tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87158608326637844452024-03-01T05:40:19.115+00:00Constellations and CoffeeAstrophotography and Astronomy BlogConstellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-17920663745304551262023-10-09T08:42:00.001+00:002023-10-09T08:42:38.850+00:00A letter to a chocolate bar?!It's been a while since my last post but I have decided not to post everything here just 'cos I have it and also the weather has not been kind to us astrophotographers of late. :(<div><br /></div><div>The following are a couple of images a month apart. The Milky Way shot was from holiday (south of France) in August and the other from the back garden in September.</div><div><br /></div><div>Both targets are ones which I have been wanting to get for a long time (years) but lack of skill early on, both in data aquisition and processing let me down, so years later..... here we are!</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Just as an aside - I contstantly find that astrophotography is a hobby where you really do need to have multiple skill sets acting as one and it is a very technical pasttime that needs certain things doing at certain times and they will impact later things if not done correctly, for example, setting up the mount.</i></div><div><i>There are many disciplines at play - astronomy, photography, computing and image processing (which is an art all unto itself!), to name a few.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>So, here I give you Barnard's E in Aquila and the Milky Way in Sagittarius.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAI5owK6ekqx0w2QAGmejZcz6xeSlMlINs1hCprl96hkGCOEKXMfpsQjtrPBIsGSmP-4h4uPjYNWBSjv_SpaZpuNhLdxfI8gwtWqWWlFqow8F3eqviE5mycHaZGnL7aF6MNsBLIiAhM1uvHZbEBbHaohh4adYUfwFAGESNUeK-UEzp2UqloTmXXFLxYBc/s2406/barn_e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2406" data-original-width="2406" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAI5owK6ekqx0w2QAGmejZcz6xeSlMlINs1hCprl96hkGCOEKXMfpsQjtrPBIsGSmP-4h4uPjYNWBSjv_SpaZpuNhLdxfI8gwtWqWWlFqow8F3eqviE5mycHaZGnL7aF6MNsBLIiAhM1uvHZbEBbHaohh4adYUfwFAGESNUeK-UEzp2UqloTmXXFLxYBc/w640-h640/barn_e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><div>Barnard's E in Aquila. 4th Sept. 2023.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Made up of Barnard 142 and 143.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Askar FRA400 refractor.</div><div style="text-align: left;">60 x 120sec. subs with Altair 533C OSC and SkyTech LPRO Max filter.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Processed in Siril, GraXpert and Affinity Photo.</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6aJ36ugOAM0585FBA2CCDXg9p-5hBshUwaZAoR8JCMmnIa3nrH3SuIGHkj8verYohxW1rh-PcS59FapfyzUk5e-9Qz3VBhwP75Zos-dtVxhWlrdq9hNn4Uy92ihh0WNFq-f0QmDjWDufvHx5bnSoEZezS3WcYeI0V8rdBKzLj_17XuMpMUzVtuPepYs/s4151/m_way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4151" data-original-width="2788" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6aJ36ugOAM0585FBA2CCDXg9p-5hBshUwaZAoR8JCMmnIa3nrH3SuIGHkj8verYohxW1rh-PcS59FapfyzUk5e-9Qz3VBhwP75Zos-dtVxhWlrdq9hNn4Uy92ihh0WNFq-f0QmDjWDufvHx5bnSoEZezS3WcYeI0V8rdBKzLj_17XuMpMUzVtuPepYs/w430-h640/m_way.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Milky Way in Sagittarius from southern France. 17th August 2023.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Canon 5D MKII</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ISO12800</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">50mm @ f2.2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1min 52sec total (8 sec. subs.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Processed in Affinity Photo</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Clear skies.<br />MJ</div><div><br /></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-3078560848065157932023-07-04T11:08:00.005+00:002023-07-06T11:22:13.639+00:00I just can't sleep!<p>Well. I woke at about 2:50am last night and popped my head around the curtain and they were there in all their glory.</p><p>What?</p><p>Noctilucent Clouds of course, or NLCs for short. Those really (and I mean really) high "night shining" clouds at approx. 80km in the mesosphere.</p><p>So I stuck on enough clothes and a warm jacket, grabbed my camera and ran out the house to a fairly dark location down a narrow country lane near where I live.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcm4ogPVwUDJrPyU3lNij6sbtHdEUqRO-ob-7QPSOg94F5CrdShL5_ZK6ABqofCZbCDMM0Vyp_6tUELZShmDKIPAPR3Zr9vcbamsD2LGPbAP_p_baGNVU5jJUlSI7e85zOFxOK0cd_DAxYqzxwVduDhuz0rOKtWUtQJKsqWuVb9GjTG9V--GxwC2RWtw/s8042/20230704_NLC_Brackenfield_CanonEOS5DMk2_ISO640_f7.1_8sec_135mm_2pane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2541" data-original-width="8042" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcm4ogPVwUDJrPyU3lNij6sbtHdEUqRO-ob-7QPSOg94F5CrdShL5_ZK6ABqofCZbCDMM0Vyp_6tUELZShmDKIPAPR3Zr9vcbamsD2LGPbAP_p_baGNVU5jJUlSI7e85zOFxOK0cd_DAxYqzxwVduDhuz0rOKtWUtQJKsqWuVb9GjTG9V--GxwC2RWtw/w640-h202/20230704_NLC_Brackenfield_CanonEOS5DMk2_ISO640_f7.1_8sec_135mm_2pane.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Noctilucent Clouds</p><p style="text-align: left;">Canon EOS 5DMk2<br />ISO640 f/7.1 8sec. 135mm<br />2 panes stitched and processed in Affinity Photo</p><p></p><p>Clear skies.<br />MJ.</p>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-78715215464817407152023-06-16T14:52:00.003+00:002023-06-16T14:52:38.851+00:00IC1396 - let's do a re-process.... erm.... are you sure.... yeh, come on....<p>For a while now I have been wanting to get more colour from my images that have been taken using a One Shot Colour (OSC) camera and a filter like the l-enhance narrowband from Optolong, and what do you know - I found some information to do just this.</p><p>I came across a post on YouTube by a bloke I've been following for a while - Luke from Lukomatico (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@lukomatico">https://youtu.be/YkxhGhuj3YQ</a>).</p><p>He goes through a very detailed process of obtaining a Bi-colour/Hubble type image from an RGB capture using a software application called Siril (which I have used and mentioned on the blog before).</p><p>I did use Affinity Photo to do some final tweaks too.</p><p>All-in-all some very powerful image processing techniques that I will be using in future and playing around with much more too. Thanks Luke! :)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggz-bn_A1lJtachfU0nTgvw1AF2SusobjQY7iwigQo2xi-0OrNvSlEkBEGRO9GfglcrJc-KGnlFhnJI28OE-iNlHrPtDdFhNewyxCtTnfIAFaZzv0jo6Enl_yVNgWTNcjqAvozvmxwSOPEKyrXr67w47cbLI8JMTUb2TeRkkuTiArHUWpE6O2KQHEl/s2963/20230521_IC1396_OS50_G200_HCG_1x1_75x3_RGB_Siril_Affinity_BiColour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2945" data-original-width="2963" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggz-bn_A1lJtachfU0nTgvw1AF2SusobjQY7iwigQo2xi-0OrNvSlEkBEGRO9GfglcrJc-KGnlFhnJI28OE-iNlHrPtDdFhNewyxCtTnfIAFaZzv0jo6Enl_yVNgWTNcjqAvozvmxwSOPEKyrXr67w47cbLI8JMTUb2TeRkkuTiArHUWpE6O2KQHEl/w640-h636/20230521_IC1396_OS50_G200_HCG_1x1_75x3_RGB_Siril_Affinity_BiColour.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">IC1396 Elephant's Trunk Nebula in Cepheus</div><p>Clear skies<br />MJ</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-50092168493884446882023-05-24T09:53:00.009+00:002023-05-24T10:38:46.007+00:00An Elephant in Cepheus<p>Well, I think I finally have my rig sorted and settings dialled-in. This has took some time with equipment changes/upgrades and not many clear(ish) nights to try them out.... BUT.... the other night was good to go.