Posts Made By: Michael Roark

Hi all! I have a question about the installation of a 12" diameter concrete pier in my backyard to mount the top portion of my Orion SkyView Pro 8" EQ to during astrophotography. Does anyone have any experience in doing something like this? I could fabricate the correct threaded bolt through a metal plate atop the pier to connect the mount to, but I was wondering if anybody has done something like this. It seems to me that a concrete pier placed 5 feet in the ground would provide a pretty stable platform for astrophotography. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Mike

Another major flare erupted today at around X10! With the IMF currently pointed south, we stand to have some impressive auroras tonight! Get those cameras ready!

Mike

Hi all, I recently saw a website that had information and a program that you can load onto a Palm Pilot and control the exposure (bulb) on a 300D via the IR port. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks!

Mike

Hi all, I just thought I'd post my first attempt at astrophotography with my new Canon 300D. I wasn't planning on shooting this evening, and I didn't have my Newt/Equatorial mount with me, so I grabbed my father's tripod and did some very short exposures. My focus is a bit off, but I was happy with the results.

I used the 300D at 18mm, f3.5, ISO 1600, and exposed for approximately 1 minute. Thanks for looking!

Mike

Hi all, I am trying to figure out the most straightforward way to create and interface between my dual axis stepper drives (Orion TrueTrack) and my webcam to autoguide my SkyView Pro mount. I have several pieces of software (i.e., Startrack and Guidedog), the webcam, a laptop, and I even have the parts to make the Cookbook autoguider circuit (via the AY-3-1013D UART). I saw an article in a Sky and Telescope magazine a few years ago about how to essentially rewire the TrueTrack handpad to allow webcam autoguiding. Does anybody have any instructions for how to put all of these components together to allow me to autoguide with my piggybacked refractor? As a side note, I'll be using the SkyView Pro mount on a backyard pier. Thanks for your help!

Mike

Hi all! It has been cloudy here in Missouri for over a month and it finally cleared up a little tonight, so I was able to take my first digital astrophotograph using my Canon Digital Rebel. I have previously taken a handful of manual SLR images with limited success.

This image was acquired using DSLRFocus and an Orion Skyview Pro 8" Newt. The image consists of eight 1-minute exposures at ISO 400. No dark frames and no guiding (other than the clock drive). Images were converted (RAW to TIF), stacked and combined in Imagesplus. Also used the digital development auto option in IP. I know my focus is a bit off but I was freezing and I was probably overly anxious to get any type of image. I have built a webcam autoguider with a KITSRUS interface, just haven't had a chance to use it.

Please let me know your comments...I appreciate any feedback, and I welcome you to play with the image to see what else you can bring out in it. My processing skills are very green, so I would appreciate any advice. Thanks for looking, and clear/dark skies to all!

Mike Roark
St. Charles, Missouri

Thanks to everybody for your responses!

This is indeed a sad day not only for astronomers, but all mankind. Please keep the astronaut's families and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Mike Roark

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will post my pics after I take them (still keeping my fingers crossed that the sky is clear as forecasted).

Michael

Andrew, I just hope I can eventually take as astounding pics as you always do...absolutely amazing!

Mike