Thursday 24 July 2014

Star Trail and possible Iridium Flare.

Taken last night (23rd July) using my Sony Cybershot DSC V1. 270 x 10 sec exposure's used and then stacked using a program called StarTrails. Tweaked the levels slightly in Gimp, think it gives a better contrast between the star's and the background colour. Also managed to find the frame that I captured the 'Iridium Flare'. I adjusted the levels and contrast in Gimp but nothing else. Hoping to get another chance to get even more frames, around 400, in the next few weeks. If  I do I will post the result's.

Polaris and 'Iridium Flare'

Tuesday 8 July 2014

Waxing Gibbous Moon

Didn't have long but managed some quick moon pics with my Samsung S3 Sunday night. Used my trusty Skywatcher 130p, 25mm SP eyepiece and a 3 xbarlow for the close up's. ISO 100, auto white balance and adjusted the EV when needed. Run them through Gimp with very little processing, just adjusted the levels slightly to get a bit more detail out.


Clavius

Copernicus

Copernicus & Eratosthenes

Plato & Mare Imbrium


Waxing Gibbous Moon

Friday 4 July 2014

Saturn

Been a LONG time since I done any webcam photography so grabbed the chance a few weeks back, 21st June, to re teach myself. Didn't have long to grab some of Saturn before it disappeared behind the houses here. Only had an hour, but after arguing with my capture software and spending nearly half an hour trying to remember how to get Saturn on to my screen (perfectly center in my eyepiece but nothing on my screen!!!) then forgetting the settings on the capture software, fighting the wind too, I did manage to get a few half decent avi's. Not brilliant but considering the trouble I had and being 7 years since I last done this I'm happy with the results! Used a 80GTL, 2xBarlow, 1100 and 1030 frames @15fps. Stacked and processed in Registax 6. 

I also took some Saturn images with my Samsung S3 and my new addition to my little family, Nexstar 127slt :). Lovely scope to use, only had a few hours using it last Friday night due to having to get up a silly o clock but managed to see quite a bit even with loads of LP here! Fingers crossed the weather reports are right and get a few hours of clear sky tomorrow night to grab some avi's of Saturn with the 127.  
                                          Saturn 1100 frames @15fps 80GTL
                                          Saturn 1030 frames @15fps 80GTL
                                          Saturn Samsung S3 auto white balance 127 SLT
                                          Saturn Samsung S3 Daylight white balance 127 SLT