IC4604 + IC4603 Rho Ophiuchi Complex
Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 9-5C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.2 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.
Kappa Volantis - Triple Star - 3/2/2017 (Processed cropped stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory. A pretty triple star in Volans. See also uncropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 100% (3) of 3 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 100 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 17 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2016 Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 20C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.
IC434 Horsehead Nebula and NGC2024 Flame Nebula near Star Alnitak
Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 40D DSLR field 106' x 159' , Ambient 16-15C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS 2.09 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.
Lowell's South Polar View - 9/10/2015 (Re-processed stack into video sequence)
South Polar star trails at Perth Observatory's 24" Lowell Dome - with some cloud progressing NW to SE during the ~40min sequence, presented in video format. Re-processed to add caption for Iridium Satellite
Rigel - Beta Orionis 3/12/2010
DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 80% of 5 Images ISO 800, 30 Sec, 0 DARK, 10 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post processed with Adobe Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA T-Adapter, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC (not recorded). Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Collinder CR69 - Lambda Orionis Association - 30/10/2016 (Processed cropped stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory. I'd not imaged this object before and whilst it is a small group of stars, it is quite pretty. Also see uncropped version. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 9C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (13) of 17 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 26 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 20 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2015
Kappa Volantis - Triple Star - 3/2/2017 (Processed stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory. A pretty triple star in Volans. See also cropped version. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 100% (3) of 3 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 100 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 17 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2016 Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with Baader MPCC Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 64' x 95', Ambient 20C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.
South Polar Sky - 22/3/2015 (Processed stills into Video)
Image captured at Perth Observatory Photo taken from the Lowell Dome's outside walkway Created from 77xStill images using Microsoft Movie Maker (25 Sec, 18mm f/4, ISO 1600, Canon 400D 18-200mm Lens)
Lowell's South Polar View 2 - 10/10/2015 (Processed stills into video)
South Polar star trails at Perth Observatory's 24" Lowell Dome - with some cloud progressing W to E during the ~120min sequence. (Full sequence with heavier initial and lighter mid-late clouds, presented in video sequence). Ambient ~16C
Betelgeuse - Beta Orionis - 7/12/2010
DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 60% of 6 Images ISO 800, 30 Sec, 5 DARK, 7 BIAS, 0 FLATS Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA T-Adapter, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC (not recorded). Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Collinder CR69 - Lambda Orionis Association - 30/10/2016 (Processed stack)
Imaged at Perth Observatory. I'd not imaged this object before and whilst it is a small group of stars, it is quite pretty. Also see cropped version. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 9C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (13) of 17 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 26 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 20 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2015
IC4604 + IC4603 Rho Ophiuchi Complex - 25/2/2017 (3 panel Mosaic)
Imaged at Perth Observatory. EQmosaic of 3 panels with 33% overlap to attempt Mosaic stitch of the wider area Individual panels stacked in DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (4) of 6 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 72 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 18 FLATS, Microsoft Image Composite Editor (ICE) used to merge them and Adobe Photoshop 2016 to post-process. Not enough light gathering time for this faint object. Could not get a clean merge. The trail in the bottom left is probably a high jet vapour trail as it is in each image of the sequence. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 25-23C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.
In The Mood for a South Polar Dance - 23/5/2015 (Processed stills into video)
Imaged at Karalee Rocks, ~50km East of Southern Cross. Three galaxies rotating around the South Polar sky - The Large and Small Magellanic clouds at bottom and our own Milky Way. Created with Microsoft Movie Maker from 148 DSLR images
Star Trails over Perth Observatory's Astrograph Dome - 21/10/2013 (Processed stack into Video)
The South celestial pole is evident here looking south over Perth Observatory's oldest, but still operable, telescope dubbed the 'Astrograph' as its role was star, asteroid and comet mapping from the early 1900's until about 1990. Some light cloud during capture, aircraft and the unexpected light at the dome late in the sequence meant this didn't turn out as I'd hoped and bias and dark frame post processing has not worked to remove hot pixels as expected. The rising moon did illuminate the dome as hoped however. Canon EFS 18-55mm Lens at 18mm and f/6.7 in manual focus mode, Hoya HMC UV(c) filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient ~14C. Inca fixed Camera tripod. Canon TC-80N3 'clone' intervalometer for image sequence capture. No guiding.