<br /></p><p>I thought I would target something "bright" and one I had not imaged before, so I chose IC1396 - the Elephant's trunk Nebula. It lies some 2,400 light years away in Cepheus. A good choice as it is circumpolar from my location.</p><p>My imaging window closed due to cloud just as I had 3 hours worth of data - a good chunk to work on!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwO4frC1vrNJ0eQ9qlJ036a9D2h4FBZESdMDdLAiLbbLl4a2iAtuPPIKZX6Tx1iZTRmZwdOGmTf8xHzlg_Fw5kTYQWojeX00D7jT6zouPaECQ0qormqLQKThGAuFFj80d1vsainFF7V5YH1t2srmtFInE1wYXEC2Xk-R6pcArno7347Z7-f-OcOM7/s2869/20230521_IC1396_OS50_G200_HCG_1x1_57x3_RGB_Affinity.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2869" data-original-width="2831" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwO4frC1vrNJ0eQ9qlJ036a9D2h4FBZESdMDdLAiLbbLl4a2iAtuPPIKZX6Tx1iZTRmZwdOGmTf8xHzlg_Fw5kTYQWojeX00D7jT6zouPaECQ0qormqLQKThGAuFFj80d1vsainFF7V5YH1t2srmtFInE1wYXEC2Xk-R6pcArno7347Z7-f-OcOM7/w632-h640/20230521_IC1396_OS50_G200_HCG_1x1_57x3_RGB_Affinity.jpg" width="632" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">IC1396 Elephant's Trunk Nebula in Cepheus</p><p>57 x 3min. subs. RGB<br />Askar FRA400 with Optolong L-eNhance filter<br />Altair Hypercam 533C (Offset: 50 / Gain: 200 / HCG: On / Bin: 1x1 / -10degC.)<br />Processed in Affinity Photo</p><div>Clear skies<br />MJ</div><p><br /></p>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-41564352780607646282023-05-16T13:47:00.000+00:002023-05-16T13:47:16.726+00:00Out, out with Messier 3The first clear night in quite some time here in the UK so I was out early and ready to go.<div>I was after a fairly bright target in the south as the north/north-west was still lit by the sun until late. Of course the nights never get truly dark at this time of year.</div><div>I was also wanting to bottom-out some equipment setup too, like camera settings and off-axis guider adjustment.</div><div>So I landed on Messier 3 in Canes Venatici. It is an 11 billion years old globular cluster, 32,600 light years from Earth.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzhhzM_Sc415-EiFkxFEGWXHxA4HbdojqdD6OM0wAJmvN2ViG5BKwXf2q7Eu2F1qyQz3z8kukaQDDJOGwfDeO5xeq95qBBfB9vm-puFFNPFvWAJBhpm2aNauqjhN0beJmBGJTr5SoHCQjWD8Mr7dThSCeO0rebYDJeAXJmlbKVs1u_h1WpIFbDEZd/s896/20230515_M3_OS48_G184_HCG_1x1_52m_120s_FINAL.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="896" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzhhzM_Sc415-EiFkxFEGWXHxA4HbdojqdD6OM0wAJmvN2ViG5BKwXf2q7Eu2F1qyQz3z8kukaQDDJOGwfDeO5xeq95qBBfB9vm-puFFNPFvWAJBhpm2aNauqjhN0beJmBGJTr5SoHCQjWD8Mr7dThSCeO0rebYDJeAXJmlbKVs1u_h1WpIFbDEZd/w640-h494/20230515_M3_OS48_G184_HCG_1x1_52m_120s_FINAL.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Messier 3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Askar FRA400 with Altair Hypercam 533C (Offset: 48 / Gain: 184 / HCG: On / -10C)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">RGB 26 x 120s</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Processed with Deep Sky Stacker and Affinity Photo</div><div><br /></div></div><br /><div>Clear skies</div><div>MJ</div><div><br /></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-33241112401229826232023-03-06T09:32:00.001+00:002023-03-06T09:32:21.154+00:00Cyril?! NO Siril!<p>It's not always a good idea to go back to old data - you may find you never get out!</p><p>However, I always thought that my Pleiades data from a few months back could give me more somehow and with the new processing algorithms in the image processing application Siril, I gave it a go.</p><p>(Original post: <a href="https://mmastrogroup.blogspot.com/2022/10/nina-pretty-ballerina-and-messier-45.html">https://mmastrogroup.blogspot.com/2022/10/nina-pretty-ballerina-and-messier-45.html</a>)</p><p>I am mainly talking about the Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch or GHS transformation - more information here: <a href="https://siril.org/tutorials/ghs/">https://siril.org/tutorials/ghs/</a></p><p>Stacking and processing with Siril and using this feature iteratively most definately brought out more information in my image.<br />Of course you still need to post-process to your usual taste, but it just looks better!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIKoKqTZ61gBxkIGdVfp_4oAmlmuE7-5VDIAz-g9JaueMP3TagvKlYCpXXWqTl9JTmZuPylc5koD96J6Dt2-gmYa42MKfH5p298URnRd4h_6VBuTdJHRR3VdyZpV_FA5zC-5yJToBSKXX6TMU6xNDvCsKoVe2pMI2l7vaYrvjBHvxaT58N6aQG7Yr/s877/52728331610_b9c946846c_o.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="877" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIKoKqTZ61gBxkIGdVfp_4oAmlmuE7-5VDIAz-g9JaueMP3TagvKlYCpXXWqTl9JTmZuPylc5koD96J6Dt2-gmYa42MKfH5p298URnRd4h_6VBuTdJHRR3VdyZpV_FA5zC-5yJToBSKXX6TMU6xNDvCsKoVe2pMI2l7vaYrvjBHvxaT58N6aQG7Yr/w640-h638/52728331610_b9c946846c_o.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Messier 45</p><p>Clear skies<br />MJ</p><p><br /></p>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-3115146874398491462023-02-01T20:31:00.002+00:002023-02-01T20:31:55.880+00:00You know.... that green one?There isn't much that can beat a comet in the night sky (if anything) but when they do grace us with their presence we like to give them names, like say, C/2002 E3 (ZTF) or "The Green Comet" which was discovered by the Zwicky Transient Facility on 2nd March 2022.<div><br /><div>It is a long period comet from the Oort cloud and we only have about another month until this comet is gone for another 50,000 years and arguably it has given us it's best display already.<br />Due to it's position in the sky from my location I have had to wait until now (31st Jan 2023) to try and image it.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>And what do you know - 3/4 Moon and gusty wind!</div><div><br /></div><div>I did try my best and I managed to get about 30 minutes of imaging time.<br />What looks like a light gradient to the bottom-left is the actual dust from the comet and you can just make out the ion tail too to the right.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TeBNF0Tl8mXVwiFhuP4indZYeboA-vC78EwVkjsW8v2cvAMMbgq4K4jO6oqQ3kG4fhW_jKQv5T-exth_noBYYjYcYiVyLnExhz3Wfnhj9TdupZCdu5vce5mm6Fq7hxMjKbd0tKUi63K7-VCiawmpYTrufoHM6qrDMVwyo-VhAN-cHtkglGak2-WI/s955/C_2022_E3_ZTF.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="955" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TeBNF0Tl8mXVwiFhuP4indZYeboA-vC78EwVkjsW8v2cvAMMbgq4K4jO6oqQ3kG4fhW_jKQv5T-exth_noBYYjYcYiVyLnExhz3Wfnhj9TdupZCdu5vce5mm6Fq7hxMjKbd0tKUi63K7-VCiawmpYTrufoHM6qrDMVwyo-VhAN-cHtkglGak2-WI/w400-h376/C_2022_E3_ZTF.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Comet C/2002 E3 (ZTF)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Clear skies</div><div>MJ</div><div><br /></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-27831972467437061552023-01-31T09:27:00.000+00:002023-01-31T09:27:09.004+00:00A Blustery Moon<p>I have spent the last few months looking up when the skies have been especially clear and occasionally got the telescope out for a closer look. The planets have all looked superb and I got my best views of Saturn in late October. Due to the telescope I have and the amount of eyepieces and barlow's I use, an image is out of the question but nevertheless it was quite a awe inspiring sight. </p><p>The moon looked particularly good last night; at 69% visibility the waxing gibbous was accompanied by Mars as it passed my preferred piece of sky. The clouds were no fun but, as the wind was so strong there were fleeting glimpses of our satellite.