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Erwin Forbragd

M33 in Triangulum

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Posts Made By: Charles Hakes

January 19, 2010 07:45 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Orion

Posted By Charles Hakes
This is a stack of 17 during less than optimum conditions... I didn't realize it by just looking at the sky, but there were some very thin clouds going overhead so each frame had a different "cloud pattern". I am moderately happy how that averaged out, considering the conditions, but now realize I should shoot two different exposures to make sure I get the core of M42, plus all the dim goodies in the field. Snow is predicted all week, so it might be a while before I get to try that one.

Charlie

January 30, 2010 02:19 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Anyone use a netbook?

Posted By Charles Hakes
Anyone use a netbook for imaging? I have used a couple of models briefly for surfing and Skype, but how would they perform with LOTS of USB thingys plugged in. I assume I would need a hub (or two), but would that even have enough total power going out the USB ports to drive everything? My thoughts are for making a more portable setup where maybe I just just velcro the netbook to the side of the tripod. I would be running at least CCDSoft, TheSky, and PHDGuiding, and maybe a couple of other applications open. Thoughts?

Charlie

February 16, 2010 01:09 AM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Orion closer

Posted By Charles Hakes
I finally got a clear night last night. However, I only got a small fraction of what I had planned. My first "set" of the Hyades and Pleiades were not aligned enough to use, and this "set" ran the battery down halfway through. So this is 6x4minutes total. Again my 18-200 zoom lens on the 50D, this time at ~110mm and f5.6. Stretched and tweaked in Photoshop, including some Carboni actions...

Got to find another battery solution. This one seems to work great in the daytime, but at 0F I only get ~2hrs, no matter how many shots. Any suggested preferences? Also, any favorites or suggestions (for or against) for fixed focal length lenses (~20-28mm and ~85-100mm) for a Canon that won't break the bank?

Thanks for looking,
Charlie

February 28, 2010 02:51 AM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

hercules etc.

Posted By Charles Hakes
Finally got a clear night, but the moon was out for most of it. Transparent for sure, but not very dark. This is 15x2 minute exposures and the same amount of darks. I stretched and really increased the color. Canon 50D with ~35mm setting on an 18-200mm zoom at f5.6. This is about 1/4

Take a look at the next version too - I added some spikes that brought out the colors that I wish showed up better in this one. I typically don't care for added diffraction, but thought this one worked OK.

Charlie

February 28, 2010 10:50 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

blacker sky?

Posted By Charles Hakes
Looked at my previous post on a different monitor and the sky looked very gray and washed out instead of nicely stretched to show dim details. So I made it darker. More pleasing? Anything else to try on it?

Charlie

March 1, 2010 01:57 AM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

taurus

Posted By Charles Hakes
This was done when the moon really was out. 24x30 seconds. I would prefer to expose longer, but I am really happy with the way things darkened up. Just need a darker night, but clear nights have been so rare I had to take advantage.

Once again, Canon 50D, 18-200mm zoom at ~50mm, f5.6.

Thanks for looking,
Charlie

March 2, 2010 04:35 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Web site comments wanted

Posted By Charles Hakes
Hi all,

Still stuck in the snow. Might be able to get back to the observatory in a couple of weeks if we don't get another big dump. In the mean time...

Please take a look. I have had a chance to fill in some blanks on the image pages but there is still a long way to go and more images to add. Fortunately, much of this site was from a template of other college pages, and someone who knew what they were doing set up a database for the images. I would be most interested in comments on layout, load speed, object description formats, search feature, and any obviously missing information. I know that lots of the images are "naked" right now, but at least they are there. (I think that database will be great if I can figure out how to be the master rather than the slave.) Thanks for looking.

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/default.asp

Clear skies,
Charlie

March 5, 2010 12:36 AM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Another Orion

Posted By Charles Hakes
Just practicing for the summer milky way...

March 6, 2010 02:27 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Link to larger Orion image and description

Posted By Charles Hakes
Here is a link to that Orion ultra wide image, now posted on the FLC web site:

http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=176

Click on the link for the "large" version to browse around and count clusters.

March 27, 2010 02:18 AM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

The best way to print...

Posted By Charles Hakes
Not a solution, but a question. I guess I don't have enough patience after processing to get what I like on the monitor. Is there a magic button I should push to get images that look great on the screen to come out first time on a printer? And I guess I would prefer not to spend another arm and leg on more hardware. Some monitor calibration button? Any way to keep the "display" and the "print" versions as part of the same file?

Thanks,
Charlie

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