Canopus - Alpha Carinae - 28/12/2010 (Processed stack - cropped)
Canopus is the 2nd brightest star in the night sky and very prominent in southern skies. DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 70% of 9 Images ISO 800, 120 Sec, 6 DARK, 12 BIAS, 7 FLATS, 7 DARK FLATS Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA T-Adapter, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC (not recorded). Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
Caldwell C76 - NGC6231 - False Comet Cluster in Scorpius - 7/4/2017 (Processed Stack)
First test of new ED80 at home in the suburbs. Noticeable loss of flatness in the corners at native f/7.5 without a field flattener or reducer. Telescope - Skywatcher ED80 80/600 with no Field Flattener, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 85' x 127' , Ambient 12C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.
Imaged at Perth Observatory. Just near the 'kink at the base of the tail' of Scorpius is a lovely run of objects starting the Zeta 1 and 2 Scorpius, the 'False Comet Cluster' , the 'Prawn Nebula' and another small open star cluster as we move right as shown. EQmosaic of 3 panels with 33% overlap to attempt Mosaic stitch of the wider area Individual panels stacked in DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (4) of 6 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 54 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 18 FLATS Microsoft Image Composte Editor (ICE) used to merge them and Adobe Photoshop 2016 to post-process. See also unmerged triptych version. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 23C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.
Orion Star trails during Geminids Meteor shower - unsuccessful attempt after XMAS BBQ
Prawn Nebula and surrounds - 21/9/2019 (Processed cropped stack)
Imaged ~10km east of Mt Magnet See also uncropped version. DeepSkyStacker 4.2.2 Stacked 75% (23) of 31 Images ISO 1600 @ 120 Sec, 25 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 17 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Pentax SMC Takumar 200mm f/4, 37mm stop ring to f/5.4, M42/EOS adapter, Hoya UV filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 381' x 254' , Ambient ~15C. SkyWatcher Star Adventurer EQ mount unguided sidereal drive.
Antares (also NGC6144 Globular Cluster) - 30/3/2011 (Cropped processed stack) DeepSkyStacker 3.3.2 Stacked 100% of 5 Images ISO 800 120 Sec, 6 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed by Photoshop CS5 Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR, Ambient xxC not noted. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Star Shoot Auto Guider.
IC434 Horsehead Nebula and NGC2024 Flame Nebula near Star Alnitak
Telescope - Apogee OrthoStar LOMO 80/480 with Hotech SCA Field Flattener, Hutech IDAS LPS-P2 filter, Canon 400D DSLR field 106' x 159' , Ambient 15C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS 2.09 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress Superstar (Monno) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.
Imaged at Perth Observatory. Just near the 'kink at the base of the tail' of Scorpius is a lovely run of objects starting the Zeta 1 and 2 Scorpius, the 'False Comet Cluster' , the 'Prawn Nebula' and another small open star cluster as we move right as shown. EQmosaic of 3 panels with 33% overlap to attempt Mosaic stitch of the wider area Individual panels stacked in DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 80% (4) of 6 Images ISO 800 @ 120 Sec, 54 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 18 FLATS Adobe Photoshop 2016 processed to show as an unmerged triptych. See also merged version with Photoshop Photomerge. Telescope - PowerNewt 200mm f/4 with PowerNewt(ASA) f/2.84 Reducer/Coma Corrector, No filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 90' x 134' , Ambient 23C. EQMOD EQASCOM with Ascom 6 for mount control. Backyard EOS Pro 3.1.8 for Image acquisition. Mount - Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro. Guidescope - Orion ShortTube 80 with Starlight Xpress SuperStar (Mono) CCD Auto Guider and Stark Labs PHD auto guiding software.
Lowell South Polar View - 9/10/2015 (Processed stack into video sequence)
South Polar view at Perth Observatory's 24" Lowell Dome Video created from 206 stills in Microsoft Movie Maker Star trails element: DeepSkyStacker 3.3.4 Stacked 100% of 205 Images (Max, Noalign), Canon 60D, Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX II 11-16mm at 11mm, ISO 3200 @ 10 Sec, 0 DARK, 0 BIAS, 0 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2015
Prawn Nebula and surrounds - 21/9/2019 (Processed stack)
Imaged ~10km east of Mt Magnet See also cropped version. DeepSkyStacker 4.2.2 Stacked 75% (23) of 31 Images ISO 1600 @ 120 Sec, 25 DARK @ 120 Sec, 32 BIAS, 17 FLATS, Post-processed with Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Pentax SMC Takumar 200mm f/4, 37mm stop ring to f/5.4, M42/EOS adapter, Hoya UV filter, Baader BCF modified Canon 70D DSLR field 381' x 254' , Ambient ~15C. SkyWatcher Star Adventurer EQ mount unguided sidereal drive.
Gallery Comments