http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7016020.stm
Recent annoucements from the labour party conference suggest plans for phasing out traditional lightbulbs by 2011
Recent annoucements from the labour party conference suggest plans for phasing out traditional lightbulbs by 2011
Not exactly an earth shattering revelation.
As the more advanced astrophotographers amongst you will have noticed, we don't stuff our optical tube assemblies with clothes and fill them with water. However, some people in our hobby have a mentality that telescope equipment should be like a washing machine. You bring it home. You install it. You read the instructions, and then it works first time and every time, performing its mundane task without variation.
As the more advanced astrophotographers amongst you will have noticed, we don't stuff our optical tube assemblies with clothes and fill them with water. However, some people in our hobby have a mentality that telescope equipment should be like a washing machine. You bring it home. You install it. You read the instructions, and then it works first time and every time, performing its mundane task without variation.
Category: Buying Kit
Posted by: Tom How
Could somebody please tell me, what is so great about a F10 SCT telescope? I think large schmidt cassegrain telescopes, known as SCT telescopes, are a poor choice for the beginnner in astrophotography. Examples include the meade LX200 and the Cesestron C11 Here are the reasons behind my thinking...
Category: Astronomy Equipment
Posted by: Tom How
How many of you can put your hands up and say that if your hard disk gets damaged or stolen today, will you have enough backups to recover everything you want to? Or will you loose all the images you've work so hard on, except for the jpgs on your website?
That first test with the Bubble nebula has come out ok.
Category: Astronomy Equipment
Posted by: Tom How
A happy chance has lead me to acquiring an Astrodon SII narrowband astrophotography filter for a very low price.
You name it - tonight it has taken a chance a break down.
Category: Astronomy Equipment
Posted by: Tom How
I've now got the replacement IR filter for my Canon 350D DSLR camera. Last night Pete and I did the filter swap.
Category: Astronomy Equipment
Posted by: Tom How
It is over two years since I published my results concerning the breakthrough modifications to a SC long exposure toucam webcam which finally cured all the problems relating to amp glow.....
Direct bias amp off modification for long exposure webcams
Direct bias amp off modification for long exposure webcams
I felt my new canon 350D DSLR deserved a tripod. Not for astrophotography (well, except for star trails) but for terrestial shots.
What is so fascinating about 80mm APO refractors? In recent years there has been a strong trend for buying 80mm refractors of varying apochromatic-ness. Personally I think it is getting a bit boring...
Got 4 frames of 20 minutes last night on the Bubble
5th Sept - and another 8 last night!!
5th Sept - and another 8 last night!!
Finally made some more progress on this project. The order of play is to get a conventional off axis guider system working (leaving space for the fast guider plate) and get it mounted and working on th telescope with my Coma Corrector and Artemis 285 using a webcam to guide. The deflector plate and mechanics will be added in once the first stage is proved to work.
The BBC have an intersting article along with some pretty pictures taken by Dr Craig Mackay and the Lucky Imaging team using techniques developed upon ideas usd in the QCUIAG group for many years as the basis for planetary capture using webcams.
BBC News Article on Craig Mackay and the lucky imaging project
BBC News Article on Craig Mackay and the lucky imaging project
Category: Astronomy Images
Posted by: Tom How
Last week during my long exposure run on IC63, the nebulosity near gamma Cassiopeiae I took the opportunity to shoot a couple of dozen quick frames of the bright moon with my 350D and Sigma 70-200mm lens
Category: Astrophotography method
Posted by: Tom How
A really deep, high contrast and low noise astrophotograph takes a large amount of exposure, even on a fast telescope. All beginners make the mistake of not concentrating full on a single target
Category: Astronomy Images
Posted by: Tom How
Over on the main site you can see the latest image - a rough attempt at creating an RGB image from Ha and OIII data. First light for that jolly OIII filter too! :-)
The Veil nebula is one of the easier supernova remenants to photograph - probably the second easiest after the crab Nebula. Parts of it are extremely bright and easy to capture. However, I think imaging capturing the fainter details are sadly lacking.
IC1340 - Part of the Veil Nebula in Ha and OIII
The Veil nebula is one of the easier supernova remenants to photograph - probably the second easiest after the crab Nebula. Parts of it are extremely bright and easy to capture. However, I think imaging capturing the fainter details are sadly lacking.
IC1340 - Part of the Veil Nebula in Ha and OIII
There is something particularly attractive about this time of year in the world of astrophotography. After the perseids in mid August, we enter a period where there is sufficent darkness at night to actually get something done. However, there are serveral other features which make this a comfortable and time of year to pursue our hobby of astrophotography
Category: Astronomy Equipment
Posted by: Tom How
With all the discussion about filters lately, you'll be suprised to discover I've purchased another narrowband filter. I can't afford additional Astrodon narrowband CCD camera filters, but I can afford the Baader prices.
Using my prefered astronomy supplier, Bern at Modern Astronomy, I've got hold of one of the Baader OIII CCD Filters. These are specifically for CCD imaging and they block in the IR, unlike the popular visual filters, where cost is saved on the IR side of things because humans can't see in the infra red.
Using my prefered astronomy supplier, Bern at Modern Astronomy, I've got hold of one of the Baader OIII CCD Filters. These are specifically for CCD imaging and they block in the IR, unlike the popular visual filters, where cost is saved on the IR side of things because humans can't see in the infra red.
