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Captured by
Ralph Ford

M31 with Redcat 51

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Posts Made By: Phillip Ostroff

May 7, 2008 07:30 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Another Crack at Saturn

Posted By Phillip Ostroff
G'day there,

Still working on imaging Saturn with the Philips SPC900NC camera. I'm realizing that because my scope is wide-field (LX200 8" Classic @ F6.3) it's probably not the best for planetary imaging. However, I managed to get some okay color and a bit of detail with my last shot.

The camera was behind an Antares 2X barlow. This was 893 frames stacked, from a 1,300 frame .AVI. Seeing was around 2/5 (the planet really danced in and out of focus). Also taken in AltAz mode using standard two-star alignment. Captured in K3CCD Tools and processed in Registax.

I know it's not brilliant! :-)

Thanks for looking,
Phil


June 2, 2008 08:49 PM Forum: Pictures of Me and My Telescope and........

Take a Seat... Lightbridge 12"

Posted By Phillip Ostroff
Everything's ready, just need for the sun to go down and those few pretty clouds to drift away...

Taken at the Canyon of the Eagles observatory site in central Texas this past weekend.

(And yes, the clouds did move away!!!)

June 23, 2008 03:40 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M13, June 22

Posted By Phillip Ostroff
Hi All,

I posted this in the Nikon forum but thought this might be good to post here as well. I snapped M13 last night. It is my first attempt at a DSO using the Nikon D40 with my LX200 8" F6.3 SCT. Used in altaz mode.

10 * 20 second exposures
1600 ISO
F6.3
Processed in Deep Sky Stacker
Mild curve adjustment and sharpening in Photoshop

http://bp0.blogger.com/_hBh1qWkj6yg/SF9WgP1zX9I/AAAAAAAAAeI/i2OPBo2oLww/s1600-h/M13B_filtered.jpg

Cheers,
Phil

October 10, 2008 02:48 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Re: Dark blobs on CCD

Posted By Phillip Ostroff
I have a D40 as well and have been putting it to good use with respect to astrophotography. I also came across these demon blobs when I took it to Australia for a holiday and saw them floating around in my initial photos!

After some research, I came across a nifty little tool called the "Giottos Rocket Air Blaster". It's a little pump shaped liked a rocket (!) and is really good. I have used it to blow dust of my CCD sensor on my D40, from the lenses of the camera as well as eyepieces. The demon blobs have been exercised!

Better yet, I picked one up from my local camera store for a tenner.

http://www.pictureline.com/products/3332/Giottos_Rocket_Air_Blaster_7.5%22/

Cheers,
Phil

October 19, 2008 08:22 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

DSLR Widefield: UV Filters On or Off?????

Posted By Phillip Ostroff
G'day there,

So, I recently bought a mount to place my Nikon D40 atop my LX200 (with wedge) for some wide angle long exposure experimenting. I am going to use my stock lenses that came with the camera. I purchased UV filters for both my 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses, but the question is, do I keep them on for astro? Will they reject any special kind of photons I'm not aware of? No effect?

Cheers,
Phil


October 27, 2008 02:10 AM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

M31 Attempt - advice needed

Posted By Phillip Ostroff
Hi There!

Just need some advice!

Attempted to shoot M31 the other night. Was using my Nikon D40 piggybacked atop my XL200 with Milburn wedge. Polar alignment was A-OK. I used the stock 55-200mm zoom, set at 200mm.

The attached shot is a converted RAW file to JPG. It is of one of my 3 minute exposures. I converted it to JPG just to post here. Have been using RAW files for stacking. I know focusing is a bit off, and a couple of dustie blobs made their way on there too!

Does it look too "light"? I took 16 of these and the resulting image is really ordinary after running through DSS. Very light image and a light dome from center to about 50% field of view of the frame, if that makes sense.

Any ideas? Wait until M31 is higher in the sky? Too much light pollution, maybe?

Thanks!
Phil

November 3, 2008 01:23 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

First Attempt at M42

Posted By Phillip Ostroff
Hi There,

I am usually fairly rubbish at taking astro snaps, but this shot came out nicely. M42 through my LX200, taken when it was just about 30 degrees above the horizon.

* Nikon D40 DSLR
* Meade LX200 8" F6.3 on Milburn Wedge
* 20*30 second exposures (10 mins)
* 6*2 second flat frames
* 3*20 second dark frames
* ISO800
* Stacked in DSS
* Mild sharpening in Photoshop
* Noise reduction in Neat Image

Any feedback welcome. Not sure how I can get rid of the graininess and get nice, shiny images like the rest of you folks!!!

Cheers,
Phil

December 8, 2008 09:38 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Question about Flats

Posted By Phillip Ostroff
Hi Folks,

How do you shoot your flats?
- Sunset/Sunrise sky?
- White t-shirt with flashlight?
- How long exposures?

I think I am taking decent photos but can't seem to take decent flats, therefore get serious vignetting which hinders my ability to post-process the image nicely...

Cheers in advance,
Phil

December 12, 2008 03:08 AM Forum: After Dark

Fireball Spotted over Austin 12/11 @ 2057CST

Posted By Phillip Ostroff
Hi All,

Saw a surprising but lovely sight tonight in the north Austin, TX area. I was driving home from the store, and despite the big, near full moon and bright construction lights nearby I watched a really big fireball streak across the sky! It was in the northern sky, almost starting from the Gemini area and left a sparkly, broken-up trail behind it. Geminid, maybe?

Anyway, just lovely and must have been quite a decent size given the surrounding light pollution and the fact that it was so big and bright!

Clear Skies,
Phil

February 23, 2009 06:04 PM Forum: Comets

My Lulin Attempt

Posted By Phillip Ostroff
Had fun last night watching the comet rise into the night sky. Managed to get a picture of it. Not brilliant but it's nice to have been able to make my own visual record of it.

Image Details:

* William Optics 66mm Petzval mounted atop a Meade LX200 8" SCT with Milburn Wedge
* Nikon D40
* 19mins16secs Exposure @ ISO1600
* 4 * 2min dark frames
* 5 * flat frames
* Stacked in Deep Sky Stacker
* Mild Processing in GIMP
* Noise reduction in NeatImage

Cheers,
Phil
http://theguvnah.blogspot.com

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