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2013-05-25 10:41:45 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 13 +1s)

Tonight's Full Moon
It was just screaming out to be photographed 
80mm Refractor, DFK51 Camera, best 30% of 500 Stacked

2013-05-25 08:17:41 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 20 +1s)

Saturn
Well the full moon has wrecked any deep sky imaging, lucky Saturn was there to fill in the night.
12" LX200r and DMK21AU618.as with LRGB filters and 2.5x Powermate
Best 30% of 10,000 frames each, stacked with AutoStakkert, de-convoluted and combined in Photoshop.
#saturn   #astrophotography  

2013-05-25 02:30:48 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 18 +1s)

I was going to do a live solar hangout, but this new Google Hangout thingy will no longer let me. When it loads it just grabs control over any webcams it can find, even if they are being used by another program. All I can screen share is a static image. Use to work OK before the so called upgrade :(
So this is what you missed, live colour sun, enjoy.

2013-05-22 06:33:48 (25 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)

Warning to New Zealand and probably Australian Astronomers
There is going to be a lot of rain in the near future, get prepared :)

2013-05-16 07:59:54 (10 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Hello, is there anyone out there ???
There use to be a handy chat bar telling me who was online that I could annoy talk with. Now there only seems to be ten people in the Google universe and some of those aren't really there. 
Hopefully this is just a glitch that will be sorted soon. 

2013-05-18 07:57:32 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Added photos to + The VSP Photo Contest +.

2013-05-12 11:10:13 (3 comments, 9 reshares, 86 +1s)

Saturn
Having a good run on clear nights, so here is Saturn from tonight.
12" Lx200r scope and DMK21AU618.as Camera with LRGB filters and a 2.5x Powermate

2013-05-12 09:09:42 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Added photos to Virtual Star Party - 12 May, 2013.

2013-05-11 13:01:09 (15 comments, 3 reshares, 59 +1s)

Saturn
Just encase you have not had enough Saturn yet

Best 30% of 1000 frames each LRGB, stacked with AutoStakkert,
De-convolutuion and combination in Photoshop
12" Lx200r scope, DMK21AU618.as camera with LRGB filter wheel and 2.5x Powermate

2013-05-11 06:45:22 (7 comments, 2 reshares, 35 +1s)

 Today's Sun
A closeup of the more interesting region of today's Sun
A 6 panel mosaic, best 20% out of 500 frames, stacked with AutoStakkert, wavelets in Registax, combined in Photoshop
LS80Tha/B18/DSII Ha solar scope and DMK21AU618.as camera with a 2.5x Powermate 

2013-05-11 06:12:44 (3 comments, 6 reshares, 53 +1s)

Today's Sun
Some nice prominence action today and a new sunspot peering around the edge

LS80Tha/B18/DSII Ha solar scope and DMK41 camera

2013-05-11 02:42:47 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Paul Stewart is hanging out in a live Hangout On Air. #hangoutsonair

2013-05-09 08:15:15 (6 comments, 7 reshares, 75 +1s)

NGC3372 The Great Nebula in Carina
One of the gems of the southern sky, the Carina Nebula spans over 300 light years and is located around 7000 light years away.
Taken with a 80mm refractor and QSI583wsg camera
1 set LRGB images, 180s each

2013-05-06 09:26:49 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 27 +1s)

M51
I have been playing around with the +Slooh Space Camera again, this time imaging  M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy.
Taken using the 14" T2 scope located on Mt. Teide, Canary Islands, Spain
I have collected 8 sets of LRGB data in Fits format over the last 2 weeks.
Combined into RGB and Luminance images with MaximDL, stretching and final image processing in Photoshop. 

2013-05-05 07:50:38 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 20 +1s)

Added photos to Virtual Star Party - 5 May, 2013.

2013-05-05 01:54:10 (11 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

There seems to be something very wrong here

2013-05-04 09:07:12 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 18 +1s)

Processing Challenge Saturn
Here is my Saturn from the 7th of April 2013. 
I have provided the LRGB avi's, each containing 1000 frames (560MB zip). These were taken with a 12" LX200r scope and DMK21AU618.as  camera with 2.5x Powermate and Astronomik Type 2c filters, 60fps for L and 30fps RGB. The blue channel is a bit noisy.

My processing technique
Each avi stacked with AutoStakkert, best 30%
The resulting images de-convoluted in Photoshop with the Astraimage plugin
RGB images merged and the result colour balanced.
The L channel has a high pass filter applied and a contrast stretch done in the high pass layer before flattening.
L channel add to the RGB image as a luminance layer.
Noise reduction and sharpening.

Have fun

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByOp5gNAG2Mtd29pdmlNQTlsNWs/edit?usp=sharing

2013-05-04 07:03:04 (8 comments, 1 reshares, 28 +1s)

for +Kevin Franklin, +Stuart Forman  and +Fraser Cain, the yellow version of my previous post

Closeup of AR1734 (top) and AR1732 (bottom)
Multi panel mosaic, each one a stack of the best 30% out of 1000 frames
LS80THa/B18/DSII Ha Solar Scope and DMK21AU618.as camera with 2.5x Powermate

2013-05-04 04:13:41 (13 comments, 8 reshares, 52 +1s)

Solar Filters
Hydrogen Alpha on the left and white light filter on the right.
Both taken through 80mm scopes with the same DMK41 camera.
As you can see, the Sun looks totally different though different filters.

