Back at New Mexico Skies

Well, I'm back in New Mexico, spending 4 nights at New Mexico Skies. So far the nights have been magnificent. I've been imaging from 21:30 to at least 2:30 and I'm getting about 5 targets per night.

Here's one I took on the 2nd night (did this at about 3:00 a.m.). This is only roughly processed, as I don't have my full facilities with me, once I get back I'll work on it some more.

:)

Chris

Last one from home before August?

Kind of traditional (well did it last year with the DSLR - and it was my last from home before August).

But this year I'm going to make a special effort to keep going over the summer if I can.

The Leo Triplet. Clockwise from the top, NGC 3268, M65 and M66. One of my favourite groupings and imaged well into the summer galaxy period. I hope to do some others this year.

3 off 8 minute exposures in each filter (LRGB) using the Avian Starseeker 100mm EDO APO. I lost a green exposure to double stars and re-did two of the blue ones because of drift. Guided with PHD, QHY5 and my finderscope. Imaged with Atik383L+ and SXUVW-2S filter wheel fitted with Baader LRGB filters.

:o)

Chris

BST Rant

I hate British Summer Time!!!

I want dark nights at a reasonable time, not some time an hour later that means I either can't go out because it's not dark yet or that I end up going to bed at some rediculous time in the morning because I refuse to give in to it. Work suffers the next day of course 'cos I'm cream crackered.

Rant over.

:0)

Chris

M95 & M96

I did this one about three weeks ago, since then I've been out of the country. I'm really beginning to like the Avian Starseeker.....

This is a nice pair of spiral galaxies in Leo. M95 has a pronounced bar (the one to the right).

:o)

Chris

Southern hemisphere at last!

I've been away in Brazil this last week (I get to travel with work), we're doing some work with a shipyard south of Sao Paulo, at about -23.8 deg and 48deg W. This is the first time i've been in the southern hemisphere.

And yes...you guessed it - it was mostly cloudy at night (the astronomer's curse strikes again). I did get to see Sirius directly overhead on Thursday night, but no southern Milky Way or Magellanic clouds.

:o(

Chris

Avian Starseeker first light.

Really, this session started out as no more than a quick test of the telescope with the camera.

It wasn't a particularly good night (6th March) so i was just hoping to see what I was going to need in the way of extension tubes to get a good focus with the camera. I put in the 75mm extension tube and pointed the scope to a brightish star (Betelgeuse), and used Maxim to take focus frames while I found the focus.

As it happened that didn't take as long as I was expecting so I decided to have a go at something not too tricky as it was a mediochre night.

So I slewed over to M35 and took 5 off 30 second exposures in each filter followed by 10 flat frames in each filter.

When processed I got this....

...which isn't bad at all, so all in all a successful night and a reasonable first light image.

:o)

Chris

It arrived

The Avian Starseeker arrived today after a failed attempt yesterday.

Need to try it out on some good skies, but it feels like it will be a good investment.

:)

Avian Starseeker

I decided to get a bit more aperture for the short focus imaging scope. So I've ordered an Avian Starseeker from Ace Cameras. This is a 100mm F6 ED Doublet Refractor and it has got some good reviews.

When I get it I'll take some pics and do a review of it for the website and the blog.

Compared to the WO Megrez 80II FD, I'll get about 1.56x light grasp and 1.25x better resolution. The focal length is 600mm as opposed to 555mm so the image scale will be slightly larger (i.e. it will give a smaller field of view), but I'm expecting the images to be much the same sort of view.

Also at F6 instead of F6.9 it is a faster scope, so I should record relatively more photons in a given time.

Will need some clear night though.

:)

Chris

Weather.....!!!!

Oh dear, the weather is awful. I haven't been able to get out into the observatory for a follow on session for the Cone Nebula. By the time a clear night arrives it will probably be too late and I'll have to wait until next year.

:-(

Chris

2010 to 2011 season images uploaded to Cymbeline Observatory Website

I finished off the album of images that I've taken with the Atik383L+ camera and uploaded it to the website. Here's a taster,

I hope you enjoy the new images.

:)

Chris