Images through the 5" Triplet were taken with a Peltier Cooled Modified Canon 450D (XSi). Widefield camera lens images were taken with a non-modified Canon 550D (T2i).
The Astro Tech 5" Triplet 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.
Equipment used:
DSLR Modification Service: I am selling and converting Canon 450D, 500D, 550D, 600D, 1000D & 1100D DSLR cameras for astro imaging. CLICK HERE for details.
During the two week stay at Cherry Springs, we had 10 clear overnight skies including an Auroral display on the last morning of the Cherry Springs Star Party.
IC 1318b & B347 Dark Nebula:
17 six-minute exposures at ISO 1600 captured with Astro-Tech 5" Triplet Refractor at prime were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1100X732).
M63 Sunflower Galaxy:
27 six-minute exposures at ISO 1600 captured with Astro-Tech 5" Triplet Refractor at prime were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1100X732).
NGC 6520 and Dark Nebula B86:
10 six-minute exposures at ISO 1600 captured with Astro-Tech 5" Triplet Refractor at prime were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1100X732).
NGC 4244 Silver Needle Galaxy:
20 six-minute exposures at ISO 1600 captured with Astro-Tech 5" Triplet Refractor at prime were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1100X732). I took this image by mistake. I asked an observing friend Tony, what Galaxy the newly discovered bright supernova was in and he told me NGC 4244. I later imaged the correct galaxy NGC 4424 with the supernova . (see below)
NGC 4424 and Supernova 2012cg:
18 six-minute exposures at ISO 1600 captured with Astro-Tech 5" Triplet Refractor at prime were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1100X732). Galaxy NGC4424 with the supernova is in the center of the large image. I placed an enlarged insert in the upper corner to label the location of the supernova.
IC 5068 Nebula:
30 six-minute exposures at ISO 1600 captured with Astro-Tech 5" Triplet Refractor at prime were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1100X732).
M4 Globular Cluster:
27 three-minute exposures at ISO 1600 captured with Astro-Tech 5" Triplet Refractor at prime were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1100X732).
NGC 6914 Nebula & vdB31, vdB32 &Dolidze 9:
18 six-minute exposures at ISO 1600 captured with Astro-Tech 5" Triplet Refractor at prime were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1100X732).
M13 Globular Cluster (by Elliott McKinley) :
I modified a T2i camera for Elliott who has ordered an Atlas mount to use for imaging with his Televue refractor. I instructed him on using my Atlas mount and he made all of the scope adjustments and operations from alignment through focusing and image acquisition for this M13 image. 20 one-minute exposures at ISO 1600 captured with Astro-Tech 5" Triplet Refractor at prime were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1100X732).
M16 Eagle Nebula:
40 six-minute exposures at ISO 1600 captured with Astro-Tech 5" Triplet Refractor at prime were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1100X732).
NGC 7023 Iris Nebula:
38 six-minute exposures at ISO 1600 captured with Astro-Tech 5" Triplet Refractor at prime were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1100X732).
NGC 6992-95 Eastern Portion Veil Nebula:
39 six-minute exposures at ISO 1600 captured with Astro-Tech 5" Triplet Refractor at prime were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1100X732).
M17 Swan Nebula Test Image:
12 two-minute exposures at ISO 1600 captured with an Alt-Az 20" Starmaster Dobsonian were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1100X732). Post processing was done to repair corner stars.
This is a photo of the Orion SteadyStar Adaptive Optics Off-Axis Guider and De-rotator mounted on my 20" Starmaster Dobsonian:
Aurora 6/17/12:
Many star party attendees left on Saturday night after the drawing because of the poor weather forecast. Those that stayed were treated to an early morning auroral display beginning around 3:15am. The animated GIF image below is made from 2 two-minute exposures taken with a non-modified Canon T2i camera and kit lens at 25mm, f4 and ISO 1600. In the excitement I forgot to check focus:(
Aurora 3:22am on 6/17/12:
This photo is a two-minute exposure taken with a non-modified Canon T2i camera and kit lens at 18mm, f3.5 and ISO 1600. I did not have good focus for this image as well.
Aurora 3:51am on 6/17/12:
This photo is a two-minute exposure taken with a non-modified Canon T2i camera and 8mm Bower Fisheye lens at f3.5 and ISO 1600. I did have good focus. I took two minute exposures until near dawn and assembled a time lapse video that is included in the Youtube Star Party movie that is posted below.
ISS Pass towards Big Dipper:
At 10:00pm on 6/23/12 there was a pass of the ISS. It traveled toward the Big Dipper as the Moon was setting in the West. This 145 second exposure was taken with a non-modified Canon XSi camera and 8mm Bower Fisheye lens at f3.5 and ISO 1600. Image reduced in size for display (1100X732).
Milky Way Image and Animation - 6/24/12:
I set up a non-modified Canon XSi on a fixed tripod and triggered two-minute exposures from 1:26am to 3:51am. A Bower 8mm fisheye lens was used at f3.5 and ISO 1600. The camera lens was covered with dew for the final images. I assembled a YouTube video of the above images along with time lapse animations of these Milky Way exposures and also of the Aurora on 6/17/12. Here is one two-minute exposure reduced in size for display (1100X732).
YouTube Hi-Def 1080P video of Aurora and Milky Way Time-lapse animations along with above still astro images:
For images taken at Cherry Springs my previous New Moon trip CLICK HERE.
Other astro images with the modified 450D: CLICK HERE
My Astro YouTube videos: CLICK HERE