No more telescope!
by Bob on Oct.04, 2013, under My Equipment
I sold my telescope and everything that goes with it.
I have other priorities right now, I will pick my hobby up again when the time comes and I can afford it again!
The Newton was nice, but it’s not really my thing. I just don’t like having to collimate all the time.
Bigger aperture for less money than a decent refractor is very nice, of course, but I still rather go for the easier -and most importantly quicker- use of the refractor.
It might take a little while to get started again, but when I do, I will be back with a vengeance!
In the meantime, it might help if you could spare some bitcoins, I will spend it on this hobby alone.
Thanks for your support!
M65, M66 & NGC3628
by Bob on Apr.06, 2013, under Messier Objects, NGC Objects
A.k.a.: Leo Triplet
Type: Spiral galaxies
Distance from earth: Approx. 36 +/- 5 million ly
Constellation: Leo
Telescope: Sky-Watcher Explorer-200PDS Newton
Camera: Canon EOS 550D
Exposure: 25x 25s @ ISO1600, no darks or flats
Filters: None
Additional accessories: None
This is the second picture taken with this new setup (although the Canon DSLR isn’t new, it’s my old buddy).
I’m amazed at what can be shown with such short exposures!
Still on my wishlist: coma corrector and IDAS-LPS P2 filter (I wish I never sold this one!).
Note: There is a supernova, it goes by the name of sn2013am, visible in M65 (the upper right galaxy).
NGC869 & NGC884
by Bob on Apr.06, 2013, under NGC Objects
A.k.a.: Double Cluster
Type: Open Cluster
Distance from earth: Approx. 7.500 ly
Constellation: Perseus
Telescope: Sky-Watcher Explorer-200PDS Newton
Camera: Canon EOS 550D
Exposure: 50x 60s @ ISO800, no darks or flats
Filters: None
Additional accessories: None
This is the first picture taken with this new setup.
Much better looking compared to my very first Double Cluster photo, taken over 2.5 years ago.
Recent changes
by Bob on Feb.23, 2013, under My Equipment
Some time has passed again since my last update.
For various reasons I sold most of my last gear and traded the 115mm triplet apo (which I never blogged about) for an entirely new setup.
Right now I have a full Sky-Watcher setup: a 200mm F/5 Newton with dual speed 10:1 focuser on a HEQ-5 Pro.
I know, it’s a step back from my previous telescopes, but I hope to have more fun with this bigger aperture and light-weight mount.
The problem I had with my previous setup is that I found myself reluctant to set the heavy CGE and everything else up outside on those rare unclouded nights.
This new set will be easily and quickly deployed outside.
Right now it will be for visual use only, but I will buy the necessary adapters, coma corrector and anti-light pollution filter when funds are available again. I will be using my trusted Canon EOS 550D again.
M63 (Sunflower Galaxy)
by Bob on Jul.24, 2012, under Messier Objects, NGC Objects
A.k.a.: Sunflower Galaxy
A.k.a. NGC 5055
Type: Globular Cluster
Distance from earth: Approx. 37.000.000 ly
Constellation: Canes Venatici (hunting dogs)
Telescope: Robtics 115mm triplet apo @ F/6.9
Camera: Atik 383L+ monochrome
Exposure: 14x 300s + 1x dark pixel map
Filters: Hutech IDAS LPS-P2
Additional accessories: Robtics field flattener, Starlight Xpress USB filter wheel
M 12
by Bob on Jul.24, 2012, under Messier Objects, NGC Objects
A.k.a. NGC 6218
Type: Globular Cluster
Distance from earth: Approx. 15.700 ly
Constellation: Ophiuchus
Telescope: Robtics 115mm triplet apo @ F/6.9
Camera: Atik 383L+ monochrome
Exposure: 10x 300s + 1x dark pixel map
Filters: Hutech IDAS LPS-P2
Additional accessories: Robtics field flattener, Starlight Xpress USB filter wheel
M 84, M 86 and more
by Bob on May.25, 2012, under Messier Objects, NGC Objects
This is only a small part of the Virgo cluster of galaxies, which contains about 1500 galaxies in total.
In this image, the following galaxies are easily spotted, from right to left: M84, M86 with NGC 4402 above, NGC 4425, NGC 4438, NGC 4435, NGC 4461, NGC 4458 and NGC 4473 in the far left, upper corner.
Close inspection will reveal even more smaller and fuzzy galaxies.
Type: Spiral Galaxy
Distance from earth: ranging anywhere between 50.000.000 and 60.000.000 ly, and beyond
Constellation: Virgo
Telescope: Robtics 115mm triplet apo @ F/6.9
Camera: Atik 383L+ monochrome
Exposure: single 600s shot, no darks
Filters: Hutech IDAS LPS-P2
Additional accessories: Robtics field flattener, Starlight Xpress USB filter wheel
This is actually the very first image taken with the new (secondhand) Atik 383L+ monochrome camera and the Starlight Xpress filter wheel.
It was just a test, because I wanted to see how deep it could go. I think it’s a great start, considering it’s only a single shot.
M 51 (Whirlpool Galaxy)
by Bob on May.25, 2012, under Messier Objects, NGC Objects
A.k.a. Whirlpool Galaxy
A.k.a. NGC 5194
A.k.a. Arp 85
Type: Spiral Galaxy
Distance from earth: Approx. 23.000.000 ly
Constellation: Canus Venatici (Hunting Dogs)
Telescope: Robtics 115mm triplet apo @ F/6.9
Camera: Atik 383L+ monochrome
Exposure: 8x 600s + 1x 600s dark
Filters: Hutech IDAS LPS-P2
Additional accessories: Robtics field flattener, Starlight Xpress USB filter wheel
The smaller, interacting galaxy is known as NGC 5195. Both galaxies are also referred to as M51a and M51b (the last one being the smaller galaxy).
NGC 7331
by Bob on Jan.16, 2012, under NGC Objects
NGC 7331 & ARP319 (Stephan’s Quintet)
Camera: Atik 314L color
Exposure: 12x480s light frames, 0 dark frames, 0 flats.
Filters: Hutech IDAS LPS-P2
Telescope: Robtics 115mm F/6.9 Triplet Apo
Abell Galaxy Cluster (AGC 426) in Perseus
by Bob on Oct.24, 2011, under NGC Objects
Type: Lots of all kinds of galaxies
Constellation: Perseus
Distance From Earth: Varies anywhere between approx. 200,000,000 – 280,000,000 light years, some possibly even more distant
Camera: Atik 314L color
Exposure: 20x480s light frames, 5 dark frames, 0 flats.
Filters: Hutech IDAS LPS-P2
Telescope: Robtics 130mm F/6.9 Triplet Apo
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