Peltier Cooled Modified Canon Digital Rebel XSi (450D)

& Astro-Tech 127mm Triplet

 

 

Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park - April 24-27, 2009

by Gary Honis

 


Images were taken with a Peltier Cooled Modified Canon Rebel XSi (450D). Ambient temperatures were unseasonably warm in the range between 59 degrees to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature of the peltier cooled camera ranged between 34 degrees and 43 degrees Fahrenheit for reduced noise imaging with the DSLR. The peltier cooler did not provide the level of cooling I have gotten in the past and I suspect this was because of not insulating a Televue 0.80X reducer I was using for the first time.

Telescope used for imaging was an Astro Tech 127mm ED APO Triplet refractor with a Televue 0.80X focal reducer for 800-1000mm refractors. 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:


NOTE: I am now providing a low cost modification service to convert your 450D or 1000D. CLICK HERE for details.


M63 - Sunflower Galaxy - Full Frame:

25 four-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1200X800):


IC 1318 - Butterfly Nebula - Full Frame:

11 four-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1200X800):


I had just completed modification of a Canon 450D (XSi) for Patrick Crants who met me at Cherry Springs to accept the camera. We were able to take a few first light images with the modified camera on my setup before Patrick needed to leave; M51 and M13:

M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy - Full Frame:

12 two-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1200X800):


M13 - Hercules Globular Cluster - Full Frame:

11 thirty-second exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1200X800):


Backyard Deck Observatory - Conyngham, PA - May 20-21,2009:

IC 5070 Pelican Nebula - Color (RGB), H-alpha and Composite Images & Animation CLICK HERE.


Chiefland Astronomy Village - Chiefland, Florida - 3/15-27, 2009:

CLICK HERE for images of:

 

 

 

 


Backyard Deck Observatory - Conyngham, PA - February 17 & 24, 2009:

Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3) Images, Animations and YouTube videos CLICK HERE.


Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park - 10/30-11/1, 2008:

M42 Orion Nebula and NGC 1977 Running Man Nebula, NGC 1499 California Nebula, NGC 281 Pacman Nebula and IC 1848 Soul Nebula with peltier cooled Canon 450D from Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park can be seen HERE.


Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park - 9/4-7/08:

M33 - Pinwheel Galaxy and NGC 7635 Bubble Nebula with M52 Open Cluster with peltier cooled Canon 450D from Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park can be seen HERE.


Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park - August 30, 2008:

M31 Andromeda Galaxy with peltier cooled Canon 450D can be seen HERE.


More Images:

Click here for gallery of Modified Canon 450D (XSi) DSLR astro images.


Removal of Canon XSi (450D) IR Cut Filter for Astrophotography


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Canon Digital Rebel DSLR Camera -Canon 450D - Canon XSi - Refractor Telescope