All Blog Posts (157)

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…

Wa-chur-ed Observatory (that's me) is proud to announce our newest addition to the product family, MRT (Mister T).

MRT (Mister T) adapter for Canon DSLR astro-photography. With rock-solid mounting and easy camera rotation adjustment, I pity the fool that doesn’t use this adapter!

Click here for more information:…

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.

Ok so you guys know I'm new at this. When I first process my photos, I try to squeeze out as much color and detail as possible. Then, I'll go back the next day and it looks totally over-processed. Sometimes almost cartoonish!

So a couple of my questions are these:

How do you know when to stop with the processing?

How do I know when I have achieved accurate colors of what I'm shooting?

I'm currently only using my camera's software to process, which seems to work…

Another shot from beautiful Portland, OR.  Bortle 8 sky.

This time using using Ha as Luminance.

Enjoy this shot of the Eastern Veil...

Ha: 110min.

Luminance: 60min.

Red: 30min.

Green: 30min.

Blue: 30min.

Forgive the shameless commercial pitch, but I've just printed 100 copies of a calendar and need to get the word out if I'm going to sell enough to cover the cost. For more information see: http://wa-chur-ed.com/Calendar.html

Thanks,

Greg…

Total Exposure: 3 hours 38min.

Red: 6 X 150 sec

Blue: 9 x 150 sec

Green: 6 x 150 sec

Luminance (LPS IDAS): 66 x 150 sec

Pixinsight & Photoshop for processing

Mount: HEQ5 Pro

CCD: Mon QHY9M

Telescope: WO Lomo + TV 0.85 reducer (FL=380mm)

Imaging: QHY9M + LPS IDAS (Luminance)

Sensor temp: -15c

Location: Portland Downtown (Bortle: 8)…

CCDap is so unstable. Actually going to try the free program Steve Coates turned us onto tomorrow, but man CCDap is just unstable. When it works it's awesome when it doesn't it blows a night, and it seems to be 50/50. ACP apparently much more stable.

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

IC5146 Cocoon Nebula

Location: Portland Downtown, Bortle 8

Sky Conditions: Clear with new moon

Total Exposure: 9.6 hours. 233subsx150seconds over 4 nights

Adquisition: MaximDL

Focus: FocusMax

Guiding: ST80+SSAG+MaximDL+EQMOD+PEC

Processing: Pixinsight + PS4 + Astrotools

Mount/Telescope Equipment: HEQ5 Pro + Orion Mak 1800mm

Imaging: QHY8L CCD…

I've always used a separate guide scope and like the simplicity that it offers, but I now have pretty clear evidence of differential flexure despite doing everything imaginable to make a solid connection between the 2 scopes. So I want to try an off-axis guider and am looking for recommendations. I think it should be very adjustable (both rotation and prism position) to be able to find a good guide star. My current setup uses 2" SCT threads to connect the reducer/flattener to the scope. This…

Location: Portland Downtown

Sky Conditions: Turbulence. Really warm air (80F)

Total Exposure: 1hr. 27.5min. 35subsx150seconds over 3 nights

Adquisition: MaximDL

Focus: FocusMax

Guiding: ST80+SSAG+MaximDL+EQMOD+PEC

Processing: Pixinsight + PS4 + Astrotools

Mount/Telescope Equipment: HEQ5 Pro + Orion Mak 1800mm

Imaging: QHY8L CCD

M.…

This is my first shot of 2012 & first OSC processing in Pixinsight.

Location: Portland Downtown, Bortle 8

Sky Conditions: Clear with full moon

Total Exposure: 5.75 hours. 138subsx150seconds over 3 nights

Adquisition: MaximDL

Focus: FocusMax

Guiding: ST80+SSAG+MaximDL+EQMOD+PEC

Processing: Pixinsight + PS4 + Astrotools

Mount/Telescope Equipment: HEQ5 Pro + Orion Mak 1800mm

Imaging: QHY8L CCD

M.…

Wonder how much it would cost to have your own like 20 inch orbiting telescope.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QoEEGySGm4

OK, these guys are actually doing this. Would you go?

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,…

I love the irony in this pic,
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37701744/displaymode/1247?beginSlide=1
We can't see the stars because of all the light pollution we generate, so we'll put up fake stars and constellations and generate more light pollution-Great Idea! Marc