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunohXeHihG2JAkEiwr7bIjxidnVQ-ijmIWKRWKZ0Nb5E2CYR05xIqC5191UqA84JB0BRDc5JL_lOXxfhEWAbv8tHfJT96Lrmkctvbt9Qt48SzKLC6n7dDw6KpsFrqdZIadIkjDZhOoj1_ZT9JCy1M9sn0OPfrKPJ01bPvY-k1lx9ZRc5LhhhrhGOI/s1133/Moon%2030.1.23c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1107" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunohXeHihG2JAkEiwr7bIjxidnVQ-ijmIWKRWKZ0Nb5E2CYR05xIqC5191UqA84JB0BRDc5JL_lOXxfhEWAbv8tHfJT96Lrmkctvbt9Qt48SzKLC6n7dDw6KpsFrqdZIadIkjDZhOoj1_ZT9JCy1M9sn0OPfrKPJ01bPvY-k1lx9ZRc5LhhhrhGOI/w626-h640/Moon%2030.1.23c.jpg" width="626" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Olympus OM ED10 mk 1 - Williams Optics Zenith Star 61APO, 1/1250, ISO 800)</div><p></p><p><br /> I couldn't get the clarity due to the clouds but through the eyepiece there were some lovely features on view.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKa2-SbLX2Hx3wIMakpQ3bd9hoQod2WA-i_4yajFlSsGBIv-_yJ7RT4gFD1cDuJ2XQ_cM5dCJudy_bbKAYjHf27N4jEPmcfmKtUWL8otE40IE9G_u6v0xfqUbhuriA9at3Hc-d6ghXVPARr6jYsIxwHy7Qo9dz0qiYVRpvMYdsJv3CbCTyyH8i4SZ/s250/Arzachel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="167" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKa2-SbLX2Hx3wIMakpQ3bd9hoQod2WA-i_4yajFlSsGBIv-_yJ7RT4gFD1cDuJ2XQ_cM5dCJudy_bbKAYjHf27N4jEPmcfmKtUWL8otE40IE9G_u6v0xfqUbhuriA9at3Hc-d6ghXVPARr6jYsIxwHy7Qo9dz0qiYVRpvMYdsJv3CbCTyyH8i4SZ/w267-h400/Arzachel.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br /><p>I have ringed Arzachel as it's a favorite of mine it has a depth of 3.6 km, a large central peak and a accompanying craterlet, which is obscured in the picture above by the crates shadow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaDDRtbPZEhh6vuSiJLaOpJon9F5sWmTOclSVwZIaqpSsJ6eQkIxB4QH5yr1lXgzGjbANa4BhnmOGHmsvBcOqDU04MEXfV_CWsXzep-3MIqu9_Ta8VN0H3ura1GgxtGEiLq1yGhNCDo_vzrwz1Y2OyXL7W_lJ0xARSKGzrPWs9V_xdbsZ4-v3iBTP/s349/Appenines%2030.1.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="349" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaDDRtbPZEhh6vuSiJLaOpJon9F5sWmTOclSVwZIaqpSsJ6eQkIxB4QH5yr1lXgzGjbANa4BhnmOGHmsvBcOqDU04MEXfV_CWsXzep-3MIqu9_Ta8VN0H3ura1GgxtGEiLq1yGhNCDo_vzrwz1Y2OyXL7W_lJ0xARSKGzrPWs9V_xdbsZ4-v3iBTP/w400-h269/Appenines%2030.1.23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I always enjoy getting the shadows from the Montes Apenninus and the Montes Carpatus (lower and more left in the above image). The larger Crater above the Carpatus is Achimedes , whilst the bigger, more central crater towards the top is Plato - I'm sensing a theme! </p><p>Apollo 15 landed towards the top of the Apenninus on 26th July 1971 and was one of the longer stays on the moon. </p><p>Al</p>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-8102341193678857612023-01-30T10:10:00.019+00:002023-05-02T15:34:18.006+00:00A Witch and a GhostWith some really bitingly cold nights this January I set about imaging a couple of targets that are now more possible due to my kit upgrades of late - the Witch Head (IC2118) in Eridanus and Casper The Ghost (M78) Nebulae in Orion.<div><br /></div><div>One word of note is that I am struggling to obtain an even background with these images - I'm pretty sure this is due to my offset for the black point, so a work in progress here BUT I did have a gradient to deal with too!? (any more excuses?! :) )</div><div><br /></div><div>IC2118 lies approx. 1000 light years away and is a reflection nebula in Eridanus illuminated by the nearby bright supergiant star Rigel (Orion's left foot).</div><div>M78 lies some 1600 light years distant just above and to the left of the very bright belt star Alnitak in Orion.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpxk8w5xVVPSrE8KXlF3BKWRwOUS9NaFxLPAutZAdPo91lEoTLgXI1oeBOSFkEyMttvqRih7drgD027y9brKO5VXRmVpCtS7HZMBL8HM4noRnzJOGjoo7FG97YFQ_i449XgH25-sQFyAuw5lheVojHTp4YcTAGTZahdEFUiibhmgBCosZRjQ_bpwK/s1094/20230118_WitchHead.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="1094" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpxk8w5xVVPSrE8KXlF3BKWRwOUS9NaFxLPAutZAdPo91lEoTLgXI1oeBOSFkEyMttvqRih7drgD027y9brKO5VXRmVpCtS7HZMBL8HM4noRnzJOGjoo7FG97YFQ_i449XgH25-sQFyAuw5lheVojHTp4YcTAGTZahdEFUiibhmgBCosZRjQ_bpwK/w400-h394/20230118_WitchHead.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Witch Head Nebula, IC2118 (1h45min. 300sec. subs.)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEr9ttsWpMZEikZVOGwbzYAmov-vI10_kClSphSZNWjaQZzJqOQ4lStArog-vJMf1Ckzm_Kfkzq0nOwV2_85iSafv6CLLcLHUvO2YCtXR-wXet2jVAjdOa5LD0Uijc7mByNNnChSJqEatLGqgJD-KO7wB3E8h0hQ1zRQG7bgjGu1zIoj2zZr0RyeY/s974/20230121_CasperTheFriendlyGhostNebula.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="974" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEr9ttsWpMZEikZVOGwbzYAmov-vI10_kClSphSZNWjaQZzJqOQ4lStArog-vJMf1Ckzm_Kfkzq0nOwV2_85iSafv6CLLcLHUvO2YCtXR-wXet2jVAjdOa5LD0Uijc7mByNNnChSJqEatLGqgJD-KO7wB3E8h0hQ1zRQG7bgjGu1zIoj2zZr0RyeY/w400-h384/20230121_CasperTheFriendlyGhostNebula.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Casper The Friendly Ghost Nebula, M78 (2hr45min. 120sec. subs.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Both images captured with the Askar FRA400 @ f/5.6</div><div>Altair Hypercam 533C ProTec (OS: 48 / Gain: 101 / HCG / Bin: 1x1)</div><div>SkyTech LPRO Max filter</div><div>Processed in Deep Sky Stacker, GraXpert and Affinity Photo</div><div><br /></div><div>Clear skies</div><div>MJ</div><div><br /></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-41448352110016477192023-01-04T11:28:00.006+00:002023-01-11T11:25:02.056+00:00Let's start as we mean to go on, eh?<p>And a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!</p><p>I say all, but at this stage some 12 years on, we've amased no audience at all - just a few views!?!?! <insane laughter></p><p>Al and I did always want this as a record of our trials and tribulations though, so we have that at least.</p><p>On to this post then ..... well what can I say, the weather has not been kind for astronomers so with the first clear and crisp winter's night on the 2nd of January I leaped at the chance. Ahhh - but there's a full moon!</p><p>My target for this evening was chosen fairly wisely - pointing away from the 3/4 moon, and one that I have not yet captured successfully. So to the lovely pairing of Messer 81 and 82 in Ursa Major.<br /></p><p>M81 is also known as Bode's Galaxy, is some 90,000 light years across at a distance of 12 million light years.<br />M82 is also known as the Cigar Galaxy, is some 37,000 light years across at a distance of 13 million light years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko6m8SXi3DT_h7-DA64rwtzz5hLg2fdxFYWNWw8SCnvnTmNY-0oWe7xZgZSotvPBe31UVAnPygv5Zu8djmYyrevOKXoh3J_G90OkbFm75shLEAGIJkNrEEzqVhnhe2-_UPvBG6dQyT99w30fo6Zjy1vc_yH_Vu_BnHVh1wdo_5hhFfkEMqaSkg04Q/s1030/20230102_M81_M82_OS192_G101_HCG_1x1_90s_2hr52m30s_Affinity.