Astronomy and Astrophotography

Gina · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2011 11:49 am

Thank you Hans

That tutorial was using Registax 2 - a bit different from 6 :lol:

Very useful though and I presume version 6 has everything 2 had and more. Lots to learn :lol:

Gina · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:12 pm

I couldn't find the same functions in Registax 6 that were mentioned in the tutorial. I can see no way of seeing or determining which area of the image to use for alignment. I must read up more on Registax 6. Meanwhile, I took a batch of moon images and ran Registax 6. I reduced the number to align points to 20 and they looked in suitable places. Anyway, the alignment and stacking went quite well this time - just a small area of different tone. But the resulting image produced little if any improvement. The problem would seem to be getting accurate focus and Registax doesn't fix that.

hans · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2011 7:00 pm

yes,been a while

if i remember correctly,your focus problem could be the fact of the build in IR filter in every camera,
that focalpoint point gives a shift,.(hope you know what i mean).
with the tuocam i had removed it(which was very easy)

i mention this all from memory,so i could be wrong,will do some research on my old HD,if i can find it,should also have the registax 2 on it

Gina · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:52 pm

There is no IR filter in my DSLR - the image falls directly on the CCD. OTOH the webcam I modified did have an IR filter combined with the lens, which I removed. The sensor without IR filter gives a pinkish colour cast. The focus (as well as the colour) is improved by having an IR blocking filter on the T-adapter I use to mount the webcam on the scope.

Now that I have the motor drive working, I'm hoping to have another go at Saturn, but I'll probably practice with the moon first. Talking of the latter, it was a deep red colour when it rose this evening, later turning orange. I took a few dozen images with my DSLR. The brightness was very low and I had to use 0.5 sec @ ISO 800. Later when orange I was able to reduce the exposure to an eighth fo a second. Now it's covered by cloud.

hans · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 11:53 am

http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/moonorange/
but you already know that,
beautifull moon though,i saw the same this morning at 05.00 going to work,
only thing missing was a witch on a broomstick

when you have a go at saturn,don't over-magnify,it will only get more blurry.
a small sharp one(cropped) is better dan a big foggy one
with the (light)pollution in western europe it's best to take a max magnification of twice the
diameter size of your telescope (so a 140 mm,could have a magnification of 280 at best),
also dependent on focal length.
a lens scope is more for planets,moon.
a mirror scope is best for deepsky(the bigger the better,more light)

and since your with XP again.try Starry Night backyard,very pleasant and can control scopes

hills · **Posted:** Sun May 08, 2011 8:17 am

hi all

I am a keen archer and use a 60x spotting scope to view the target, so after reading this thread I tried aiming my spotting scope at the moon and took a couple of shots with my cheap digital camera. I was not expecting it to work at all but got this:

I think I might have to get into this!!

Gina · **Posted:** Sun May 08, 2011 10:00 am

It's certainly interesting

but beware of the "black hole" closely approaching your bank account! :lol:

I'm currently building a permanent concrete pier to take my telescope and will later add a "shed" for an observatory. Since my interests include astrophotography which involves capturing images with long exposures, I need a very steady support, so I've invested in an expensive mount. This will not only hold the telescope very steady but also accurately track objects across the sky as the earth rotates. For astro-imaging, a good mount is considered the most important part of the setup.

Here are some pics.

Location of observatory marked by red dot.

Attachment:

obs-location.JPG

"Before" view - location marked by bit of wood.

Attachment:

obs1.JPG

Hole dug out for really solid foundation for the pier.

Attachment:

Hole.JPG

Hole and spoil heap. A lot of digging and all by hand! Spread over several days.

Attachment:

Hole2.JPG

hills · **Posted:** Sun May 08, 2011 10:25 am

Hmmm telescope hey, that's a great idea...

Here's a shot with the same cheap digital camera through my telescope. I fear that black hole might be getting closer!!

I'm keen to see your set up as it progresses, keep us updated!!

Gina · **Posted:** Sun May 08, 2011 7:04 pm

Nice shot

Been working on the metalwork that goes inside the pier. Here are some more pics..

1) Hole with reinforcing metalwork and some concrete in the bottom.

Attachment:

Hole+rebar.JPG

2) Adding the threaded rod that will go up to the top of the pier and take the mount fitting.

Attachment:

Pier-Metalwork.JPG

3) Showing how the pier casing fits onto the metalwork. I'm planning to add galv strip to the bottom plant pot to go into the base concrete. Pic to follow (after I've done it).

Gina · **Posted:** Sun May 08, 2011 7:27 pm

Here's a cross section diagram of the pier top fitting. The bottom of the mount is shown in black at the top of the diagram. The fitting consists of two mild steel plates 250mm diameter by 10mm thick. To fit the profile of the base of the mount, I'm using an aluminium plate as a spacer. The mount is attached to the top plates by a 12mm bolt with washer and spacer. The lower steel plate will be attached to the 4 14mm threaded rods shown in the pics above (shown in blue in the diagram). The two plates are connected by 4 14mm bolts and nuts (also shown in blue in the diagram).

Attachment:

Pier-Head3.png

werribee_au · **Posted:** Sun May 08, 2011 7:45 pm

Looking good!

Your cat looks rather intrigued :lol:

mike · **Posted:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:41 pm

Here is a video of saturn i shot with a web cam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa-5nyd_IJo

geoffw · **Posted:** Thu Jun 02, 2011 7:05 am

Gina wrote:

Nice shot

Been working on the metalwork that goes inside the pier. Here are some more pics..

1) Hole with reinforcing metalwork and some concrete in the bottom.[attachment=2]Hole
2) Adding the threaded rod that will go up to the top of the pier and take the mount fitting.
3) Showing how the pier casing fits onto the metalwork. I'm planning to add galv strip to the bottom plant pot to go into the base concrete. Pic to follow (after I've done it).

What about a picture of YOU Gina hefting the spade! :bash:

Gina · **Posted:** Thu Jun 02, 2011 1:06 pm

What! And break the camera!!

I'll see what I can do

Gina · **Posted:** Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:49 pm

I guess it's time I posted an update about this. Much thinking, head scratching and planning plus discussion on an astronomy board and everything's changed

. I've decided to go for a full observatory and warm room with roll off roof in the form of a double shed. It will be going right in the SE corner of our plot with just enough room to get between it and the fence to paint it. As a result the pier construction got no further than I showed a while back and is now planned for nearer the corner. I have been preparing the site, using a rotavator to break up the soil and carting it off in the link box on the tractor. Putting it in places we want building up, so no need to get it carted away.

I'll collect up some drawings and photos and post them shortly.

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