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Re: End of Year - your best image(s)?
Really great Jim - i love to see these widefields with the integrated flux nebula On Fri, Jan 1, 2021 at 9:48 AM Jim Waters <jimwaters@...> wrote:
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Brian? Brian Valente portfolio |
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Re: End of Year - your best image(s)?
another winner Jim - great color and contrast On Fri, Jan 1, 2021 at 9:47 AM Jim Waters <jimwaters@...> wrote: Here's another. --
Brian? Brian Valente portfolio |
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Re: End of Year - your best image(s)?
Jim Waters
Here's another.
Horsehead and Flame Nebula Imaged with a Sky-Watcher 100mm ED Triplet @ f/5.5 and ASI2600MC Pro within the Phoenix city limits - Bortle ~8.? Waning Gibbous moon 61%.? One hundred and thirty, 60 second Light subs including Darks, BIAS and Flats.? No light pollution filters were used.? Processed with PixInsight.? I intend to add an additional 3 hours of Lights to this image in the coming weeks.? Compressed JPEG.? TIFF shows more details and depth
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Re: End of Year - your best image(s)?
Here's one that I like.
M45 Wide Field w/ IFN - SW Esprit 100mm APO + Starizona Apex-L 0.65x FR/FF Imaged with a Sky-Watcher 100mm ED Triplet, Starizona 0.65x Apex-L Focal Reducer / Field Flattener @ f/3.58 or 358mm F.L. and ASI2600MC Pro at Picket Post - Bortle 4.? Nineteen, 4 minute Light subs including Darks, Dark/Flats, BIAS and Flats.? No light pollution filters were used.? Processed with PixInsight. Compressed JPEG.? This is basically a test image to see if I intend to keep the Apex-L.? The Apex-L vignetting was 'difficult' to process out...?
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It was getting too cold for me to take more subs.
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C&C Welcome
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Re: Calculating arc-seconds per pixel Question
There are multiple online calculators for determining this.?
e..g.: The focal length you use is your telescope focal length multiplied by any reducer or barlow you may be using. Arcsec/pixel is determined by pixel size, so you could have two sensors giving the same ratio. But different sensor sizes would give you different field of views. Bigger sensors = wider FOVs. |
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Re: Calculating arc-seconds per pixel Question
Hi Tom I'm not sure what you mean by actual vs apparent. Often the actual focal length is slightly different than the spec of the focal length if you have two cameras with the same pixel *size*, they will have the same resolution (arcsec/pix), but if the sensors are physically different (i.e., larger or smaller compared to each other) you will have a different field of view (fov). Imagine looking through a small window in your house at a nature scene outside. it's a small window so you only see a little bit. then the window is "magically replaced" to become a much larger window. you see so much more. has your ability to see detail changed? no, you just see more of the scene. that's resolution vs field of view (roughly :) ) On Thu, Dec 31, 2020 at 11:36 PM Tom & Barbara Coverdale <tcoverda@...> wrote: I found the formula for calculating this value but have a question. When using focal length, is it the actual focal length or is it the apparent focal length? I have two different cameras with different size sensors but get a very similar arcsec/pixel. What ?am I missing? --
Brian? Brian Valente portfolio |
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Re: End of Year - your best image(s)?
Sonny wow, is this still with that atik camera of yours? They should give you an award or something your images have improved 1000% On Thu, Dec 31, 2020 at 9:55 PM Sonny Edmonds <pedmondsjr@...> wrote: Sorry, probably been seen before, but 2020 changed my Astro Imaging dramatically because I got my GM811GHD mount, and finally ironed out my wrinkles from my bad habits developed from my old mount. --
Brian? Brian Valente portfolio |
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Re: New to message board. Question: What camera(s) to use for Planetary and Deep space astrophotography
Gary, I am unsure if your goal is to be into dedicated AP or if something on the video astronomy side would suit your needs. I've been very pleased with the color CMOS MallinCam DS10cTEC in terms of sensitivity, color rendering, and both live & processed views. These are about $1400, but are quite versatile. They are quite sensitive, and with no binning, have a reasonably small pixel size for detailed?deep sky views.? The image I posted of Orion's sword in response to Brian's recent image request came from my DS10cTEC in a RASA 8.? The other side of the coin is that lunar views come out with fine detail, and using the ROI, planets reveal detail as well. Again, I'm talking about a video camera system instead of AP. But, it's something to think about in terms of versatility. Good luck! Matt On Thu, Dec 31, 2020 at 4:22 PM Gary Martin <gmartin@...> wrote: Hello.? |
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Re: Calculating arc-seconds per pixel Question
I used CCDcalc from new .?
its old but still works....I think. It¡¯s free and I think a few amateurs ?have made update packs for the images?
