Re: [Utah-astronomy] Whale and the Hockey Stick galaxies from Slooh roboscope 1-14
It certainly captures the spookiness of these galaxies. Thanks, Joe
Thanks, Joe. It's not a very good picture - just practicing. Tyler has a much better version in the SLAS gallery. http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=160 The whale is a classic example of looking at a spiral galaxy edge one. One of the objects on last night's Faulkes telescope session potential target list was NGC488 - an example of looking straight down on a spiral. http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n488.html - although we did not get to NGC 488, I'll try to use the commercial roboscopes to image NGC 488 next. - Kurt
These images are driving me crazy! I want to drive somewhere and set up, and start imaging! But the weather is so crappy I'm sure this new moon is not going to work. Also, I have to make sure Cory's toothache is taken care of before I go anywhere. Man, this is an exciting hobby. Thanks for showing them to us, Kurt, and good luck with NGC488. -- Joe ________________________________ From: Canopus56 <canopus56@yahoo.com> To: Utah Astronomy List Serv <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Sat, January 16, 2010 9:52:10 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Whale and the Hockey Stick galaxies from Slooh roboscope 1-14
It certainly captures the spookiness of these galaxies. Thanks, Joe
Thanks, Joe. It's not a very good picture - just practicing. Tyler has a much better version in the SLAS gallery. http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=160 The whale is a classic example of looking at a spiral galaxy edge one. One of the objects on last night's Faulkes telescope session potential target list was NGC488 - an example of looking straight down on a spiral. http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n488.html - although we did not get to NGC 488, I'll try to use the commercial roboscopes to image NGC 488 next. - Kurt _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
I just had a chance to try out my new QSI 583 CCD camera in St. George this last week. The camera is one of several new cameras from different manufacturers using the same Kodak 8.3 megapixel chip with 5.4 micron pixels, making it ideal for small scopes. I took the following test images starting with M31: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=289&g2_page=3 I stacked more images for M31 than the other objects improving the image quality. I was impressed with the resolution of the image considering I was using a 106 mm refractor with an f/3.64 reducer giving me a focal length of only 386 mm. See the high resolution image below: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2821&g2_imageViewsIndex=1 Star spikes were added to the images of the Pleiades and the Horsehead. Other than that minimal processing was done on the images.
Truly lovely, Don. Thanks for showing us. -- Joe ________________________________ From: Don J. Colton <djcolton@piol.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Sun, January 17, 2010 4:05:05 PM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera I just had a chance to try out my new QSI 583 CCD camera in St. George this last week. The camera is one of several new cameras from different manufacturers using the same Kodak 8.3 megapixel chip with 5.4 micron pixels, making it ideal for small scopes. I took the following test images starting with M31: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=289&g2_page=3 I stacked more images for M31 than the other objects improving the image quality. I was impressed with the resolution of the image considering I was using a 106 mm refractor with an f/3.64 reducer giving me a focal length of only 386 mm. See the high resolution image below: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2821&g2_imageViewsIndex=1 Star spikes were added to the images of the Pleiades and the Horsehead. Other than that minimal processing was done on the images. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Very nice Don, The M-31 and M-45 images compare very favourably to posters I used to sell at Hansen which were made with telescopes much larger than yours. Impressive! patrick On 17 Jan 2010, at 16:05, Don J. Colton wrote:
I just had a chance to try out my new QSI 583 CCD camera in St. George this last week. The camera is one of several new cameras from different manufacturers using the same Kodak 8.3 megapixel chip with 5.4 micron pixels, making it ideal for small scopes. I took the following test images starting with M31:
http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=289&g2_page=3
I stacked more images for M31 than the other objects improving the image quality. I was impressed with the resolution of the image considering I was using a 106 mm refractor with an f/3.64 reducer giving me a focal length of only 386 mm. See the high resolution image below:
http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2821&g2_imageViewsIndex=1
Star spikes were added to the images of the Pleiades and the Horsehead. Other than that minimal processing was done on the images.
