The Astronomy hobby thread

[jcwade]

Originally Posted by masraum

For you fellas that shoot solar, what sort of filter are you running on your camera? Most seem to be 15-20 stop with the bulk of them being 16.5 or 18.

This seems like an interesting link.

https://www.canon.com.au/get-inspired/solar-eclipse-photography-tips-astrophotographer-phil-hart

I used a Fujifilm X-T3 with a Celestron C90 telescope and Celestron solar filter.

[flatbutt]

A neat capture of two CMEs

https://www.solarham.net/pictures/2023/oct23_2023_prom.gif

[Eric Hahl]

My Ex FIL sent this to me the other day. Thought this was a very nicely done video about what might be out there and had to share.

[Eric Hahl]

Well, Winter in the Pacific NorthWest...its gray and rainy. But we actually had a clear Moonless night last weekend so I set up the equipment and did a little astro photography. I'm a little out of practice.

I tried something new for me. I set the camera to Bin 2 which actually reduces the picture size but increases the saturation. I did this to try and capture all the faint nebulosity. I have been wanting to try the RedCAT 71 telescope on Orion. I was able to get Orion, the Running Man, the Horsehead nebula and lots of nebulosity all in one photo. This is approximately 1.2 hours of exposure using 30 second sub exposures.



Next up was the Seagull nebula. Same settings, 30 minutes total exposure.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Eric Hahl

I tried something new for me. I set the camera to Bin 2 which actually reduces the picture size but increases the saturation.

You're doing single shot color imaging, right? I can't remember...

For those that weren't imaging back then, some history...

Back in the day (circa 2001) we only had monochrome CCD cameras. To get color images, we had to shoot through several filters and combine the images as color channels in something like Photoshop. Originally, we would shot R, G and B channels and combine them, with each filter requiring different total exposures based on the sensitivity of the camera. Oh...EVERYTHING had to be done without changing any equipment (focus, camera presentation, polar alignment, anything) because we couldn't plate solve back then...

Back to the history lesson. Around 2001 we started playing with L-RGB imaging, which was basically taking the best hi-resolution monochrome image you could put together, and then "tinting" it with lower resolution RGB components. We would regularly shoot the RGB images at 2x2 or 3x3 binning to increase sensitivity, but also because the files were much smaller, since we couldn't store enough images on a computer to do full resolution L-RGB at once! Ha! Not only was it hard to store the actual images, but processing so many channels at once would melt RAM!

So, you'd take the L channel (luminance, which was mono) at 1x1, longest exposure you could handle. Tint it with some 2x2 or 3x3 RGB data, which was much shorter. End up with a "true color" image which looked better than the older RGB only stuff anyways.


I once did a 3x3 mosaic of Andromeda, L-RGB, 3 degrees across total. 4 channels, darks, flats, biases...turned out to be something like (10+10+10)+(10)+(9+6+4) images per spot, for dark/flat/bias/L/B/G/R data, at 1Kx1K camera resolution, 8 bits per pixel. So, about 60 shots times 9 locations. I could only process I think 3 images at a time because of memory limits on my laptop. 3 flats together, save master subflat #1 for the first spot. 3 more merged, master subflat #2. Etc. Then, merge the subflats for each spot to a master flat for that spot. Rinse and repeat for everything else. took me MONTHS to put it all together.

Now Eric can get that same image with his Redcat in 15 minutes of imaging and an hour of processing.

[Eric Hahl]

Yes, I am shooting with a color camera for now.

[flatbutt]

Eric is this your OTA?

https://www.highpointscientific.com/william-optics-redcat-51-gen-two-apo-f-4-9-refracting-telescope-l-rc51ii?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RedCat51_0324&utm_type=Campaign&_kx=1a3fmGukXn5zGv_33dkOmTbrBl7uEAblGofOdkyrF_-TZTq0sdmbaIOncqJlrPpM.W3fn9t

[Eric Hahl]

No, I use the RedCAT 71. The earlier version of the one shown here. Focus is different. The 51 is great too!

[Eric Hahl]

This is my version of the 71.

[Rusty Heap]

Obviously not mine, but what a shot!