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Calculating arc-seconds per pixel Question
I found the formula for calculating this value but have a question. When using focal length, is it the actual focal length or is it the apparent focal length? I have two different cameras with different size sensors but get a very similar arcsec/pixel. What ?am I missing?
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Re: New to message board. Question: What camera(s) to use for Planetary and Deep space astrophotography
Hi Gary,
You just dropped a pretty loaded question and the answers will be varied and detailed I'm sure. I don't do planetary, but I think Brian's answer to that is a good one. But for deep sky, you have a nice setup and you definitely are on the road for getting some great deep space images. The next part will be determined by your budget. If you want to do the very best, you may want to think about getting a cooled monochrome camera, a filter wheel, and LRGB, and Ha, OIII, and SII filters. When mating a camera with a telescope (with reducer), you need to consider the 1-2 arcsecond/pixel rule to maintain the best quality. A more detailed explanation can be found here: Monochrome requires longer exposure times to collect data on one target, but you can bin the pixels to change the arcsecond/pixel ratio. You can't really do that with color cameras, though there is a software work around (not the expert here). Color is easier to start with and requires less minimum capture time, but you will probably need at least an IR/UV filter in front, or the various dual or tri band filters for nebulae.? The world is changing fast to CMOS and CCDs may be gone within a few years. But if you do go CMOS, I would look for newer ones with the backlit sensors, to minimize noise and amp glow. I have a ZWO ASI071MC which I have gotten some nice images with. So final picture quality is related to money spent. There are some decent cams at $1000-1200 but that's about rock bottom. $500-800 cams aren't really worth too much for DSO's. If you page through Astrobin for some objects you think you want to try, you can see what equipment was used. Likewise if you search for equipment used there, you can see what results people have achieved. So a short answer for a complicated question. And then there is the processing software. Regards, John |
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Re: End of Year - your best image(s)?
Sonny, love your image and commentary! I too want to become an accomplished long exposure?astrophotographer but unlike you I have a total of 5 months experience. Could you elaborate on achieving "critical Polar Alignment"? It continues to allude me!! Thanks ?Tom --- pedmondsjr@... wrote: From: "Sonny Edmonds" <pedmondsjr@...> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Losmandy_users_io] End of Year - your best image(s)? Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2020 21:55:08 -0800 Sorry, probably been seen before, but 2020 changed my Astro Imaging dramatically because I got my GM811GHD mount, and finally ironed out my wrinkles from my bad habits developed from my old mount. But once I got my 811 set up exactly the way I've always dreamed a mount could be, plus a few things Scott built into the possibilities, my imaging has taken a whole new turn for the better. I'm a long exposure imager. I was forced on this path by my first camera which would only gather anything by doing exceedingly long single shot images. 20, 30, and longer, single shot images forced me to become good at alignments and guiding. So when Scott mentioned he likes long exposure imaging, I knew I was at the right place to buy my last mount. When I read that the RAEXT was made to allow imaging through the meridian's, with no Meridian flip, I knew that would be a primary use for me. I got it for sectionalizing the RA and Dec, but forgetting the flip? That was a dream! I finally felt worthy of trying it one warm June night. So excited I stayed awake until 03:30 Hrs, observing and working my mounts limits. That night tested, and proved some amazing capabilities for me. I stopped at 13,000 seconds of collected image. Since that night I've been interested in doing these singular long session images. And I like trying for the unusual and colorful Nebula. Nebula was what attracted me to astro imaging to begin with. Once I found The Great Orion Nebula with my spotting scope I was hooked on the pursuit. Something my "bad" camera taught me was time manipulation. Something my good camera has taught me is that with my 811 mount, and the RAEXT, I can still use time and let the camera stack and build the images. It's opened a whole new vain for me to use pursuing images in my simple form. Because I was having so much new found successes because of the new mount, and a new found ability to get really critical Polar Alignment. So I'm closing out 2020 with this handful of my bestest, and a Vodka and Orange Juice. Yep, 2020 was a screwdriver. Just force feed some Vitamin C to the liver. , , , and . -- SonnyE (I suggest viewed in full screen) |
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Re: End of Year - your best image(s)?
Sonny Edmonds
Sorry, probably been seen before, but 2020 changed my Astro Imaging dramatically because I got my GM811GHD mount, and finally ironed out my wrinkles from my bad habits developed from my old mount.
