Posts Made By: Thomas V Davis

February 24, 2005 07:28 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Some Solar activity today

Posted By Thomas V Davis

I took a quick peek at the Sun today and there was a little activity. Thought I'd try to catch it.

Megrez 80 triplet-APO
SM60
Canon 10D

Cheers,

Tom

February 27, 2005 03:45 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

First Light: M42

Posted By Thomas V Davis

Hi Everyone,

I recently aquired an STL-11000XM and last night was first light. I haven't shot flats yet so this image was dark reduced only. After I get the flats I'll reprocess, but I just had to see what this camera could do.

Specs:

AP 155 EDF f/7
4" field flattener
STL-11000XM LRGB 100:40:40:40 min
all frames bin x 1

Clear skies to all,

Tom Davis
Inkom, ID

March 7, 2005 12:35 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M42 with STL revisited

Posted By Thomas V Davis

I finally obtained some flats to reduce and Ha data to combine with the M42 data that I took a couple of weeks ago. The STL11000XM is not very sensitive in the Ha region of the spectrum. Still, it brings out some of the fainter peripheral nebulosity.

AP 155 EDF f/7
4" field flattener
STL11000XM
(HaL)RGB (150,100):40:40:40 min -- all Bin x 1
Astrodon filters

Tom

March 12, 2005 12:08 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Markarian's Chain

Posted By Thomas V Davis

Hi All,

Here is my latest. It is Markarian's Chain in the heart of the Virgo cluster of galaxies. M86 and M84 are the two bright elliptical galaxies (M84 is to the far right). I need to get more RGB frames to smooth out the color data, but all-in-all not a bad catch of galaxies for such as short total exposure time.

Specs:

AP 155 EDF f/7
STL-11000M LRGB 90:40:40:40min; all unbinned

Cheers,

Tom Davis
Inkom, ID

April 26, 2005 08:46 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Vixen Atlux mount

Posted By Thomas V Davis

Anyone heard of or using a Vixen Atlux mount? Is it even available in the states? I can only find it for sale in Japan and the EU!!

Tom

May 28, 2005 02:43 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M13 test image

Posted By Thomas V Davis

Here is my first post after a long time of weather and technical related problems. It is a single 10 min exposure of M13 done to test the FOV, focus, collimation, mirror quality of a BRC-250. I detect a lot of defects in the image but it gives one the sense of light grasp this scope has.

BRC-250 f/5
STL-11000M
10 min (no flat)
guided

Tom

June 5, 2005 03:30 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Another M13 (wide field)

Posted By Thomas V Davis

Hi Everyone,

Here is my M13 from last night. It was taken between storms.

AP Traveler f/6
ST-10XME
RGB 16:16:16 min; Bin 1x1

I love the star colors!

Tom

June 5, 2005 03:34 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M4 region

Posted By Thomas V Davis

I tried this the other night but I didn't get enough color data to reduce the noise in the nebula. Subsequently I pushed the processing too much I think. The clouds limited my exposure time -- oh well.

AP Traveler f/6
ST-10XME
HaR RGB 55:25:25:25min; Bin 1x1

Tom

June 6, 2005 02:42 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Pelican

Posted By Thomas V Davis

Hi Everyone,

I obtained some data of the Pelican Nebula the other night (again, between storms). I processed it last night using RRGB processing. I have some Ha data also but I have yet to add that to the current image.

I tried to process the image so not to have any data clipping, therefore the very faint portions of the nebula are seen.

AP Traveler f/6
ST-10XME
RRGB 60:30:30:30min; Bin 1x1

The two very bright stars are a pain to process without blowing them out. I want to try this target again with a different telescope and camera combination.

Tom

June 8, 2005 01:50 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Pelican revisited

Posted By Thomas V Davis

I added 30min of Ha to the LUM and reprocessed the image from the other night.

AP Traveler f/6
ST-10XME
(HaR)RGB (30:60):30:30:30min; Bin 1x1

The two bright stars are still a pain to process.

Hope your having better weather than I am,

Tom