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko6m8SXi3DT_h7-DA64rwtzz5hLg2fdxFYWNWw8SCnvnTmNY-0oWe7xZgZSotvPBe31UVAnPygv5Zu8djmYyrevOKXoh3J_G90OkbFm75shLEAGIJkNrEEzqVhnhe2-_UPvBG6dQyT99w30fo6Zjy1vc_yH_Vu_BnHVh1wdo_5hhFfkEMqaSkg04Q/w620-h640/20230102_M81_M82_OS192_G101_HCG_1x1_90s_2hr52m30s_Affinity.png" width="620" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Left to right - Messier 82 / Messier 81</p><p>Total 2hr52min. (90sec. subs)<br />Askar FRA400 refractor<br />SkyTech LPRO Max filter<br />Altair 533C PROTEC (Bin 1x1 / Offest 192 / Gain 101 / HCG On / -5deg.C)<br />Processed in Deep Sky Stacker and Affinity Photo</p><p>Clear skies<br />MJ</p>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-90353726281733204882022-12-10T10:09:00.112+00:002023-01-04T10:56:16.736+00:00Flamin' 'ellI intended to get this out before the end of 2022 - sorry about that - I have been busy!<div>(I have fixed the post date so it falls within 2022 though.)<br /><div><br /></div><div>Not only have I had an equipment upgrade but I also decided to build a pier in my garden (to be covered at some later date).</div><div><br /></div><div>The pier was a simple build and follows these steps:</div></div><div>1. Dig a 40x40x40cm hole</div><div>2. Sink a suitable length metal pole (rebar)</div><div>3. Place pier tube in hole over rebar. I used a 8in. plastic tube at 1.5m length</div><div>4. Level and fill with concrete</div><div>5. Sink anchor bolts ready to receive mounting plate (the mouting plate was temporarily located to make sure all was properly level.)</div><div>6. Leave to set</div><div>7. Level the mounting plate</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3zCf3Tz6KCZas0QvVneeQX1Z4L2xu9KdGczwWVDPVdSKGuauD-Dr4iL6nO_Pt4fPsmvJ6yeBbUX_SGlGE92q15gyVe_3_eJYm01uDlirU5iAPoH6kUik8IdEMic5xuc_OoIh0HZz83VdrMdGKoJN3XZINSFziJ0XWrkvr9Q5Q7nvBbevs4NLJc-y/s640/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3zCf3Tz6KCZas0QvVneeQX1Z4L2xu9KdGczwWVDPVdSKGuauD-Dr4iL6nO_Pt4fPsmvJ6yeBbUX_SGlGE92q15gyVe_3_eJYm01uDlirU5iAPoH6kUik8IdEMic5xuc_OoIh0HZz83VdrMdGKoJN3XZINSFziJ0XWrkvr9Q5Q7nvBbevs4NLJc-y/w150-h200/1.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFiN4eqXVbcCvSBpnV8a6Zd29dOTQYyJ_4pcPbYL-g9wQvBwteS3fVIuviGsLI45d_CUa9xI9muxgnrc_Ia2C8-e3MAX5voz9d5Pp-f_yGCl9XPsK9WCYhlNUTtSe_xe9htwjO9IYmqEzbeX5_tcRf2cJtsh6RyJNgbqNbad4Nv7vqqQgOkYYRUaB/s640/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFiN4eqXVbcCvSBpnV8a6Zd29dOTQYyJ_4pcPbYL-g9wQvBwteS3fVIuviGsLI45d_CUa9xI9muxgnrc_Ia2C8-e3MAX5voz9d5Pp-f_yGCl9XPsK9WCYhlNUTtSe_xe9htwjO9IYmqEzbeX5_tcRf2cJtsh6RyJNgbqNbad4Nv7vqqQgOkYYRUaB/w150-h200/2.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IN1xj42jlcjeZgF2HRU3IQQ0SkvXGdgyh0cmKOeiqAHBBg2a-CxOOmbGNVx5JlD3GRxb9ub4SqVr9ny2ZOznu6aO_pTmReLzQJiawzmeAEfaKfEN-hriLFfhx9HJXdmEy_hc58coXoXCo2iyy76Ntlg2Xy4ViZYJ4yLIWpf6zu0EKYFSRWM0giBM/s640/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IN1xj42jlcjeZgF2HRU3IQQ0SkvXGdgyh0cmKOeiqAHBBg2a-CxOOmbGNVx5JlD3GRxb9ub4SqVr9ny2ZOznu6aO_pTmReLzQJiawzmeAEfaKfEN-hriLFfhx9HJXdmEy_hc58coXoXCo2iyy76Ntlg2Xy4ViZYJ4yLIWpf6zu0EKYFSRWM0giBM/w150-h200/3.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9lHnDhe4rljf6eS-i3A3ivczYxCnt_WzS-nuyUL-FU5rPy7u7lOdlRJu_kkXTGVvEC-GubegfMPMX04_9Fajddfg3EBt_H9fJM030ImoiAMeVTjNK5g4dZBGYnT4gAvksl2eJW893Dzo2c39f9pnkmXbxUl1sv7Haqs6VWVOJMHpAnCZgt_fD8Ey/s640/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9lHnDhe4rljf6eS-i3A3ivczYxCnt_WzS-nuyUL-FU5rPy7u7lOdlRJu_kkXTGVvEC-GubegfMPMX04_9Fajddfg3EBt_H9fJM030ImoiAMeVTjNK5g4dZBGYnT4gAvksl2eJW893Dzo2c39f9pnkmXbxUl1sv7Haqs6VWVOJMHpAnCZgt_fD8Ey/w150-h200/4.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMEVCZNxaxkx_MOj8-3UfrCuREz2Yb2tT0LnnrjOU4cdVmMwd1xOM6KIV6wSsN2wtghQ1Ucfl4SYGN2C47SL0_gIC1aLsFP7QPetTIu767iFEGPVamujdDlwjQArts6cHKFv2xIeVVi0VUhlxyDfanjN_pdXqR5tOFzcCerOc8GLJgrDigpYLsEn4/s640/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMEVCZNxaxkx_MOj8-3UfrCuREz2Yb2tT0LnnrjOU4cdVmMwd1xOM6KIV6wSsN2wtghQ1Ucfl4SYGN2C47SL0_gIC1aLsFP7QPetTIu767iFEGPVamujdDlwjQArts6cHKFv2xIeVVi0VUhlxyDfanjN_pdXqR5tOFzcCerOc8GLJgrDigpYLsEn4/w150-h200/5.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Garden pier build</div><div><br /></div><div>Next - on to the target.</div><div><br /></div><div>There was a huge gap (weeks) between the pier build and getting first light with the new scope so I chose my target carefully and one that I had not done before.</div><div>With the winter constellations starting to appear I decided on the Flaming Star Nebula in Auriga when it was high due south-east from my location. It is an emission and a reflection nebula some 1500 light years away - a great broadband target.</div><div>It was a challenge to process and wanted to bring out those faint whisps of nebulosity along with some nice star colours. I used the SkyTech LPRO Max filter to help with this.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiur5u95LAnewoC7uPPoGXvLwqENVm_jaVupOraj7RovUeG3N0cb8iEKkaol58wkZEetvmp-9kkBlQBtUXPSAs3wE3cc4ZnRl-iUncMJmoJQZxq1KbOid-FOvUTFrCjGVr60jOvVG9bqA8skPBYX2jphZmyaUoNaDfsgaJbQInUzG1hwCSg9V6Enxpm/s1203/20221204_FlamingStar_IC405_OS48_G301_HCG_1x1_48min_3min_2xDrizzle_02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1203" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiur5u95LAnewoC7uPPoGXvLwqENVm_jaVupOraj7RovUeG3N0cb8iEKkaol58wkZEetvmp-9kkBlQBtUXPSAs3wE3cc4ZnRl-iUncMJmoJQZxq1KbOid-FOvUTFrCjGVr60jOvVG9bqA8skPBYX2jphZmyaUoNaDfsgaJbQInUzG1hwCSg9V6Enxpm/w640-h640/20221204_FlamingStar_IC405_OS48_G301_HCG_1x1_48min_3min_2xDrizzle_02.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Flaming Star Nebula - IC405</div><div><br /></div><div>The pier not only gives me a much more stable platform that enables a shorter setup time, but it has also improved the auto-guiding considerably. I know we shouldn't obsess about that guide graph, but still.... ;)</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Total 48min. (180sec. subs)</div><div>Askar FRA400 refractor</div><div>SkyTech LPRO Max filter</div><div>Altair 533C PROTEC camera binned 1x1 (Offest 48 / Gain 301 / HCG On)</div><div>Processed in Deep Sky Stacker and Affinity Photo</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Clear skies.</div><div>MJ</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-16211601505493895872022-10-31T12:07:00.004+00:002022-11-07T09:19:00.346+00:00NINA, Pretty Ballerina (and Messier 45)With all the good things I hear about N.I.N.A. (Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy) I have decided to take the plunge and see how I get on.<div><br /></div><div>I intended to take on Mars, but too many clouds and equipment gremlins put paid to that idea :(</div><div>After a reset and a brew I decided on a more camera friendly target - so to Messier 45, The Pleiades in Taurus, some 444 light years away.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dodging the clouds I managed to bag about 1 hour of data, of which I used 46 minutes.<br /></div><div>There was quite a bit of high cloud that gave a light cast over the sky - it was not the best seeing!</div><div><br /></div><div>It was nice being out once again though and just looking up on such a mild autumnal evening. I had a meteor grace me heading north at around 11pm and Orion is now making its way into the south, heralding the onset of winter. