ASIGN Observatory

[BuildsBy Baz]

Photography is coming back into my life. All the planets are aligning, literally.

I've had a lack of time, gear and some major equipment issues for a decade now.

I finally had a visit in my observatory from a technician who deals with robotic observatories and mounts as his profession. He stated he could have my issues solved in half an hour and he delivered!

I can't wait for the clouds to clear so I can test it out and use all the new software!

In the meantime, I've kitted up my cheap Canon dslr (650D) with a Sigma 10-20 and now some graduated neutral density filters, holder and adaptor ring. Plus a decent tripod. I plan to go back to nature photography and work on specialising on waterfall and landscape photography.

 

[Jeff USN Photog 72-76]

Very nice observatory!! sure blows mine away LOL

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Photography is coming back into my life. All the planets are aligning, literally.

I've had a lack of time, gear and some major equipment issues for a decade now.

I finally had a visit in my observatory from a technician who deals with robotic observatories and mounts as his profession. He stated he could have my issues solved in half an hour and he delivered!

I can't wait for the clouds to clear so I can test it out and use all the new software!

In the meantime, I've kitted up my cheap Canon dslr (650D) with a Sigma 10-20 and now some graduated neutral density filters, holder and adaptor ring. Plus a decent tripod. I plan to go back to nature photography and work on specialising on waterfall and landscape photography.View attachment 15354View attachment 15355

It's great to see you get back into astro photography, Baz. Can't wait to see your images!

 

[SiriusDoggy]

Really nice looking setup Baz. Looking forward to some new images from you.

 

[BuildsBy Baz]

Thanks guys. Nothing but clouds, thunderstorms and rain now. My fault.

 

[BuildsBy Baz]

Today I've been tidying up all the wiring, harnessing signal cable away from power cable, routing for freedom of mount movement, etc.

Also getting rid of wall adapters and powering from a fused junction and 12v power supply.

 

[BuildsBy Baz]

Learning the new Voyager software in conjunction with PHD2, Green Swamp.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Today I've been tidying up all the wiring, harnessing signal cable away from power cable, routing for freedom of mount movement, etc.

Also getting rid of wall adapters and powering from a fused junction and 12v power supply.

Awesome, Baz!

 

[necromancer]

Showing off Baz - we are all in awe.

 

[BuildsBy Baz]

Update:

Diego has done a brilliant job of tuning up my telescope with all the new software and his friend, (now mine too) James, has been over a few times to teach me how to drive the new interface.

I've had a few clear nights of imaging, but as yet, I have no software to stack and process. I'm not in a hurry though and I'll get to that part in due course. In the meantime, I can capture data on any clear night and the gear is running beautifully. I'll post a couple of screenshots of single subs on a couple of select targets. I've already got 30 to 50 subs of each to stack later, but I'm pretty impressed by one single unprocessed sub!

I've also been improving the inside of the dome and reducing stray light bouncing around. I got my wife to sew up a black canvas shroud for the telescope truss. I've put some black cloth on the reflective desk surface and built a peek-a-box to shield the computer screen light inside the dome.

 

[BuildsBy Baz]

I wish I could attach more than two pictures in a single post. Most other forums allow at least eight.

Ah well, here's two more.

 

[BuildsBy Baz]

Atmospheric mood shots.

 

[BuildsBy Baz]

A visit from new friend James Baguley and my friend of many years, one of Australia's quiet achievers and arguably one of our best astrophotographers - Steve Crouch.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Baz, the thumbnails have an option "insert". If you click it and then choose "full image" the full image is inserted in your post. Unless you prefer to post the thumbnails (which of course will open up when clicked on).

It's good to see you active in this field again.

 

[BuildsBy Baz]

Last night, I downloaded Deep Sky Stacker, G.I.M.P. and Nebulosity. All free, open source software for stacking and processing astrophotos.
My friend David sat with me to help me through the new programs, while I stacked and processed the data I captured a week or so ago.
I need practice and time to familiarise myself with this pretty powerful software. It can do so much more, but right now, I am pretty happy with the first image.
Centaurus A is the fifth brightest galaxy in the sky and is famous for the dust lane across its middle and a giant jet blasting away from the supermassive black hole at its centre. It is an active galaxy
about 12 million light years from Earth.

 

[BuildsBy Baz]

Location: Canberra, Australia
Telescope: GSO RC12 Truss
Mount: Skywatcher EQ8 Pro
Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro-cooled.
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MC-S
Guide scope: Prima Luce Lab 60mm
Software:
Voyager -Telescope control, plate-solving, focus and capture
Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Nebulosity, G.I.M.P and Photoshop Elements 6
Exposure 2.4hours
Darks subtracted.

The Carina Nebula or Eta Carinae Nebula is a large, complex area of bright and dark nebulosity in the constellation Carina, located in the Carina–Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way galaxy. The nebula is approximately 8,500 light-years from Earth. Wikipedia

 

[BuildsBy Baz]

Location: Canberra, Australia
Telescope: GSO RC12 Truss
Mount: Skywatcher EQ8 Pro
Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro-cooled.
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MC-S
Guide scope: Prima Luce Lab 60mm
Software:
Voyager -Telescope control, plate-solving, focus and capture
Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Nebulosity, G.I.M.P and Photoshop Elements 6
Exposure 2.4hours
Darks subtracted.

Messier 83 or M83, also known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy and NGC 5236, is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 15 million light-years away in the constellation borders of Hydra and Centaurus. Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille discovered M83 on 23 February 1752 at the Cape of Good Hope. Wikipedia

 

[gjl711]

Very nice. The thing that amazes me is looking at the background stars you see other galaxies. It really gives a sense at how big the universe truly is.

 

[necromancer]

I remember when you were showing us the build of the observatory on OCAU and I for one quietly was sad when you stopped and went off on different projects

Stoked to see you back looking in the right direction - up!

 

[BuildsBy Baz]

See Classifieds post here