Images were taken with a Peltier Cooled Modified Canon Rebel XSi (450D). Daytime conditions on the observing field were very hot and humid. Overnight ambient temperatures during imaging were unseasonably warm ranged between 66 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature of the peltier cooled camera ranged between 32 degrees and 40 degrees Fahrenheit allowing for reduced noise long exposure imaging with the DSLR.
Telescope used for imaging was an Astro Tech 127mm ED APO Triplet refractor at prime. 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:
DSLR Modification Service: I am selling and converting Canon 450D and 1000D DSLR cameras for astro imaging. CLICK HERE for details.
M8 - Lagoon Nebula - Full Frame:
20 four-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1200X800):
NGC 7293 - Helix Nebula - Full Frame:
25 four-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (1200X800):
Cederblad 214 & Berkeley 59 Star Cluster in the Sharpless 2-171 complex - Full Frame:
More exposures would help this image. 15 four-minute exposures at ISO 1600 were combined using DeepSkyStacker and reduced in size for display (600X900):
Red Moon - 3:00 am on 8/15/09:
Because of haze and high humidity, the setting Sun was very red each sunset as also was the rising Moon. This image was taken with the Moon at 24 degrees Altitude and at 33% phase. The red could have been removed with image processing software, but wasn't.
Jupiter:
Imaged Jupiter using a modified Fusion webcam and 20" Starmaster Dobsonian Telescope with GOTO Skytracker. Images were taken with a 2.5X powermate and also a 5X powermate. Seeing was poor but not as bad as the norm for Cherry Springs. The site of the recent Jupiter impact rotated into view after the Great Red Spot but its appearance was greatly diminished.
Animated GIF - 1 hour 40 minute period on 8/17:
Jupiter Images:
Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park - July 18-22, 2009: No imaging done because of Gas Flaring from Marcellus Well Drilling Site.
Backyard Deck Observatory - Conyngham, PA - May 20-21,2009:
IC 5070 Pelican Nebula - Color (RGB), H-alpha and Composite Images & Animation CLICK HERE.
Cherry Springs Dark Sky Park - April 24, 2009:
M63 - Sunflower Galaxy, IC 1318 - Butterfly Nebula, M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy, M13 - Hercules Globular Cluster CLICK HERE.
Chiefland Astronomy Village - Chiefland, Florida - 3/15-27, 2009:
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.