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOz0eu1EsrdWyUF4KDa0d53gOidetGBeww13bBEIFcKVdmZ0XVvJoHHhwLFJvAEzL3VMXrBqXqe53NLQF0O0famrLAtXfJ7If3BjQqytmcfEjKanfr8sy5erQnupVlBg_4e_gqB9UlvjA6__TLtWN56btzerdCLFbauabZMnLq7MtpyYGt_zWcaIFB/s2097/52467650235_c88f4c8529_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1832" data-original-width="2097" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOz0eu1EsrdWyUF4KDa0d53gOidetGBeww13bBEIFcKVdmZ0XVvJoHHhwLFJvAEzL3VMXrBqXqe53NLQF0O0famrLAtXfJ7If3BjQqytmcfEjKanfr8sy5erQnupVlBg_4e_gqB9UlvjA6__TLtWN56btzerdCLFbauabZMnLq7MtpyYGt_zWcaIFB/w640-h560/52467650235_c88f4c8529_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Messier 45</div><div><br /></div><div>60sec x 46 subs.</div><div>ED80 with x0.8 reducer/flattener</div><div>Altair 533C PROTEC camera binned 1x1 (Offest 48 / Gain 201 / HCG On)</div><div>Processed in Deep Sky Stacker and Affinity Photo</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Clear skies</div><div>MJ</div><div><br /></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-83204014937023711812022-10-30T10:23:00.002+00:002022-10-30T10:23:48.005+00:00It was the best of skies, it was the worst of skies......................<p> I have just returned from a week on the North coast of Norfolk. I took the scope and for once had clear skies. However, the clear skies were short lived and you had spells of around 30 minutes of clear before the clouds rolled in again. This happened all week.</p><p>I spent a lot of time observing and had my best view of Saturn ever. I would love to be able to put a picture on of what I saw but the set up I have doesn't appreciate heavy barlows, ep's, filters and a camera at the end. I will persevere with that. Likewise, I had a great view of Jupiter and then Mars.</p><p>The main focus was the sky directly overhead though, I don't think I've seen as many stars in a long time. I enclose a shot composed of 1 min X 5 exposures. The cottage lights certainly added to the light pollution, so my picture isn't as good as I thought but there's no excuse for the poor focus I used!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTMk97hv8m4LX5d8-rh_2xUVN647KA7nhWtQRptLQawsoDE2k0l3rlaEg4meIFYsHYBDgbBcWVGL9wL87LIdH-oDmNQebYuS6_phq5LpTFYK2umHE9mIfVeXCw8krgkUKOK6Lul33jWVlBPLoZVGFWlP1Ha5-qBKxkCcziDfQ5wdwlTvNc2HLjNtK/s2646/Milky%20Way%20Stack%20a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2205" data-original-width="2646" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTMk97hv8m4LX5d8-rh_2xUVN647KA7nhWtQRptLQawsoDE2k0l3rlaEg4meIFYsHYBDgbBcWVGL9wL87LIdH-oDmNQebYuS6_phq5LpTFYK2umHE9mIfVeXCw8krgkUKOK6Lul33jWVlBPLoZVGFWlP1Ha5-qBKxkCcziDfQ5wdwlTvNc2HLjNtK/w640-h534/Milky%20Way%20Stack%20a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>There's a bit of nebulosity showing but I was pleased to include Andromeda towards the bottom, left centre.</p><p>Anyways, it's kicked started my observing season!</p><p>Al</p>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-2129684716022272012022-10-18T10:15:00.000+00:002022-10-18T10:15:42.911+00:00So many stars!Over the last few weeks a clear night has been a rare thing, so when it was forecast and actually was looking like it would be clear I set right to it!<br /><br />I wanted to complement my last image of the Eastern Veil from Kelling Heath, so I decided on the other side - the Western Veil or Witch's Broom (NGC6960) lying some 1470 light years away in Cygnus.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylxgDJ_lUVvcuX3vcW1hCr8nN1m1ZQaw24WUk-_p-IjabF-JjXzAtSv3orTTblaurKL6nqYNhwXVw50k_g14FUcvLIipe09UeeYIoWLvO923aJngodZhu1ty-fDSnKwDgg4K2tTtP2sASHu9KhvXYpGZbvu9q46RhIhNNvT3qYI-ZE7Oc1qK7alvF/s962/20221018_WesternVeil_OS50_G201_1x1_x0.6_2hr28min_Affinity_ToneMap_GraXpert_Crop_VibSat_Selective_HighPass_HLVGLow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="962" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylxgDJ_lUVvcuX3vcW1hCr8nN1m1ZQaw24WUk-_p-IjabF-JjXzAtSv3orTTblaurKL6nqYNhwXVw50k_g14FUcvLIipe09UeeYIoWLvO923aJngodZhu1ty-fDSnKwDgg4K2tTtP2sASHu9KhvXYpGZbvu9q46RhIhNNvT3qYI-ZE7Oc1qK7alvF/w640-h534/20221018_WesternVeil_OS50_G201_1x1_x0.6_2hr28min_Affinity_ToneMap_GraXpert_Crop_VibSat_Selective_HighPass_HLVGLow.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>2hr 28min (60sec. subs)</div><div>Altair Astro ED80 with 0.6x flattener/reducer @ f/4.2</div><div>Hypercam 533C ProTec at -5C binned 1x1 (Offest: 50, Gain 201, HCG On)</div><div>Processed in Deep Sky Stacker, GraXpert and Affinity Photo</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Clear skies</div><div>MJ</div><div><br /></div></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-88643676537301709742022-09-26T21:51:00.003+00:002022-09-26T22:08:49.725+00:00Kelling Heath Autumn Equinox Star CampWell I finally made it to a Star Camp - the famous Kelling Heath Autumn Equinox in Norfolk, UK.<div>This is a really well organised affair by the Loughton Astronomical Society in association with the Kelling Heath site. The whole site is dark-adapted for the week - red lights are a must!</div><div><br /></div><div>I arrived late on the Friday night for the weekend and it was a clear and DARK sky so I decided to setup and get imaging as soon as possible.</div><div><br /></div><div>As will be no surprise to most imagers out there, as soon as I was ready to go the clouds started to roll in.</div><div>There were however, several breaks to take advantage of, so I decided on a quick target - the Eastern Veil in Cygnus, a supernova remnant some 1470 light years away.</div><div><br /></div><div>I only had chance to get three 120 second exposures with my ED80 and the Altair Astro 533C ProTec, but the result I hope you agree is a testament to the Norfolk dark skies.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC6992)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbKEZBp1BnTgKZWPvkYZkabFBiWQ1PUZKjjLD9FTrgMkFY4TH7H0aU6CM3x4h5DlOfmZKbONSpF_wdxOonwNcjjhHNRVTiRln2dY4a5E2pKxcHjVyc9QmI7Dyhb6sS1Seeo8mXScbW_sWiYrfl-LrXv-xIAlxu9rq5W848Ai6YkdmKwhQHHvTjOpO/s1504/20220923_EasternVeil_Kelling_AA533C_1x1_OS48_G201_ED80_6min.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="1504" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbKEZBp1BnTgKZWPvkYZkabFBiWQ1PUZKjjLD9FTrgMkFY4TH7H0aU6CM3x4h5DlOfmZKbONSpF_wdxOonwNcjjhHNRVTiRln2dY4a5E2pKxcHjVyc9QmI7Dyhb6sS1Seeo8mXScbW_sWiYrfl-LrXv-xIAlxu9rq5W848Ai6YkdmKwhQHHvTjOpO/w640-h640/20220923_EasternVeil_Kelling_AA533C_1x1_OS48_G201_ED80_6min.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Camp is set</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFIBSY38jTQ4mp_PFcegO8hInYO1Gq27zOjDSA72WQN2GriKLLMCBSCnAgJgvHE77IznSbQZMCvbShdsbXijOSGW-stHW1LTCLDco7xrYfjLLtjnd6zlbAiZksQq2fXQIcnCGkF_U4EdORLhcGPLtUoV_-uAq4uNQtHsYEz3YTtGj6Ary6IhCxHzJ/s4080/kell1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2720" data-original-width="4080" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFIBSY38jTQ4mp_PFcegO8hInYO1Gq27zOjDSA72WQN2GriKLLMCBSCnAgJgvHE77IznSbQZMCvbShdsbXijOSGW-stHW1LTCLDco7xrYfjLLtjnd6zlbAiZksQq2fXQIcnCGkF_U4EdORLhcGPLtUoV_-uAq4uNQtHsYEz3YTtGj6Ary6IhCxHzJ/w640-h426/kell1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Clear skies.</div><div>MJ<br /><br /></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-49617108697796610852022-08-26T10:29:00.007+00:002022-08-28T17:53:34.052+00:00M42 reprocessed with new techniques<p>With not so many clear nights of late I have decided to up my processing game (again).<br />I have recently found that imaging guru Nik Szymanek (Astronomy Now) has opened a YouTube channel and posted some fine image processing tutorials.