Category Archives: Deep-Sky Imaging

13 Messier objects in one image

Last night I managed to get the second frame of a Canon 200mm/M26C Trius 2-frame mosaic.

I covered the major galaxy region between Denebola and Vindemiatrix – home to the Virgo/Coma galaxy cluster.

In this image there are 13 Messier objects – all of them are galaxies.

Given any more clear skies I will try to get some more data on both frames just to reduce the noise a little more.

On the left hand frame just about every sub had multiple satellite trails – thank goodness for dither and SDMask stacking.

Deep-sky desktop/screensaver images from the New Forest Observatory

You can now purchase your own custom New Forest Observatory desktop/screensaver image for your computer.

Just choose the image you want as a desktop/screensaver from this huge selection, and send me the size of your desktop in pixels.  You will receive a JPEG image to your size requirements by return.  And the price for this custom service?  Just £5!!  Visit the New Forest Observatory for full details.

The Hyperstar III is back on-line for this winter’s goodies

The Hyperstar III was dis-assembled while I ran some experiments on the 200mm Canon DSLR lens which I piggy-backed on the C11.  Now the experiments have been run I removed the kludge from the back of the C11 and have re-commissioned the Hyperstar III.  All the software/hardware is running and talking to each other and all I need to do now is focus train and collimate the Hyperstar III, it looks pretty close as it is and won’t need a great deal of tweaking 🙂

The Double Cluster & Stock 2

Last night I managed 16 x 5-minute subs on the Double Cluster region using the Canon 200mm lens with the M25C OSC and a 52mm IDAS filter on the front of the lens.  The filter stops the lens down to f#3.85 with the native lens diaphragm wide open – hence no 8-pointed diffraction spikes 🙂  Lots of water vapour in the air – but fortunately no Moon.