TAG Autoguider
CCD Polar Alignment using autoguider tracking
Polar Alignment using a CCD Camera Return to home <http://highenergyastro.homestead.com/index.html> One of the key things that must be done prior to a session of astrophotography is a good polar alignment. I have […]
Astro knowledge / Long Exposure Photography / Optics
Astrophotography: The "best" focal length
Astrophotography has a lot of legends and rumors floating around as regards focal length of scope. Since the focal length of the scope, size of the CCD, weight of the rig, and […]
Not getting a lot of stars in before The Blessed Event
I am ashamed to admit that I’ve more or less given up on astrophotography this month. The spring galaxies are getting away from me again, and I hate to think about a […]
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Re: strange grayscale again
Art Morton wrote: > J, > > Can you make a blue channel out of a green and red? That is strange > to end up without a blue. I think that […]
Gear / Solar System Photography / Techniques
Planetary camera / webcam autoguider
The other morning when I was awakened at 5am by sprinklers, I noticed that Jupiter was past meridian (meaning so was Sagittarius, but it was too light for me to see it). […]
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Re: Gemini drift
Art Morton wrote: > Have you gone into the Gemini Set Up? Yes, the particular settings that I think you’re interested in are: Mount Type: G11 Guide speed: 0.3 Tracking Rate: Sidereal […]
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Gemini drift
A, I need to figure out if the trend is in positive RA or negative RA. I know it’s in RA, but I’m awful at figuring out which is which. Anyway, I […]
Deep Sky / Gear / Long Exposure Photography
M104, The Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo
Finally! A Virgo galaxy. I’ve had some kind of mental block about shooting in Virgo, so I finally forced myself to shoot down here. M104 is on the edge of being too […]
Deep Sky / Gear / Long Exposure Photography
M81, Spiral Galaxy in Ursa Major
Like M42 is a “tester” object for winter, M81 is a tester object for the spring. It’s big and bright and there’s lots of detail to bring up. In addition, if well-framed, […]
Deep Sky / Gear / Long Exposure Photography
M82, Spiral Galaxy in Ursa Major
This is a “freebie” version of M82. It was way off in the badly vignetted border of the above M81 images (M81 was centered). But once I applied flat frames to the […]
RECENT UPDATE
Polar Alignment Calculations
Here’s a page that derives Polar Alignment Calculations. (update 5/2020: the original site is gone, so I found the text on Wayback and am inserting it below. This is by the original […]
Gear / Observatory / Telescope
Special Guest Star takes the mount at Hilltop O
The Astro Jedi needed somewhere to store his light sab—- I mean, bucket, and I was only too happy to accommodate him. I have decided that I need to come to a […]
General / Maintenance / Observatory
Dome shutter is motorized again!
I finally decided to bite the bullet and fix the shutter motor. Things went sideways last winter, and I’ve been opening the shutter manually (and tying it shut with rope, so we […]
Trixie 2017 – tube mods
I finally got around to cutting the MTA-UTA tubes to length; the only eyepiece that would come to focus with the focuser spacer in place is the Televue 55mm Plossl. If I […]
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Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – Time has come today!
General / Maintenance
First Light, a deeper look
Mount / Observatory / Telescope
Observatory 2.0 – Result!
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – The Pier goes in
Gear / General / Maintenance
Martin Farmer Wormblock installation notes
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
NGC2244, The Rosette Nebula
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
Another beautiful night.