</p><p>He explains some very simple put powerful techniques in a very clear way and decided to try them on my own data - namely M42, the Orion Nebula.</p><p>I hope you agree that this image is a country mile better than my previous efforts.<br />It just goes to show what information is lurking in the data just waiting to be pulled out!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAacG7PnI3RxDPNhcIfu9kPHQdycrMyUZ5uiUzlt7Xr7vpGcRNl-JKyWk6Uc3oxRIafy1Y1ZlDDEPUK-l8H4DqBimmm9ddbkXOH4l4hVxdrpejdXuAcS_RZJ5ud70kHLf76wu0WRyU8-GOihvxdKHHf73hklBkADb_0brExXzc1KYLCGWZw1OUdHTL/s2106/Final_Affinity_HLVG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1717" data-original-width="2106" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAacG7PnI3RxDPNhcIfu9kPHQdycrMyUZ5uiUzlt7Xr7vpGcRNl-JKyWk6Uc3oxRIafy1Y1ZlDDEPUK-l8H4DqBimmm9ddbkXOH4l4hVxdrpejdXuAcS_RZJ5ud70kHLf76wu0WRyU8-GOihvxdKHHf73hklBkADb_0brExXzc1KYLCGWZw1OUdHTL/w640-h522/Final_Affinity_HLVG.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Clear skies<br />MJ</p><p><br /></p>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-14724109091665835022022-07-22T10:10:00.002+00:002022-07-22T10:10:18.788+00:00A little bit of a catch-up...Sorry not posted for a while but i've been hard at work getting to grips with the new camera - namely the Altair Astro Hypercam 533C ProTec.<br />This is a (thermoelectric cooling) tec cooled camera with a square 3000x3000 sensor and no amp glow!!.<div><div>It also has slightly larger pixels that the 183C so affects the resolution and how I bin or not bin an image - with my refractor I do not bin and with my reflector I do bin 2x2 - both are reduced by 0.8x.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>[Binning 2x2 effectively reduces the image by half and makes the camera more "sensitive". It also helps with managing the resolution.]</div><div><br /></div><div>However, the images below are not binned. All taken with an offset of 40 and gain of 200 using the SkyTech LPRO Max filter. Stacked in Deep Sky Stacker and processed in Affinity Photo.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLrT7C1voHo3ATDR5El7iQ4dnw2d0D9RI2W1klyvUwRi62QQB9bknXpYHA2B68VqcKJ4ZaYZk4ifrPwVe-1UY-gJtmyrlGbOpTXtHja61OZut7MJsacYjobUYhXnkmuBrKczwpDLzhtXz0t-js0YWPE_qB05YmhzRKhwNu42Zsyvfv4tdUFKKLzcD/s1805/20220702_NGC6888_HC533_OS40_G200_1x1_52m_Affinity02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1805" data-original-width="1804" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLrT7C1voHo3ATDR5El7iQ4dnw2d0D9RI2W1klyvUwRi62QQB9bknXpYHA2B68VqcKJ4ZaYZk4ifrPwVe-1UY-gJtmyrlGbOpTXtHja61OZut7MJsacYjobUYhXnkmuBrKczwpDLzhtXz0t-js0YWPE_qB05YmhzRKhwNu42Zsyvfv4tdUFKKLzcD/w640-h640/20220702_NGC6888_HC533_OS40_G200_1x1_52m_Affinity02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ED80 Refractor. Crescent Nebula (NGC6888). 5000 light years away in Cygnus. Total 52mins.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3em6vugfXlbZa2floxNzi85xlq9BDMlPQSV8vOkgEEPK_dwNnXxNd02Nuiq4Sqx9fXtIrb2xMbf0XCt06SsSj3kY_F1wV-F8dakIZ3mgMBFFxKsKkPzTWW9Uo10zflC8qAXGfd4zRUwZoa3NDyRv6cZ0mQr97xQzk_f68unvbfOTKGBvIHR48Kzn8/s979/20220709_Albireo_OS40_G200_HC533C_RC6_1x1_30s_Affinity.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="979" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3em6vugfXlbZa2floxNzi85xlq9BDMlPQSV8vOkgEEPK_dwNnXxNd02Nuiq4Sqx9fXtIrb2xMbf0XCt06SsSj3kY_F1wV-F8dakIZ3mgMBFFxKsKkPzTWW9Uo10zflC8qAXGfd4zRUwZoa3NDyRv6cZ0mQr97xQzk_f68unvbfOTKGBvIHR48Kzn8/w640-h442/20220709_Albireo_OS40_G200_HC533C_RC6_1x1_30s_Affinity.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">6in Ritchey–Chrétien. Albireo. Double Star at 420 light years in Cygnus. Beta Cygni A is the amber star and Beta Cygni B is the blue-green star. Current data supports that they are only an optical double and not a binary system. Total 30secs.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6WwR0hBhpD_Sdz3tjPxzfKhHvMngwMrKnTTYohN_J2VPy5IB_m8uaa9Z3wvRrYohV0I7hYWu26Lqd8DJzB7mXqDhwmDFTwayQuf6j8nYhGAfIw8ve3IOqOxMruTE4kBb85GG6hLwJ8tXsPfRNo04UdlW7Cq7pQ-mFwQGSVB8lib-z_F6mYVbH3Pe/s815/20220709_M57_RingNebula_OS40_G200_RC6_1x1_19m.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="815" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6WwR0hBhpD_Sdz3tjPxzfKhHvMngwMrKnTTYohN_J2VPy5IB_m8uaa9Z3wvRrYohV0I7hYWu26Lqd8DJzB7mXqDhwmDFTwayQuf6j8nYhGAfIw8ve3IOqOxMruTE4kBb85GG6hLwJ8tXsPfRNo04UdlW7Cq7pQ-mFwQGSVB8lib-z_F6mYVbH3Pe/w640-h550/20220709_M57_RingNebula_OS40_G200_RC6_1x1_19m.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">6in Ritchey–Chrétien. Ring Nebula (M57). A planetary nebula 1.3 light years away in Lyra. Total 19mins.</div><div><br /></div>Clear skies.<div>MJ.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-6400320076674135192022-06-28T09:00:00.002+00:002022-06-28T09:00:22.050+00:00New ways to process image dataI have recently watched a video by Dylan O'Donnell (StarStuff on YouTube - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/DylanODonnell">https://www.youtube.com/c/DylanODonnell</a>) where he really concentrates on only using the best subframes in his stacking.<div>His rationale for this is "Garbage in, garbage out".</div><div><br /><div>I decided to follow his lead using some existing M42 data (previously posted here from 27th March 2022), and stacked to be 45mins. total.</div><div>By the time I had finished with the new techniques I had 24mins. total... BUT the interesting thing is, the image was much easier to process, looked sharper and had less noise!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, on to what I did. Well, on top of the normal rejection of any subframes that are clearly blurred or have satellite trails, etc. I used two other columns in Deep Sky Stacker called "FWHM" and "Stars" [count].</div><div>(These fields are also available in other image processing software.)<br /><br />FWHM or Full Width Half Maximum is a measure here to show how good the focus is. The lower the number the better the focus.<br />Stars is a count of the number of stars in the frame.</div><div><br /></div><div>With the light frames ordered using the FWHM value, subtract the smallest from the largest and then divide the result by 2, to get the half way difference point. Then add this result to the lowest value, i.e.</div><div>100-40=60, 60/2=30, 40+30=70</div><div>You would then reject any subframe over a FWHM value of 70.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of these remaining light frames, order them by Stars [count] and reject 50% of the lowest value frames.<br />(I also found using a 10% rule worked just as well when there are not many subframes available).</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is my result:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6rveEBJXRdSNQnJ5FaSdLv4QouzeLnK88uFvrHeanSkkPNP3y9fvHChAJ39pMLvSmkGsP3f2x3HSGeWFAHE5ifI3QVZGlMhqPe2JOH7SgVusMnsFvaAiuCvCrXkKTOsgAxJup4_l43lYvWqfT0amj07ubEox-vKNMj-ajiJQUqtLZTG7zVUyaMed/s1807/M42_24m_Reprocess_Dylan_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1647" data-original-width="1807" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6rveEBJXRdSNQnJ5FaSdLv4QouzeLnK88uFvrHeanSkkPNP3y9fvHChAJ39pMLvSmkGsP3f2x3HSGeWFAHE5ifI3QVZGlMhqPe2JOH7SgVusMnsFvaAiuCvCrXkKTOsgAxJup4_l43lYvWqfT0amj07ubEox-vKNMj-ajiJQUqtLZTG7zVUyaMed/w640-h584/M42_24m_Reprocess_Dylan_03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>(The original is here: <a href="https://mmastrogroup.