Don, These images are superb! That should be a great camera. Tyler -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Don J. Colton Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 4:05 PM To: 'Utah Astronomy' Subject: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera I just had a chance to try out my new QSI 583 CCD camera in St. George this last week. The camera is one of several new cameras from different manufacturers using the same Kodak 8.3 megapixel chip with 5.4 micron pixels, making it ideal for small scopes. I took the following test images starting with M31: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=289&g2_page=3 I stacked more images for M31 than the other objects improving the image quality. I was impressed with the resolution of the image considering I was using a 106 mm refractor with an f/3.64 reducer giving me a focal length of only 386 mm. See the high resolution image below: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2821&g2_imageViewsIndex=1 Star spikes were added to the images of the Pleiades and the Horsehead. Other than that minimal processing was done on the images. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Thanks for your comments Tyler, Joe and Patrick. I think the Lodestar autoguider Tyler suggested is a big help in getting enough good guide stars for accurate guiding. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Tyler Allred Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 7:06 PM To: 'Utah Astronomy' Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera Don, These images are superb! That should be a great camera. Tyler -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Don J. Colton Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 4:05 PM To: 'Utah Astronomy' Subject: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera I just had a chance to try out my new QSI 583 CCD camera in St. George this last week. The camera is one of several new cameras from different manufacturers using the same Kodak 8.3 megapixel chip with 5.4 micron pixels, making it ideal for small scopes. I took the following test images starting with M31: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=289&g2_page=3 I stacked more images for M31 than the other objects improving the image quality. I was impressed with the resolution of the image considering I was using a 106 mm refractor with an f/3.64 reducer giving me a focal length of only 386 mm. See the high resolution image below: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2821&g2_imageViewsIndex=1 Star spikes were added to the images of the Pleiades and the Horsehead. Other than that minimal processing was done on the images. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
I suspect it has the same chip as the new SBIG camera I'm saving for. Thanks again, Joe ________________________________ From: Don J. Colton <djcolton@piol.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Mon, January 18, 2010 8:02:07 AM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera Thanks for your comments Tyler, Joe and Patrick. I think the Lodestar autoguider Tyler suggested is a big help in getting enough good guide stars for accurate guiding. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Tyler Allred Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 7:06 PM To: 'Utah Astronomy' Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera Don, These images are superb! That should be a great camera. Tyler -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Don J. Colton Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 4:05 PM To: 'Utah Astronomy' Subject: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera I just had a chance to try out my new QSI 583 CCD camera in St. George this last week. The camera is one of several new cameras from different manufacturers using the same Kodak 8.3 megapixel chip with 5.4 micron pixels, making it ideal for small scopes. I took the following test images starting with M31: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=289&g2_page=3 I stacked more images for M31 than the other objects improving the image quality. I was impressed with the resolution of the image considering I was using a 106 mm refractor with an f/3.64 reducer giving me a focal length of only 386 mm. See the high resolution image below: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2821&g2_imageViewsIndex=1 Star spikes were added to the images of the Pleiades and the Horsehead. Other than that minimal processing was done on the images. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
SBIG does have a new camera with the same chip. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Joe Bauman Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 11:16 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera I suspect it has the same chip as the new SBIG camera I'm saving for. Thanks again, Joe ________________________________ From: Don J. Colton <djcolton@piol.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Mon, January 18, 2010 8:02:07 AM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera Thanks for your comments Tyler, Joe and Patrick. I think the Lodestar autoguider Tyler suggested is a big help in getting enough good guide stars for accurate guiding. -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Tyler Allred Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 7:06 PM To: 'Utah Astronomy' Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera Don, These images are superb! That should be a great camera. Tyler -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Don J. Colton Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 4:05 PM To: 'Utah Astronomy' Subject: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera I just had a chance to try out my new QSI 583 CCD camera in St. George this last week. The camera is one of several new cameras from different manufacturers using the same Kodak 8.3 megapixel chip with 5.4 micron pixels, making it ideal for small scopes. I took the following test images starting with M31: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=289&g2_page=3 I stacked more images for M31 than the other objects improving the image quality. I was impressed with the resolution of the image considering I was using a 106 mm refractor with an f/3.64 reducer giving me a focal length of only 386 mm. See the high resolution image below: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2821&g2_imageViewsIndex=1 Star spikes were added to the images of the Pleiades and the Horsehead. Other than that minimal processing was done on the images. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Don, Those are great images :) - cant wait to get back down south. David Don J. Colton wrote:
I just had a chance to try out my new QSI 583 CCD camera in St. George this last week. The camera is one of several new cameras from different manufacturers using the same Kodak 8.3 megapixel chip with 5.4 micron pixels, making it ideal for small scopes. I took the following test images starting with M31:
http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=289&g2_page=3
I stacked more images for M31 than the other objects improving the image quality. I was impressed with the resolution of the image considering I was using a 106 mm refractor with an f/3.64 reducer giving me a focal length of only 386 mm. See the high resolution image below:
http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2821&g2_imageViewsIndex=1
Star spikes were added to the images of the Pleiades and the Horsehead. Other than that minimal processing was done on the images.
