March 31, 2008
FINALLY the clouds cleared… nearly 4 weeks without more than an hour of clear dark sky, and finally I get out.
It was actually just a test for some new bits and pieces to get the rig balanced again before Kelling heath (AstroZap dew Solid shield for Hyperstar, and the quite mesmerising DewBuster dew controller with its blinking LEDs), but the sky was clear and so it seemed a waste.
Couldnt quite get my head around just how late it is before it gets “astro” dark… it was at least 9.20-9.30pm. Goodbye winter! 🙁
I have also reverted back to using my CLS filter. I tried the IDAS 3 times now, both with and without the moon being up, and I still find that my “black” backgrounds are better with the CLS filter from my location. Unsure why, will need to do further investigations on this issue.
Anyway, here we go. Certainly not one of the best I`ve ever done, and completely the wrong kind of target for the optical setup last night, but after 4 weeks, I dont care!
OTA: NS8GPS @ f/2 (Hyperstar v3)
Guiding: William Optics ZenithStar 66 SD + DSI-C + PHD
RGB Imaging: QHY8 + MaximDL, 21×300s, CLS
Stacked: DeepSkyStacker
Post Process: ImagesPlus + PSCS2 + Noel Carboni’s AstroTools
(Click on Image for Larger version)
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments Off on M81/M82 Hyperstar Widefield
March 27, 2008
Any other UK based astro-imagers out there getting more than just a bit fed up with the amount of cloud cover we are experiencing (especially in the east of the country)? In the 3+ weeks since my last imaging session, I have seen clear dark skies for no more than an hour in any one go. The weather forecasts are depressingly accurate, with clear sky periods during the day, and as soon as the sun thinks about heading towards the horizon, the thick cloud banks roll in, covering the sky with a thick blanket of the grey stuff, usually accompanied by heavy rain and howling winds…. or even snow!
I hope its clear for at least one night at the Kelling Heath Spring Star Party next weekend. I really dont enjoy the whole camping experience, its something I endure for the sake of getting away to dark skies, but if its cloudy/rainy for the entire 5 days I am there, I think I will lose the plot totally.
Frustrated of Cambridge
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments Off on Never ending clouds… grr!!
March 15, 2008
Well, as the magazine is now out in the shops, I guess I can quite happily post the news that my Rosette from back in January 2008 won Picture of the Month in the BBC’s Sky at Night magazine, April 2008. Can you see me grinning? 🙂
Also, it has been chosen by the BBC’s Sky at Night Magazine 2009 Calendar (July)
(Click on image for larger version)
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments (1)
March 5, 2008
Got caught in a mini-blizzard while driving home last night, but the satellite images showed it was due to clear up afterwards… and it did! Not a great night, a bit milky up there, but no moon and no storm force wind blowing everything around the garden.
M101 and M51 have both started to clear the house at a decent time of the evening (well, actually thats a lie, this was started at 1am after 4 hours of IC405/IC410 which I cant seem to do anything with because my flats are messed up)
OTA: NS8GPS @ f/7-ish
Guiding: William Optics ZenithStar 66 SD + DSI-C + PHD
RGB Imaging: QHY8 + MaximDL, 20 x 900s, IDAS Filter
Stacked: DeepSkyStacker
Post Process: ImagesPlus + PSCS2 + Noel Carboni’s AstroTools
(Click on image for larger version)
I`d forgotten quite how slow f/7+ was to image with… think I`ll stick to the Hyperstar for the moment, although I do hear M51 calling my name as a “this years version versus last years”.
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments Off on I can see M101 clearly now the snow has gone…
