The Moon and Stars

[ressalg]

The weather was almost perfect for astronomical viewing... and astro photography. Perfect for the area I live in anyway.

The Moon
Moon 001.jpg

Taken the night before actual First Quarter phase.


The Owl Cluster (a.k.a: The E.T. Cluster)
Owl Cluster 001.jpg

Properly known as NGC 457. It is located in the constellation Cassiopeia and is about 9000 light years from Earth.

M4 - Globular Cluster
M4.jpg

Number four on Charles Messier's list of deep sky object. Also known as the Cat's Eye cluster. Approximately 10 million years old and 7200 light years from Earth.

[thegrandpoohbah]

Beautiful! The moon shot is so sharp. How/what did you use to take them?

[Fred flyfisher]

Very impressive. Like them all. Especially the moon. So clear and nicelly done.

[ressalg]

Thanks, guys.

They were all taken through an 8" Newtonian (uses mirrors instead of lenses) using a Canon 20Da. Precise focus was acheived using what's called a Bahtinov mask. Basically it's a sheet of plastic, that has a special pattern cut into it, which you put over the end your telescope. When you look at a bright star, it makes it look like an astrix (sort of). When the vertical line is in the middle of the X, you're in focus. Works pretty well, too. Take a test shot, zoom in on the image, and adjust accordingly. Usually you can get it in two or three tries.