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-end-of-winter.html">https://mmastrogroup.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-end-of-winter.html</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Clear skies.</div><div>MJ.</div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-73018538014158504252022-06-12T14:07:00.004+00:002022-06-12T14:07:28.224+00:00Nothin' goin' on but the .... Sun!So... not much going on here lately due to the cloudy nights. However, we do have some nice sunny (and cloudy) days so I managed to get our nearest star.<div><br /></div><div>Showing active sunpsot regions 3030 (top left) and 3031 (bottom left of middle).<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAP4vCW-FLEc1LTWOOlFbRAe-KooGZ0m4VRBRkaVfOrXH31bnCelgEhG8PZvakYtbgAmGdV6hPB27zwYanXzL6TwBIy-9K1il8WJQ3MTkBdoq18nbD9Bos7Hr6Mdxdy3D4Uoi4Tu6IHrN9mUV3MQPqGBxhSHpdUwzjvhaJMHkpPLsMme4SoGiCIaI/s783/20220612_Sun_75pc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="783" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAP4vCW-FLEc1LTWOOlFbRAe-KooGZ0m4VRBRkaVfOrXH31bnCelgEhG8PZvakYtbgAmGdV6hPB27zwYanXzL6TwBIy-9K1il8WJQ3MTkBdoq18nbD9Bos7Hr6Mdxdy3D4Uoi4Tu6IHrN9mUV3MQPqGBxhSHpdUwzjvhaJMHkpPLsMme4SoGiCIaI/w640-h626/20220612_Sun_75pc.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Clear skies.</div><div>MJ</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-45462264660056819232022-05-09T18:07:00.002+00:002022-05-09T18:07:52.815+00:00Half MoonSunday 8th May 2022 gave me about 3 hours or so clear window.<br />I had some new kit to iron-out the gremlins on so I decided to setup early and hit the ground running to do a quick image run on the Moon.<div><br /></div><div>I also managed a few minutes of visual too. Looked superb. She never disappoints.<div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuy977BxTbmMpqA_pGhbGIQtYbGwWcMIEKqzKT2ndXHYOWvo2MGxORqnPISoapTdaH9ev6keBhG8CxNsgP50uPZU_wsQ3E2q-22lwl_4UxJ2eFppduMicU9Og-jEHEtpubXqIPkrq7JMwpBpK0AG4m3AUBupnvbYPj00yY-D5IkzNukMswlEuAGqdt/s1950/20220508_Moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1950" data-original-width="1944" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuy977BxTbmMpqA_pGhbGIQtYbGwWcMIEKqzKT2ndXHYOWvo2MGxORqnPISoapTdaH9ev6keBhG8CxNsgP50uPZU_wsQ3E2q-22lwl_4UxJ2eFppduMicU9Og-jEHEtpubXqIPkrq7JMwpBpK0AG4m3AUBupnvbYPj00yY-D5IkzNukMswlEuAGqdt/w638-h640/20220508_Moon.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Approx. 50 frames processed in AutoStakkert! and Affinity Photo.</div><div><br /></div><div>Clear skies.</div><div>MJ.</div></div></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-72442009501135277602022-05-01T19:00:00.002+00:002022-05-01T19:00:24.290+00:00The Little Pinwheel GalaxyWell, if one Pinwheel Galaxy is not enough, there's another!<br />NGC3184 in Ursa Major is also known as the Little Pinwheel Galaxy and lies at some 40 million light years from Earth. It exhibits a blueish colour and contains an abundance of heavy metals.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5cExlICdkRBDjPXPfCjMqtSFJ3pWYXnYwTJYfnn2prxlQd83D30QkutahDFHwItnZ7hGEHs_oa8-QB_jdsDPd2r1cfiueGHxobcgTqflClRAx4a2QB4h3qEhsp97nldIa4x9Wc8hU9U82Y6cmoCi5BBDDX_32PCesKCK0-yCL336XY0kVelrIakL/s822/20220429_NGC3184_OS48_G1600_Bin2x2_2h10m_90s.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="822" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5cExlICdkRBDjPXPfCjMqtSFJ3pWYXnYwTJYfnn2prxlQd83D30QkutahDFHwItnZ7hGEHs_oa8-QB_jdsDPd2r1cfiueGHxobcgTqflClRAx4a2QB4h3qEhsp97nldIa4x9Wc8hU9U82Y6cmoCi5BBDDX_32PCesKCK0-yCL336XY0kVelrIakL/w640-h566/20220429_NGC3184_OS48_G1600_Bin2x2_2h10m_90s.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>The bright star is very much in the foreground. Known as HIP40389 it is a variable star and lies at 997(ish) light years.</div><div><br /></div><div>90sec. subs for 2 hour 10 mins. total.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Altair Astro Hypercam 183C PRO (Gain 1600, Offest 48, Bin 2x2)</div><div>6in Ritchey Chrétien with 0.6x focal reducer</div><div>SkyTech LPRO Max filter</div><div>Processed with Deep Sky Stacker and Affinity Photo</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Clear skies</div><div>MJ</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-40401532508011115922022-03-30T14:24:00.002+00:002022-03-30T14:24:25.924+00:00The end of Winter<p>March 20th (2022) marks the official end of winter and start of spring.</p><p>For the Astronomer and Astrophotographer it means lighter nights are on their way and some of the winter targets are gone for another year.</p><p>To this end I wanted to try something different and something familiar within Orion.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKV7se5jf5pldAoQI5oaSkocsUhzr0LAuGtQv4npFGGSwXPzzSj4XG-CE-NLcZwALPuakpgutXk__e7woMbPgSZjPjfJPV1bo8TlCiA9_x__o9Y9C7xpZAZ1JF_7jcLougUSmGcgqO8Tg6JrX3ZbnB0ShPvshVMtUvOLlKSR-v7Wi39_Q7SL1Ty0Fh/s715/orion_stars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="566" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKV7se5jf5pldAoQI5oaSkocsUhzr0LAuGtQv4npFGGSwXPzzSj4XG-CE-NLcZwALPuakpgutXk__e7woMbPgSZjPjfJPV1bo8TlCiA9_x__o9Y9C7xpZAZ1JF_7jcLougUSmGcgqO8Tg6JrX3ZbnB0ShPvshVMtUvOLlKSR-v7Wi39_Q7SL1Ty0Fh/w316-h400/orion_stars.JPG" width="316" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image - IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) via Wikimedia Commons</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">The different stuff relates to the two images below showing the stars Betelgeuse (left) and Rigel (right).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYw1dwiz666I5uE_bj6-NpTRIJi3Qw6ABHWQkK8xho5fA2aWPEtfR3OCkS1Kl0aMkzxnDhfYR0X-RystoXCqBRV7hUMK2AkCT9-mxOd5T7MuaDu8Y3qnv9DaQPturWJC2IbT6KzzYIFsLA4TVUtfExR6Hlf9onHmSarvqfxaU-iNaNIfN6XK0uXUki/s1136/20220328_Betelgeuse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="630" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYw1dwiz666I5uE_bj6-NpTRIJi3Qw6ABHWQkK8xho5fA2aWPEtfR3OCkS1Kl0aMkzxnDhfYR0X-RystoXCqBRV7hUMK2AkCT9-mxOd5T7MuaDu8Y3qnv9DaQPturWJC2IbT6KzzYIFsLA4TVUtfExR6Hlf9onHmSarvqfxaU-iNaNIfN6XK0uXUki/w221-h400/20220328_Betelgeuse.jpg" width="221" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIZXxtQA4IhqkURn7zVpOwQnoaAyLjn9AyF56MEvN-zsfQbMuKmPxMCB2Gnzvwu4lnXjc_25yNZ5Af1Y0X31nxk8HIt1nCXrDNAkorbDXOjIeKYFoCHYfD7nt_JPc4ypx-C4gK-XJbgEzU3ULNEP4e0VNG1kBu5dOtQLtMi1oYkGkmE_IQZBp7V23/s1370/20220328_Rigel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="738" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIZXxtQA4IhqkURn7zVpOwQnoaAyLjn9AyF56MEvN-zsfQbMuKmPxMCB2Gnzvwu4lnXjc_25yNZ5Af1Y0X31nxk8HIt1nCXrDNAkorbDXOjIeKYFoCHYfD7nt_JPc4ypx-C4gK-XJbgEzU3ULNEP4e0VNG1kBu5dOtQLtMi1oYkGkmE_IQZBp7V23/w215-h400/20220328_Rigel.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><p>Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star lying some 642.5 light years away and has a surface temperature of about 3,500 degrees Kelvin.<br />By contrast, Rigel is a blue supergiant lying at 864.3 light years and has a surface temperature of about 11,000 degrees Kelvin.</p><p>Next is of course a familiar image to most astronomers - The Orion Nebula or Messier 42.<br />A stellar nursery approx. 1,344 light years away from Earth which can be spotted with the naked eye.