Steve Coates's Blog (8)

NGC 2264 the Cone and Fox Fur nebula is a diffuse, dark and emission nebula ~2,700 light years from Earth, located in the constellation Monoceros.

Imaged January 14 and January 16, 2013 from Ocala, Florida.

RGB data: 6 minute exposure (each channel) stacked in DSS for a total of 3 hours

Ha data: 15minute exposure stacked in DSS for a total of 4 hours.

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M106 with accompanying galaxies NGC 4217, NGC 4248, NGC 4232, NGC 4231 and NGC 4220.

Spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici

~23.7 million light years distant

March 14 and 15, 2013

Ocala, FL

Combination of 6 min and 10 min exposures stacked in DSS for a total of 6 hours 40 min

1 hours each RGB

3 hours and 40 min Luminance

PS CS5

Orion 80mm…

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Differential flexure can occur when one part of the imaging system shifts slightly such as when a focuser (either on the guide scope or imaging scope) sags. The goal to beat this is to 1) use an Off Axis Guider or 2) make sure all parts of the guide scope (including camera) and imaging scope (with camera) is as rigid as possible and "moves" as a complete unit.

I added tube rings to the focuser and one on the autoguider to limit flexure at the focuser on the 80mm Short tube. So far so…

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Check out Finnish astrophotographer, J-P Metsavainio, latest 3D image.

Universe Today has a great write up on him. It's pretty amazing what he does.

Has anyone seen this video? It feature fellow AGer Gary Gonnella! Congrats and nice work Gary.

Ok here goes. We all started out as "noobs", wet behind the ears and wondering if this hobby is something worth getting into. There have been many "A-Ha!!!" moments and a lot of "$%@# er" moments. I think I speak for all of us, though, that we have learned quite a bit over the years (anyone remember CelestronLife?) and that we need to look back at the progress made. I'd like to share (and others to join in) my first images taken through a telescope. It was a SkyWatcher 8 inch SCT, UNGUIDED,…

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I just want to share this website with all of you space enthusiast! The images he has captured of past launches are stunning. I hope you all enjoy! Feel free to write about any experiences you may have had? Have you seen a launch or been to KSC?