timthelder

Quite awesome on that one! Tim

In this particular image, a definite improvement to enhance/bring more focus to the nebula. I am sure this is more 'automatic' in it's execution. Using a DSLR when I was doing deep sky imaging, I didn't have this problem However, I did create my own 'star reduction' tool in my very old PS CS3, which theoretically, could be altered to a degree, depending on how much 'reduction' one wanted. How to remove stars from an image using Photoshop CS3 (lockhartobservatory.com) Tim

Job well done on that animation Greg. Why is it that event doesn't seem so long ago? Tim

Great shots Ray. Solar, (at a higher level than my solar filter) is also something I would like to get into. Another HUGE expense. Tim

I have grown to appreciate planetary imaging more over the years. The planets change. Rings up, rings down, cloud pattern changes, an occasional asteroid or comet strike, (if one is lucky enough to be imaging at the time...) Most importantly, being able to get some imaging time and still get to bed at a decent hour. As the topic dictates, here are a few of Saturn this apparition. First out RGB on 09/01/22 Played around with mapping the channels to different colors in this one. Interesting but ehh... This one from 09/08/22 First couple of images using a ZWO120mm. Last one with a ZWO1290. The results don't seem any better to me with the 1290. I am going to revisit my old Celestron Skyris 618M for comparison on my next outing. It has the same sensor as the older DMK21AU618.AS Anyhoo, sure is fun. Tim

Not too satisfied with image detail this season, the seeing has been pretty rough. From 10/09

And from 10/10. Had to stack using ole Registax to get the moons in there.

Last Saturn images for this season. One from Sept.9th, and one from Oct. 3rd. The last one is an over exposed processing trick I do. Moon location only, size quite a bit over blown.

I guess he's 'going green', seems to be the trend... Nice shot Greg! Tim

Still using the C9.25. Love to find a bargain on something a little bigger. I really think the images I am getting are at the threshold of what I can do with this aperture. Tim

That is one dense starfield. Great image! Tim

I loved that movie, 'The Full Monty'. Definitely a classic! Amazing image! It's so hard to say when enough, is enough, on a target like this. Tim

And with the Celestron Skyris. I think, I prefer the Skyris over the ZWO models. Opinions? Tim

Sorry, but I like Noel's process better... (Valiant effort though.) Tim

Well, how bout that. In my email yesterday, I had one from someone claiming to be a representative from Discover Magazine. They sent a couple of tax forms (a W-8 and W-9) wanting me to fill them out with my personal info so they could pay me for the use of my photo in The January 2022 issue of Astronomy Magazine. I was like "yeah, right." "I already have my January issue a little late aren't we." (Nobody's getting my personal info. Scammer.) So, I replied back to just donate my $25 gratuity to a non-profit organization of their choice. I didn't think any more of it. Today, I happen to take a look at my January issue, (in which I have had for a couple of weeks.) Sure enough, object #9, The Blinking Planetary, photo credit, Me! I submitted that image back in 2013! Whoops, I'm glad I was nice to the scammer, LOL. Cheers, Tim.

Well done Ken. I was just having a peek a few minutes ago with the binos' but couldn't find it. Seems to have dimmed a bit. Tim

That right there is quite spectacular. The best I believe I've seen. Well done Greg!

Loads of detail. Didn't spot the asterism, it doesn't really 'pop' out unless I cross my eyes, rub my belly and pat my head....Looks like the South dome is pretty well sorted. Well done. It's been so long since I did any LEA, I doubt I even remember how. Is that a couple of carbon stars just of center toward the top of the image? Good luck with the North dome! Tim

I did a quick read on the reviews of those cameras a while back. And that seemed to be the consensus, no amp glow, no darks, etc. Pretty amazing. Back in my day we had darks, flats, dark flats....Everyone is so spoiled these days!

That is going to be one imaging monster....Nights are getting darker, you should get in some scope time soon. Tim

Weather has been quite abusive here of late, heat, hurricanes and what not. Finally have had a couple of great nights where it's been cool and clear, (yes, both at the same time. Can you believe it!) My first two nights out my images sucked. I blamed the seeing as per usual. After the second night out I decided something was amiss. After I had built my observatory, (mine, mine, mine...) I set up everything as per usual. Everything leveled, plumbed, drifted in the tracking, collimated the scope, (wait, what!) Yep collimated. It was perfect just through an eyepiece. NOT, through the imaging train! I believe K-man (Daryl,) had mentioned this once before. An example forthcoming... Just a couple of more very fine tweaks and I believe The collimation will be perfect. Still using the Celestron C9.25, ZWO120mm cam, Telvue Powermate, Baader LRGB filters, a 685nm on Saturn, and a 742nm on Jupiter every now and then for luminence. Really liking the iOptron CEM 70 (at least till it craps out on me...) Here's any ugly one... Much better! Maybe with that final tweak to the collimation I will be able to get the Encke. Well, that's about it for now folks, Peace out, Tim.

These are from the 9th and 10 respectively. Best Jupe so far, the Encke still elusive. Cheers!

Ohhh, so close!

Interesting 'smoke ring' feature at about 11:00 from V1331 in the 3rd image near the top. Kudos, Tim.

Honestly, I never thought about it Ray. As, (for my purposes) I prefer the OSC 'one and done method'. I am thinking about a newer cooled camera but I am not yet ready to pull the trigger. (Can't seem to make up my mind.) Tim