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv_01JhUbbfL-MexunOf8a_yLB2HHuaYKoHwzidx_PFo7ivJkHzoNGpPUekPX6648ptjEfFm30jh2bm-AOffIhBx8wVqCO4iLBn1MFnkybelNKj3iiJ6jEcp-NzcKAhd7Qe5rrbl6AhNHe454LzewlqZ6aoyoAwcJxx0qa8Z_HyR7B-Wjk_Z8gOgF/s1286/20220327_M42_OS48_G1600_Bin2x2_40m30s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1286" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv_01JhUbbfL-MexunOf8a_yLB2HHuaYKoHwzidx_PFo7ivJkHzoNGpPUekPX6648ptjEfFm30jh2bm-AOffIhBx8wVqCO4iLBn1MFnkybelNKj3iiJ6jEcp-NzcKAhd7Qe5rrbl6AhNHe454LzewlqZ6aoyoAwcJxx0qa8Z_HyR7B-Wjk_Z8gOgF/w640-h506/20220327_M42_OS48_G1600_Bin2x2_40m30s.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>45sec. subs for 45min. 30sec. total</p><p><br /></p><p>Altair Astro Hypercam 183C PRO (Gain 1600, Offest 48, Bin 2x2)<br />6in Ritchey Chrétien with 0.6x focal reducer<br />SkyTech LPRO Max filter<br />Processed with Deep Sky Stacker and Affinity Photo</p><p>Clear skies<br />MJ</p>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-48839566730596041362022-03-09T23:16:00.024+00:002022-11-17T14:34:01.447+00:00The Moon on it's back and a crab?!I have recently purchased a new scope - a 6 inch Ritchey-Chrétien. This type of scope is regarded as a true astrograph reflector as it has no coma to correct (edge stars exhibit a slight elongated shape) and it brings all of the wavelengths of light to a single focal point due to it's primary and secondary hyperbolic mirrors.<div><br /></div><div>I've also spent time working out a few configuration tweaks to get the best out of my equipment - namely the arc second per pixel calculation. To mention this quickly it should be between 1 and 2 using this equation:</div><div><br /></div><div>( sensor pixel size (µm) / focal length (mm) ) x 206.3</div><div><div><br /></div><div>So I have used a 0.6x focal reducer in the optical train combined with 2x2 camera binning to help with this.</div><div>A word of note here. Reducing the focal length also widens the field of view (reducing the f-number) and using binning effectively increases the camera sensitivity (2x2 will increase it 2 times using CMOS and 4 times using CCD).</div><div>Guiding becomes more of a necessity too. As you get deeper into your targets the focal length increases.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here we have the crescent Moon taken low in the west.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgD-3VvmeL7xX0vE595aXzGTju8oyhqzGOU3QTubpkWL0XJptuU6NPgx12hUHpTMLIZXdiHem1DvY2xhL8HR0-lV_zr9gjuWrWzoaZxv8xB6JJQgI3wSfN0d8dnuckL5jPAMz0ZLQU6IDtcLIS_OEmBulTzAApe9hlkwqrm4RYna8-DixgIZfTEOxm7=s2568" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2364" data-original-width="2568" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgD-3VvmeL7xX0vE595aXzGTju8oyhqzGOU3QTubpkWL0XJptuU6NPgx12hUHpTMLIZXdiHem1DvY2xhL8HR0-lV_zr9gjuWrWzoaZxv8xB6JJQgI3wSfN0d8dnuckL5jPAMz0ZLQU6IDtcLIS_OEmBulTzAApe9hlkwqrm4RYna8-DixgIZfTEOxm7=w640-h590" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Movie file of 1000 frames processed in AutoStakkert and Affinity Photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The larger sea to the middle is Mare Fecunditatis which leads up into Mare Tranquilitatis (in shadow). Crater Langrenus lies below and to the right is Mare Crisium with crater Cleomedes to the right.</div><br /><div>Next we have Messier 1 or The Crab Nebula which is a Supernova remnant 6,523 light years away.</div><div>It was recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054. At the heart is a pulsar (neutron star) which spins at 30 times per second emitting gamma to radio radiation.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgE7ORt_FW17DC3QmSTi3eeJyAiG_cie7XwT4zDx7YwUJ2M_JlnOO9clMCH2ps2NyacN_DpbrMuITuzAXPDAi3eBT0EpualW4aRanKtGOqrfjqaKnTpknHcmcm6N7LyM9G4c-cGLsW-cKUfVcnCv3z34OllmGC2XJbvuOniqhQQu_MU72q73SmlIDv=s1291" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1291" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgE7ORt_FW17DC3QmSTi3eeJyAiG_cie7XwT4zDx7YwUJ2M_JlnOO9clMCH2ps2NyacN_DpbrMuITuzAXPDAi3eBT0EpualW4aRanKtGOqrfjqaKnTpknHcmcm6N7LyM9G4c-cGLsW-cKUfVcnCv3z34OllmGC2XJbvuOniqhQQu_MU72q73SmlIDv=w640-h516" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">51 x 60sec.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Altair Astro Hypercam 183C PRO (Gain 1600, Offest 48, Bin 2x2).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">SkyTech LPRO Max filter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Processed with Deep Sky Stacker and Affinity Photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm hoping this represents a clear jump forward in my astrophotography.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Clear skies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">MJ</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-47380622879926160742022-02-01T22:22:00.001+00:002022-02-01T22:22:04.430+00:00Winter sky reprocessedThe previous Rosette Nebula image was niggling me as I should have seen some OIII in there somewhere. I approached a fellow astrophotographer at my local astronomy club and he was a massive help.<div>I basically needed to concentrate more on the green and blue channels when adjusting the levels. This also needed to be done in tiny iterative steps.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Here is the reprocessed version.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizW3OyvXC1g8nki7lLozcqk6kHoulWiv61G6Lnqd9_MEpd9L8EzaXLXiCZ9L-lh2rCwcwSO4ISWgFjZWMag7HIxktBlM86AKPLOMWxRNDdoDcnTMGCcevqBvAnAEqqbSm6Ni5hV_F7U5UNUZHt-cI8eFhCofgSjWnz3sFIHSEE7PrdPstJQwAc-bAv=s2176" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1459" data-original-width="2176" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizW3OyvXC1g8nki7lLozcqk6kHoulWiv61G6Lnqd9_MEpd9L8EzaXLXiCZ9L-lh2rCwcwSO4ISWgFjZWMag7HIxktBlM86AKPLOMWxRNDdoDcnTMGCcevqBvAnAEqqbSm6Ni5hV_F7U5UNUZHt-cI8eFhCofgSjWnz3sFIHSEE7PrdPstJQwAc-bAv=w640-h430" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Clear skies.</div><div>MJ.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715860832663784445.post-28941615238658514062022-01-31T19:34:00.006+00:002022-03-23T11:55:21.150+00:00Winter skyThe winter sky brings us a whole host of really lovely targets to point our cameras at. This is NGC2237 or The Rosette Nebula situated in Monoceros. It is a HII region some 5200 light years distant.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyyEdGclfiij09StmSLy7PDfljh_bGYfILm4Pq5uz0cSBTuhBDs7SkZK7VOo906_kOkEBcNsVUaG2c6bqID9gtr8i1Fuhk4EhVzzE_XkoJaO5oTZcnlfucEtuOto-M6rRpR0um5ArMg0In4wUr7hof6TY2ftP3a4-E_va8wpk7notrJivMNSr6qfMn=s2720" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="2720" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyyEdGclfiij09StmSLy7PDfljh_bGYfILm4Pq5uz0cSBTuhBDs7SkZK7VOo906_kOkEBcNsVUaG2c6bqID9gtr8i1Fuhk4EhVzzE_XkoJaO5oTZcnlfucEtuOto-M6rRpR0um5ArMg0In4wUr7hof6TY2ftP3a4-E_va8wpk7notrJivMNSr6qfMn=w640-h430" width="640" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Total of 1hr 20mins. (5 minute subs.)</div><div>Altair Hypercam 183C PRO (Offset: 48 / Gain: 800)</div><div>Optolong L-eNhance filter.</div><div>Processed in Deep Sky Stacker and Affinity Photo</div><div><br /></div><div>Clear skies<br />MJ</div><div><br /></div></div>Constellations and Coffeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705300371466132495noreply@blogger.com0