International Space Station slipping across the Moon's face as it flies by at 8 kilometers per second, gently kissing Tycho crater. That crater is 53 miles wide, so while the station almost looks like it's orbiting the moon, it's actually 1000x closer to us. What a shot!

[Eric Hahl]

From last weekend. 8.16 hours of exposure utilizing 2 minute sub exposures. Bodes & cigar galaxies and neighbors with lots of dust in between.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Eric Hahl

From last weekend. 8.16 hours of exposure utilizing 2 minute sub exposures. Bodes & cigar galaxies and neighbors with lots of dust in between.

I don't think I've ever seen the gas/dust in that area imaged before, perhaps no one bothers to go that deep with those relatively bright galaxies.

[Eric Hahl]

It's kind of a thing this last year or so. There are some incredible images of this and Andromeda with lots of gas. I just wish wish my skies were better. I saw an image the other day of this and it had so much detail it just blew me away.

[masraum]

I received my solar filter for the upcoming eclipse. I haven't shot any photos with my camera in a long time (cell phones are so quick and easy and capable these days).

First shots, cropped, and then resized by PP about 10% smaller.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by masraum

I received my solar filter for the upcoming eclipse. I haven't shot any photos with my camera in a long time (cell phones are so quick and easy and capable these days).

First shots, cropped, and then resized by PP about 10% smaller.

Nice shots Steve! What filter did you use? Which OTA? Those are with your cell phone? You came close to capturing surface granularity.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Nice shots Steve! What filter did you use? Which OTA? Those are with your cell phone? You came close to capturing surface granularity.

No, not my cell phone. It's a Canon 60D & Canon 100-400L lens with a Hoya ND10000 solar filter.

The reason that I mentioned my cell phone is because I never use my camera any more because cell phones are so good, and most of my photography is a quick shot of the grandkids or something like that. I love photography, but don't make the time to do it.

I would love to capture surface granularity. Now I need a 2x teleconverter!

When we moved to this location with fairly dark skies, I bought a solar filter for my telescope. Like a dolt, I've never taken it for a ride. I've got some nice Televue EP. I'd love to do some solar viewing.

[wcc]

For years I've had this little 4.5in Orion telescope with a manual eq mount. It's served us well for all that time. The whole family was into it at first then it was to cold out, to late, etc. But my son and I kept going with it. It's just kind of a pia with a manual mount because it gets out of view so fast. It's really unbelievable how fast things move out there. Here's a recent pic of the moon I took through that 4.5in and a cell phone through the eye piece.



So that brings me to today. A few months ago I decided I wanted a better scope and mount that I can start and stay with for years. I ended up with a Celestron 8in edge HD with an AM5 mount. I wanted something that's light and fast to setup and get going. Still we only used it for vewing but it's been a night and day difference obviously. Not sure why I waited this long. First time using it with a cell phone camera again so not the greatest pic but it's a start.



I consider myself a complete amature in this hobby so I have a lot more to learn about. But it's been a fun hobby up to this point. My wife and daughter like to view through the cell phone instead of the eye piece when I get it in view and focus.

[flatbutt]

8 inch Edge fast and light to set up? You must be a body builder!!

My CPC 800 is at the absolute limit of what I consider "portable".

You're in for some beautiful views with the Edge. Saturn will blow you away and it's not too late to grab the Trapezium in Orion . That cluster glows like diamonds.

I'd suggest joining the Cloudy Nights forum. You won't find a more knowledgeable group anywhere.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

8 inch Edge fast and light to set up? You must be a body builder!!

My CPC 800 is at the absolute limit of what I consider "portable".

You're in for some beautiful views with the Edge. Saturn will blow you away and it's not too late to grab the Trapezium in Orion . That cluster glows like diamonds.

I'd suggest joining the Cloudy Nights forum. You won't find a more knowledgeable group anywhere.

Yep, Cloudy Nights Forums/Folks are tops.

[Rusty Heap]

Trying to get my mind wrapped around what 26 Quadrillion Suns looks like. Yes that's the number 26 with 15 zeros behind it.......



https://www.space.com/einasto-supercluster-galaxy-26-quadrillion-suns?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_content=space.com&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR1PlIhMTx3AsylU32DLdbmg8tj6bf-0Tm1uNNiAQVGuZY2S2r0pea3gXZs