The white light filter just blocks 99.99 percent of the Sun's light, but allows all of the visible wavelengths of light to pass. They are good for viewing Sunspots and granulation. 

The Hydrogen Alpha filter also block 99.99 percent of the light, but only allows the wavelength of light emitted by Hydrogen atoms to pass (656nm)
This allows you to see solar flares, prominence's spicules, filaments, plages and more.

The cheapest way to look/image the sun is using a white light filter. These can be purchased in various sizes for all types of telescope and even camera lens. It is the best filter to start with. When you get hooked in solarobser... more »

2013-05-04 02:19:59 (3 comments, 3 reshares, 19 +1s)

Closeup of AR1734 (top) and AR1732 (bottom)
Multi panel mosaic, each one a stack of the best 30% out of 1000 frames
LS80THa/B18/DSII Ha Solar Scope and DMK21AU618.as camera with 2.5x Powermate

2013-05-03 13:51:03 (13 comments, 5 reshares, 47 +1s)

Tonight's Saturn and Moons
From the left Mimas Tethys, Enceladus and Rhea
12" Lx200r scope with DMK21AU618.as camera and LRGB filters
Best 30% of 1000 frames for Saturn and the best 50% of 1000 overexposed frames for the moons 

2013-05-02 09:04:21 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 25 +1s)

Dome Control Project
Finally finished this dome controller for a friend in Oz
Based around an Atmel ATMEGA324a processor, and a ATTINY2313 for the display.
Features
-L298 H-Bridge driver, allowing soft start and speed control via PWM.
-DS18S20 temperature sensors for ambient and motor temperatures
-Current sensing  
-Encoder based feedback for position calculation
-PC interface via an Ascom driver
-Shutter control (not needed for this installation)
-Display and control panel

When interfaced with a PC, the controller will track a telescope across the sky.
Hopefully all the bugs have been worked out.
Onto the next project 

2013-04-30 11:36:05 (19 comments, 11 reshares, 128 +1s)

Saturn
Not the best imaging condidtions
Best 30% of 1000 frames LRGB
12" Lx200r scope with DMK21AU618.as camera and LRGB filter wheel with a 2.5x Powermate

2013-04-29 10:43:54 (8 comments, 4 reshares, 38 +1s)

NGC3114
An open star cluster in the Southern Constellation of Carina
Located in the band of the Milky Way Galaxy, it is hard to define the cluster. I assume it is the brighter stars in this image.
Taken with a 80mm refractor and QSI583wsg camera
Single LRGB images, 300s each.

2013-04-26 06:34:10 (11 comments, 1 reshares, 39 +1s)

Just something a little different

2013-04-25 08:43:12 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 32 +1s)

The full Moon
There is not a lot you can image when the full Moon is up, so here's the full Moon
80mm refractor and DFK51AU02.AS camera
best 30% of 1000 frames, stacked with AutoStakkert, wavelets in Registax

2013-04-25 06:57:47 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 35 +1s)

AR 1726 in White Light and Hydrogen Alpha

2013-04-25 03:32:06 (8 comments, 4 reshares, 31 +1s)

Todays Ha Sun
It has been a while since the weather allowed any solar imaging and I have made a bit of a mess of this one.
Lunt LS80Tha/B18/DSII Ha solar scope and DMK41 camera
Anyway, a white light zoomed in version of AR1726 is here https://plus.google.com/107369624312639113430/posts/ajVqXoef51j

2013-04-24 23:25:46 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 32 +1s)

Active Region 1726 on the Sun today 25/04/13
Not the best imaging conditions, but I haven't seen the Sun for a few weeks so it was worth a go.
Taken with a 12" Lx200r scope and DMK21AU618.as camera
Best 30% of 5000 frames, stacked in AutoStakkert, wavelets in Registax

2013-04-21 09:54:38 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Added photos to Virtual Star party - 21 April, 2013.

2013-04-15 06:33:33 (11 comments, 13 reshares, 86 +1s)

Saturn and Moons
My latest imaging efforts from Saturday Night / Sunday morning.
Moons from the left, Rhea, Dione, Tethys, Titan (bottom) and Enceladus
12" Lx200r scope and DMK21AU618.as camera with 2.5x Powermate for the closeup.

2013-04-13 02:12:55 (18 comments, 2 reshares, 74 +1s)

Saturn from early this morning
Conditions weren't that great, but I had to give it a go.
Best 30% of 2000 frames, stacked in AutoStakkert, deconvolution and sharpening in Photoshop
12" LX200r scope and DMK21AU618.as camera with 2.5x powermate

2013-04-07 02:46:48 (9 comments, 3 reshares, 45 +1s)

Saturn and Polar projection of the North Pole
Here how I spent early Sunday morning, and afternoon processing and figuring out how to use WinJUPOS.
Due to daylight saving final ending this morning, now UTC +12 instead of unlucky +13, these images where taken between 2am and 2am ??

