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Posts Made By: Alec Hitchman

January 10, 2006 06:04 AM Forum: Refractors

Best Small Quality Refractor for CCD Astrophotogra

Posted By Alec Hitchman
Hello, all:

After following the recent thread regarding the new Meade Triplet APO's, I began wondering what my fellow Astromarters considered to be the best small quality refractor for CCD astrophotography.

My constraints:

Must be piggybackable on my 14" LX200
Optimum price range is $400-$700
For an exceptional scope value, I could go up to about $800

Basically, I am looking for something with reasonable optics, and good quality mechanics.

I currently use a $109 Apogee Short Tube 80mm refractor. As you might imagine, it just barely gets the job done. My biggest gripes with it is the false color and that problem is exacerbated when I try to focus the R, G and B channels for my LRGB CCD imaging using the ridiculous stock focuser.

All comments are appreciated!

Keith

January 11, 2006 02:54 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Best Small Quality Refractor for CCD Astrophotogra

Posted By Alec Hitchman
Hello, all:

I posted this in Refractors, and I thought I would ask for opinions from this part of the forum.

After following the recent thread regarding the new Meade Triplet APO's, I began wondering what my fellow Astromarters considered to be the best small quality refractor for CCD astrophotography.

My constraints:

Must be piggybackable on my 14" LX200
Optimum price range is $400-$700
For an exceptional scope value, I could go up to about $800

Basically, I am looking for something with reasonable optics, and good quality mechanics.

I currently use a $109 Apogee Short Tube 80mm refractor. As you might imagine, it just barely gets the job done. My biggest gripes with it is the false color and that problem is exacerbated when I try to focus the R, G and B channels for my LRGB CCD imaging using the ridiculous stock focuser.

All comments are appreciated!

Keith


February 6, 2006 04:01 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Scripted Superbowl?

Posted By Alec Hitchman
Anyone else think that the Superbowl was scripted to give Jerome Bettis a win in his hometown?

Some fairly questionable calls; Rothlesberger did not score on his rush, the offensive pass interference call in the end zone was fictional, a questionable holding call that would have given Seattle first and goal, and then the tackler on defense given a penalty for a block below the knees, which in most instances is referred to as a "tackle"?

I just don't know who would have the power to sway the refs and the NFL that way.....

Just trying to stir up the pot a little here.... grin

February 17, 2006 09:10 PM Forum: AstroMart FAQ

Am I way off base?

Posted By Alec Hitchman
I have a question everyone, and here is the scenario:

You are the seller and I respond to your ad with the following e-mail:

"I would like to purchase this item. Will you accept paypal?

What would shipping be to the 99352 area code?

Thanks!"

What does this mean to my fellow Astromarters? Does this imply a sale? Too vague? Or is there still more work to do?

Thanks for your opinions!

February 24, 2006 06:07 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Best Toucam capture software?

Posted By Alec Hitchman
Hello,

I just purchased a Toucam 840k, and was wondering what everyone recommended as far as image/avi capture is concerned?

MaximDL doesn't support AVI capture, does it?

Thanks!

Keith

March 4, 2006 09:48 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Noob M51 using ZS66SD and Starshoot

Posted By Alec Hitchman
Hello, all!

Another Zenithstar 66SD afficionado here (whadda great scope), with my very first posted picture. I have a long way to go, but this is about the best that I have up to this point. I'm right off a main street, so I have a bunch of crazy gradients, and lots of sky pollution noise. Next time, I will image with my IDAS-NBN-PV filter!

Anyhow, specs are as follows: 30x75sec. RAW from Starshoot, captured, calibrated and stacked using Nebulosity, followed by processing in MaximDL and CS. Cropped to the size attached.

Scope was a ZS66SD, at prime focus on an LXD75 mount, unguided.

Thanks for looking!

Keith

March 5, 2006 07:40 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Long vs. Short Subs

Posted By Alec Hitchman
Hello,

I am looking for some feedback; assuming that light pollution and guide error is not a factor, am I going to have better results shooting 20 minutes for each sub, as opposed to 2 or 5 minutes?

Are 5 stacked 20 minute subs better than 20 stacked 5 minute subs?

Now, since I typically work from a light polluted location, should I just try for the longest subs I can get without excessive noise?

Thanks for your help, and your opinions!

Keith

April 13, 2006 07:57 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Starshoot Photo Examples

Posted By Alec Hitchman
I have included a couple of my rough Starshoot pictures to give everyone an idea of what this camera can do in unskilled hands, with very poor conditions.

Both shots were taken from my yard, which is about 40 feet from a fairly busy neighborhood street. When there is no moon, my skies are limiting naked eye magnitude 4.0-4.5 at very best.

The shot of M-51 was taken on 3/3/06, in very average conditions. The moon was a few days past new. I used my William Optics Zenithstar 80 FD scope for this shot, with about 20 minutes of 75 second subs. Notice the extreme gradients! shocked

May 6, 2006 05:26 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Re: eeek!

Posted By Alec Hitchman
Funny, but that looks better than my best astrophotos yet!

Keith

May 7, 2006 11:30 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Latest Starshoot Try: M81 M82 Mosaic

Posted By Alec Hitchman
Hello, all;

Here is my latest Starshoot image. A two frame mosaic (cropped) of M81 and M82, taken with my APO-graded Zenithstar 80 and WO 0.8x reducer.

The star color is due to my poor balancing.....still having some problems.

Total exposure time of about an hour, under polluted skies, explaining the low S/N ratio.

Keith

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