But once I got my 811 set up exactly the way I've always dreamed a mount could be, plus a few things Scott built into the possibilities, my imaging has taken a whole new turn for the better. I'm a long exposure imager. I was forced on this path by my first camera which would only gather anything by doing exceedingly long single shot images. 20, 30, and longer, single shot images forced me to become good at alignments and guiding. So when Scott mentioned he likes long exposure imaging, I knew I was at the right place to buy my last mount. When I read that the RAEXT was made to allow imaging through the meridian's, with no Meridian flip, I knew that would be a primary use for me. I got it for sectionalizing the RA and Dec, but forgetting the flip? That was a dream! I finally felt worthy of trying it one warm June night. So excited I stayed awake until 03:30 Hrs, observing and working my mounts limits. That night tested, and proved some amazing capabilities for me. I stopped at 13,000 seconds of collected image. Since that night I've been interested in doing these singular long session images. And I like trying for the unusual and colorful Nebula. Nebula was what attracted me to astro imaging to begin with. Once I found The Great Orion Nebula with my spotting scope I was hooked on the pursuit. Something my "bad" camera taught me was time manipulation. Something my good camera has taught me is that with my 811 mount, and the RAEXT, I can still use time and let the camera stack and build the images. It's opened a whole new vain for me to use pursuing images in my simple form. Because I was having so much new found successes because of the new mount, and a new found ability to get really critical Polar Alignment. So I'm closing out 2020 with this handful of my bestest, and a Vodka and Orange Juice. Yep, 2020 was a screwdriver. Just force feed some Vitamin C to the liver. , , , and . -- SonnyE (I suggest viewed in full screen) |
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Re: End of Year - your best image(s)?
dang Ken Such detail and rich color. Astonishing this is on a 24 year old G11 On Thu, Dec 31, 2020 at 2:40 PM Ken Walker <kwalker501@...> wrote:
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Brian? Brian Valente portfolio |
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Re: Gemini2 HC touch screen problem
Hemant
email me I may have a way forward to get an TFT....may....? As I said before they are really difficult if impossible to find....been searching for ages even have the OEM part number but they stopped making theses 2009'ish.? But I finally might have found a place or a few places.... A lot depends on the driver IC in-bilit in the display (you don't see it) getting the display with the wrong driver...won't work...or many were produced with capacitive touch not resistive....again won't work.... So you have to get the exact one....so email me I might have some ideas.... -- Brendan |
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Re: End of Year - your best image(s)?
Hi Brian |
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New to message board. Question: What camera(s) to use for Planetary and Deep space astrophotography
Hello.?
I have been into telescopes and astrophotography since 1980. I want to get into digital capture of the planets and some deep space objects. I'm now retired and have time and a few bucks to use for this.? Two years ago I bought a Losmangy G11 mount, and then a Celestron 11 HD Edge. It is housed in my little observatory (with slide off roof) in central Oregon, nice dark skys here. This is my first computer controlled scope, and once it is aligned it works great. I love it ! I have lots of accessories such as several TeleVue eyepieces, 2X powermate, .7 focal reducer, Baader Diamond Track focuser, and a Canon 6D SLR (non modified). I can get some good photos with the Canon, such as piggy back with lenses, have not had much luck with photos through the C11. I did get a few of Neowise Comet though. But with Planets, all I get are fuzzy blobs. Even using Live View and zoom hooked to a monitor I find it very difficult to focus on the planets. And focus through the viewfinder, forget it. I have not tried a video and then stacking with the Canon.? So while I now have a decent scope with tracking, I need recommendations on CCD or CMOS astro cameras. Yesterday I exchanged a couple of emails with Brian Valente at Losmandy, and he used a ZWO ASI462mc on the Jupiter/Saturn conjunction. I have been reading and watching videos on CCD and CMOS cameras. It sounds like both have their advantages.? - CCD's:? ?been around a long time, more complex to make, uses more power, better light capture, less noise, better shutter and frame rate, expensive.? - CMOS:? smaller pixels, uses less power, rolling shutter, more noise, less expensive It sounds like I'm probably going to need one camera for Planets (small sensor), and another for deep space objects (larger sensor or just use my Canon SLR).? So any recommendations on a Planetary camera in the $200 to $500 range, especially what works well with a C11 f10 scope. Or C11 at f20 using the 2X Powermate. Also one that has the ST4 port to connect to the G11 mount for autoguiding. I still need to learn about software as well.? Sorry for rambling on a bit.? Gary Martin La Pine, Or C11 HD Edge with G11 mount Meade 8" f6 Newtonian (bought new in 1980 and still have it) |
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Re: Happy new year!
Happy New Year Carl! On Thu, Dec 31, 2020 at 10:44 AM Carl Bj?rk <carl.bjork@...> wrote: The end of year is nearly here in Europe... --
Brian? Brian Valente portfolio |
Gary Martin
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