Chiefland Astronomy Village, Inc. Field: I can't thank Chiefland Village residents enough for their hospitality during my stay. The new observing field was this snowbird's dream. I was joined in this escape from the dreary land of the ice and snow by Dr. Elliott McKinley. Here is a photo of the new field and my setup looking south upon arrival:
Notice the horizonal views and the low gap to the south. This was the bottom frame of the window to southern deep sky objects we never see up north. Omega Centauri climbed to 13 degrees altitude and Centaurus A to 17 degrees. Field ammenities include electric power, RV hookups, wireless interent, showers, restroom, ice machine and kitchen with microwave and computer.
Light pollution maps show that this area of the state may be the last refuge from light pollution. Skyglow rises about 30 degrees to the North from Cheifland, there is very low skyglow along the Eastern horizon and this site's best skies are to the West and Southwest in the direction of the Gulf.
IMAGES:
Images were taken with a Peltier Cooled Modified Canon Rebel XSi (450D). Ambient temperatures were in the range between 48 degrees to 66 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature of the peltier cooled camera ranged between 12 degrees and 26 degrees Fahrenheit allowing for noise-free imaging with the DSLR.
Telescope used for imaging was an Astro Tech 127mm ED APO Triplet refractor using a Celestron f/6.3 focal reducer for Schmidt-Cassegrains. The Astro Tech 127 and ED80 refractor guide scope were mounted on an Orion Atlas EQ-G mount. The EQMOD ASCOM driver was used to drive the mount directly via an EQDIR interface module. Images are Full Frame.
Equipment used:
NGC 2237 Rosette Nebula - Full Frame:
53 four-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1200X800):
Markarian's Chain of Galaxies in Virgo - Full Frame:
26 four-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1200X800):
NGC 5139 Omega Centauri (10 degrees altitude) - Full Frame:
16 one-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1200X800):
NGC 5128 Centaurus A - Full Frame:
24 four-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1200X800):
M101 Pinwheel Galaxy - Full Frame:
25 four-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1200X800):
IC 2177 Seagull Nebula - Full Frame:
NGC 2259 Thor's Helmet - Full Frame:
33 four-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1200X800):
Saturn - 2/25/09:
Registax 4 was used to process a two-minute avi taken with a modified 2 megapixel Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 webcam using a 5X powermate and 20" Starmaster Dobsonian:
Detailed instructions for modifying a Canon 450D or 1000D CLICK HERE
Want me to modify your DSLR? - Link to my DSLR Modification Service.
Detailed instructions for building a whole camera peltier cooling system CLICK HERE
Other astro images with the modified 450D: CLICK HERE
Comet Lulin images and You Tube videos: CLICK HERE