Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Astrophotography => Topic started by: Ian on Jun 26, 2002, 07:58:00

Title: woot, l33t soldering skilz
Post by: Ian on Jun 26, 2002, 07:58:00
tonight, I took my least impressive yet most satisfying astrophoto. It is so not impressive I shan't bore you with it. But, it was taken with my Vesta-SC1 webcam! I'm going to go to sleep now, after several long nights and frustrated days. And several, oh no that's really screwed it moments. Now if the skies would clear properly...
Title: woot, l33t soldering skilz
Post by: Mike on Jun 26, 2002, 15:58:00
Is that modified for long exposures ?
Title: woot, l33t soldering skilz
Post by: Ian on Jun 26, 2002, 16:28:00
yup. Looks like a dogs dinner tho'. Those cameras are seriously robust. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.
Title: woot, l33t soldering skilz
Post by: Ian on Jun 27, 2002, 08:27:00
First Proper Light. The pic mentioned above doesn't count as first light...

Name that Messier Object....

(http://212.104.156.50/oas/ringgimped.jpg)


[ This Message was edited by: Ian on 2002-06-27 00:32 ]
Title: woot, l33t soldering skilz
Post by: Mike on Jun 27, 2002, 15:17:00
Now that is pretty darn good !!!

How long is the exposure ?

Please bring the camera along to the meeting tonight Ian, I'd love to have a look.

Gonna have to try and fix mine after seeing that result !
Title: woot, l33t soldering skilz
Post by: Rick on Jun 27, 2002, 18:29:00
Looks good!
Title: woot, l33t soldering skilz
Post by: james on Jun 27, 2002, 18:57:00
Superb picture. Well done
Title: woot, l33t soldering skilz
Post by: Ian on Jun 27, 2002, 19:29:00
OK, this is a stack of 12 of 15 30 second exposures at prime focus of 200mm f6. Aligned and stacked with K3CCD tools, with a 5 frame stacked dark subtracted and then histogram stretched to bring out colour and dimmer stars. The central star in the ring is just visible at a mag of 15.31. I am now in the process of identifing the others. Polar alignment of the scope could have been better, and next time, I'll give myself more time and take many more exposures and try and tighten up the focus.
I can bring the camera tonight Mike, but I'm afraid it isn't much to look at atm, I have a box to mount it in but currently it's all bound up in black electrical tape.
Title: woot, l33t soldering skilz
Post by: Mike on Jun 27, 2002, 22:10:00
OK don't bother then. If the exposure is 30 seconds then how have you got around the problem of the image moving over time. is the scope guided now ?? Or did you artifically align the images afterwards ?
Title: woot, l33t soldering skilz
Post by: Ian on Jun 27, 2002, 22:15:00
not guided, but driven. But they still required alignment as my mount wasn't well aligned.
Title: woot, l33t soldering skilz
Post by: Mike on Jun 28, 2002, 00:09:00
Driven is what I meant. Is the drive home-made or shop bought ? How are you getting on with your home-made electric focussing system ?
Title: woot, l33t soldering skilz
Post by: Whitters on Jun 28, 2002, 08:20:00
Nice pic Ian.