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Don, beautiful images! Very nice work. What mount were you using? /R --- On Sun, 1/17/10, Don J. Colton <djcolton@piol.com> wrote: From: Don J. Colton <djcolton@piol.com> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera To: "'Utah Astronomy'" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Sunday, January 17, 2010, 4:05 PM I just had a chance to try out my new QSI 583 CCD camera in St. George this last week. The camera is one of several new cameras from different manufacturers using the same Kodak 8.3 megapixel chip with 5.4 micron pixels, making it ideal for small scopes. I took the following test images starting with M31: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=289&g2_page=3 I stacked more images for M31 than the other objects improving the image quality. I was impressed with the resolution of the image considering I was using a 106 mm refractor with an f/3.64 reducer giving me a focal length of only 386 mm. See the high resolution image below: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2821&g2_imageViewsIndex=1 Star spikes were added to the images of the Pleiades and the Horsehead. Other than that minimal processing was done on the images. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
The mount was the Vixen GP/DX with SkySensor 2000PC. It has an autoguider port on the SkySensor and I finally found a way to use it from Shoestring Astronomy using their GPUSB product - see http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/products_gp.htm . I also used PHD Guiding which has an interface for the GPUSB. I used a 50 mm finder from Stellarvue that uses 1.25 inch eyepieces and allows you to change out the crosshairs with the autoguider. I had no trouble getting good images with four minute exposures. Because I wasn't perfectly polar aligned I didn't try any longer exposures. For M31 I stacked 15 Luminance (4 minutes each) binned 1x1 and 4 each RGB (4 Min.) binned 2x2 for a total of 27, four minute exposures. I was amazed that all of the exposures had good round stars. The good tracking was true of the other objects except for the Horsehead where I was getting some tracking problems, I believe, because of the balance of the telescope in certain positions (I need a counterweight for the finder or I need to autoguide through the QSI 583 guider port and remove the finder when imaging). -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Richard Tenney Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 6:42 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera Don, beautiful images! Very nice work. What mount were you using? /R --- On Sun, 1/17/10, Don J. Colton <djcolton@piol.com> wrote: From: Don J. Colton <djcolton@piol.com> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] New QSI 583 Camera To: "'Utah Astronomy'" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Sunday, January 17, 2010, 4:05 PM I just had a chance to try out my new QSI 583 CCD camera in St. George this last week. The camera is one of several new cameras from different manufacturers using the same Kodak 8.3 megapixel chip with 5.4 micron pixels, making it ideal for small scopes. I took the following test images starting with M31: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=289&g2_page=3 I stacked more images for M31 than the other objects improving the image quality. I was impressed with the resolution of the image considering I was using a 106 mm refractor with an f/3.64 reducer giving me a focal length of only 386 mm. See the high resolution image below: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2821&g2_imageViewsIndex=1 Star spikes were added to the images of the Pleiades and the Horsehead. Other than that minimal processing was done on the images. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
participants (7)
-
Canopus56 -
David Rankin -
Don J. Colton -
Joe Bauman -
Patrick Wiggins -
Richard Tenney -
Tyler Allred