TAG MPCC
Trixie 2011 – mods
As part of the work party, I put Trixie back on the mount. I got everything set up, and tried some guided exposures, and there’s definitely still flexure in the rig, even […]
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography / Maintenance / Optics
RCC first light
The camera is out there capturing an unguided shot of M42 for the RCC’s first light image. …and here it is. As usual, it’s another M42. This is 30 frames, 2 minutes […]
Focuser / Maintenance / Optics
At long last, progress
Well, it only took 5 months, but I finally got Veronica to focus using the new RCC and the off-axis guider! It’s for real this time. The problem has been stated and […]
Focuser / Gear / Maintenance
New Equipment – The next setback
Buoyed by my success at getting the new coma corrector to focus using the shortened focuser, I tried it again with the “production” focuser, which is 3/8” taller. I recollimated as far […]
Astro knowledge / Focuser / Gear / Maintenance / Techniques
New equipment works, finally.
In order to get the new coma corrector working with the OAG inline, I had to try a lot of things before I found the right set that shoved the focal plane […]
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 […]
Astro knowledge / Deep Sky / Gear / Long Exposure Photography / Maintenance
A tale of two images
This is a tale of two images. These were taken on successive nights. Same setup, same exposure time, everything. The first night was unguided. … and the second night was autoguided with […]
Deep Sky / Gear / Long Exposure Photography
M64, The Black Eye Galaxy in Canes Venatici
After 4 overseas trips in 4 months, I finally had some time to really get some time under the stars and get back to the “spring” galaxies that I’d raced to catch […]
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 […]
MOST COMMENTED
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.