Stacked with AutoStakkert, best 30% of 5000 each LRGB
Projection done with WinJUPOS
Taken with a 12" Lx200r scope and DMK21AU618.as camera with LRGB filter wheel

2013-04-07 02:25:00 (12 comments, 12 reshares, 144 +1s)

Saturn
Sometimes it pays to get up at 2am
Taken with a 12" Lx200r scope and DMK21AU618.as with LRGB filters

2013-04-05 05:29:05 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

My current setup
12" Meade LX200r with Moonlite focuser
80mm Lunt LS80/Tha/B18/DSII double stacked Ha solar scope

2013-04-04 07:40:34 (12 comments, 1 reshares, 19 +1s)

Either its a large alien probing machine or ultra fast broadband will soon be mine

2013-04-02 09:43:31 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 21 +1s)

Here's my attempt using the data provided by +Paul Cox from the 0.5m  Slooh telescope.
https://plus.google.com/113293976957750950702/posts/EyG63maea9U

Processing overview

In Maxim,
All images aligned, RGB combined, saved as 16bit Tiff's

In Photoshop
Luminance and RGB images selectively stretched while trying not to blow out                 the core. 
Luminance channel sharpened with high pass layer, contrast stretched, shadows/highlights 
RGB and Luminance combined.
RGB image duplicated and combined in soft light to give more colour
Curves and levels in the layers to tweak the image
Flattened, Noise ninja filter applied 
 

2013-04-02 07:48:48 (3 comments, 4 reshares, 38 +1s)

Today's Sun

Lunt LS80Tha/B18/DSII Ha Solar scope and DMK41 camera

2013-04-01 04:18:00 (5 comments, 4 reshares, 39 +1s)

Sunspot AR1711
This big sunspot was fairly actively producing CME's  when it was on the far side, but so far has been quiet on our side.   

Taken with a 12" Lx220r with white light filter and DMK21AU618.as camera

2013-03-31 23:26:53 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Added photos to Virtual Star Party -- 31 March, 2013.

2013-03-31 11:13:55 (9 comments, 3 reshares, 39 +1s)

Today's Sun
Some nice prominences today, for a up close look at the top one https://plus.google.com/107369624312639113430/posts/ceMkzXry1hL 

Lunt LS80/Tha/B18/DSII Ha Solar scope and DMK41 camera.

2013-03-31 11:08:32 (3 comments, 3 reshares, 58 +1s)

Solar Prominence on today's Sun
(The blue dot top right is the Earth to scale)

Taken with a Lunt LS80Tha/B18 scope and DMK21AU618.as camera with a 2.5x Powermate

2013-03-29 06:02:57 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 36 +1s)

The inverted Sun
Lunt LS80Tha/B18/DSII Ha Solar scope and DMK41 camera.
Best 50% of 500 frames, stacked in AutoStakkert, wavelets in Registax, processed in Photoshop

2013-03-29 05:59:39 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 45 +1s)

Today's Sun 29/03/2013 
The clouds allowed me to do some solar imaging today, that was very nice of them.
Lunt LS80Tha/B18/DSII Ha solar scope and DMK41 camera

2013-03-28 08:33:08 (13 comments, 6 reshares, 40 +1s)

Sirius A & B binary system
The brightest star in the sky Sirius or the dog star has a "pup" in a orbit around it. Sirius B is a white dwarf with a similar mass of our sun, but with a diameter of only 12,000 km (roughly the size of the Earth) It orbits on average only 20AU from Sirius A ( that is about the distance between our Sun and Uranus)

Sirius A, type A1V star,   2.14 solar mass, -1.46 apparent magnitude
Sirius B, type wdA5 star, 0.98 solar mass,   8.60 apparent magnitude

This is a little bit of a challenge to image. Being so close to the bright Sirius A, it is lost in the glare. The method I used is the same as for planetary imaging. I took a video of 1300 frames with an exposure giving a good range on the histogram.
I then stacked the best 80% in AutoStakkert and did some stretching in Photoshop. The left image is the stack with only a littlest... more »

2013-03-27 09:28:54 (10 comments, 14 reshares, 117 +1s)

Tonight's full Moon
With this thing shining like a spotlight in the sky there isn't a lot else I can image.
Taken with a 80mm refractor and DFK51 camera

2013-03-26 09:00:10 (16 comments, 1 reshares, 34 +1s)

Saturn 23-03-2013
Taken with a 12" LX200r scope and DMK21AU618.as camera with LRGB filter wheel and 2.5x Powermate.
4 sets of LRGB video, best 50% of 500 frames stacked in AutoStakkert, the resulting stacks re-stacked into master LRGB images. Each image Deconvoluted with the Astra Image Photoshop plugin. Merged into a single image in Photoshop. Colour balance and levels etc.

I was typing up the problem with the blue channel I was having, then I realized that it is out of focus. There must be quite a difference in the focus between the LRG filters and the B. Next clear night I will try refocusing between all the filters and see what happens. 

2013-03-25 04:47:46 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 27 +1s)

Added photos to Virtual Star Party -- 24 March, 2013.