initially going to say a static tripod, but some may not have one and want to mount the camera on a scope - thats fine, as long as the drives are turned off.

so...

1. Film SLR, Dslr, Digicam or Mobile Phone only.

2. An undriven mount.

3. No telescopes or binos, but telephoto camera lenses are acceptable.

4. Images must be taken during the competition dates.

5. No remove setups.

6. Sketches are allowed (but remember that telescopes/binoculars aren't).

7. Subject matter is fairly broad and is anything astromonical, but can also incude sunsets, rainbows NCL.

8. A montage or sequence of events are fine but all parts must have been taken during the competition dates.

9. Muliple entries are allowed.

10. Re-processed images are permitted providing the original image was taken during the competition dates.

11. Multi Frame stacking is permitted.

12. Animations are permitted.

13. Details of equipment used and how the image was taken should be posted. Just to pass on "how to" information to others.

The only exception to the undriven mount rule is where you make something yourself (e.g. a Barn Door Tracker). But the Synscan upgrade kit to a standard EQ mount does not count as DIY

We would love for this to generate loads of posts on how to attach things to other things, how to build Bard Door Trackers - where to get parts from etc etc etc...

Just a few idea on subject. Star trails, meteors, atmospheric effects (sundogs etc), ISS passes, Iridian Flares, Shuttle launches, moon rise/set, sun rise/set, Milky Way, NCL.

There is a great guide to basic widefield imaging here - http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-tips-tricks-techniques/73737-basic-widefield-camera-tripod.html

If you want to enter into the fun of the competition but do not want to win the prize, thats fine, just say that in the entry post. Including details of the camera and mount (both important) and exposure and processing details would be great - as this will aid others in getting started in Imaging.

The competition is open to everyone, the judges are going to be Admin and Steve (Steppenwolf), the judges cannot win.

The prize is a signed copy of Steve book, Making Every Photon Count. THANKS STEVE

A lot of people think that you need expensive kit to take nice astronomy photo's, this competition will show what great images you can take with just a standard camera. Hopefully it'll also show people just getting into astronomy that there are things that you can build to track the stars.

Here is an example of an absolutely stunning image taken without a telescope. Moon rays and Leo

The competition will run from May 1st to July 31st.

Entries should be posted here http://stargazerslounge.com/sgl-summer-competition/

Good Luck