Category Archives: Widefield Imaging

Swan Adventures

by in Broadband, Deep Sky Objects, Nebula, Widefield Imaging and tagged | 2 Comments

I first visited the constellation of Cygnus soon after starting astrophotography, inevitably to image the Veil Nebula and North America (NAN) & Pelican Nebula, or parts thereof.   As my abilities and equipment improved I’ve often returned to each of these popular targets, in the hope of obtaining a better image each time and I’m sure I will continue in this pursuit.  However, such is the draw of these iconic objects that it’s easy to overlook other equally exciting targets within the same constellation.  

Last year (2019) my attention was drawn to such a target in the form of DWB 111 or the Propeller Nebula, which I successfully imaged and thereby ignited my interest in the rich, very large HII-region of Cygnus (see above), within which imaging possibilities are almost endless.  I therefore recently went back during this September to image two less popular targets located within the aforesaid HII-region; I had already imaged the NAN and Veil Nebula again in early September, on which occasion using my new Samyang 135mm f2 lens set-up to obtain wide-field shots.

After first imaging LBN 325 and other emission nebulae across the adjacent area, I turned my attention to a neighbouring part of the said HII-region of Cygnus, likewise found in the quadrant of Cygnus defined by the stars Deneb – Sadr – Delta Cygni.  Similarly this area is full of numerous emission nebulae but furthermore here strikingly intercalated with dark nebula, star clusters and in particular reflection nebulae.  Most prominent of these near the centre of the image is NGC 6914, vdB 131 & vdB32 (Main image top-of-the-page), which are conspicuously highlighted by associated bright blue nebulosity.  Dotted throughout the rest of the image the use of HaLRGB picks out many other blue and rare yellow refection nebula and stars that all together make for an exciting image (Ha starless image above).  Such is the quality and vastness of this part of Cygnus for potential image targets that I feel sure I’ll be coming back to this region for many years to come.

 IMAGING DETAILS
Category / Object Reflection Nebula  NGC 6914
ConstellationCygnus
Distance6,000 light-years
Size2.5o x 1.90o
Apparent Magnitude?
  
Scope William Optics GT81 + Focal Reducer FL 382mm  f4.72
MountSW AZ-EQ6 GT + EQASCOM computer control & Cartes du Ciel
GuidingWilliam Optics 50mm guide scope
 + Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2 camera & PHD2 guiding
CameraZWO1600MM-Cool mono  CMOS sensor
 FOV 2.65o x 2.0o Resolution 2.05”/pix  Max. image size 4,656 x 3,520 pix   
EFWZWOx8 + ZWO LRGB & Ha OIII SII 7nm filters 
Capture & ProcessingAstro Photography Tool + PHD2 +  Deep Sky Stacker + PixInsight + Photoshop CS3 + Topaz AI Denoise
Image Location              & OrientationCentre:   RA 20h 25’ 23.097”       DEC +42o 22’ 41.092”                      Top of image = approximately North     
Exposures36 @ 300 sec Ha  +  37 x LGB  36 x R @ 180 sec Time: Ha 3hr LRGB  7hr 21min  =  Total 10hr 21 min   
 @ 139 Gain   21  Offset @ -20oC    
Calibration5 x 300 sec Ha + 10 X 180’ LRGB  Darks,  20 x 1/4000 sec Bias  10 x  HaLRGB Flats               @ ADU 25,000
Location & DarknessFairvale Observatory – Redhill – Surrey – UK        Typically Bortle 5-6
Date & Time17th 20th 21st September 2020  @ +21.00h  
WeatherApprox. 15oC   RH = 45- 70%                  🌙 New – 22% waxing

The Big Picture

by in Deep Sky Objects, Equipment, General Astronomy, Imaging, Widefield Imaging | 3 Comments

I’ve been very happy with my main imaging set-up for nearly 4-years: Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 GT Mount + William Optics GT81 + ZWO1600MM-Cool mono camera.  Nevertheless, thoughts inevitably stray towards the big and usually expensive question – what next?  Given the said equipment, a natural move is likely to be the addition of a larger telescope to get at those faint fuzzies and I have been toying with such an idea for some time – probably another refractor in the 100mm to 130mm range.  However, I’ve always been held back by a number of nagging issues:

  • Without a sightline of Polaris for polar alignment from the main location at Fairvale Observatory,  guiding is always going to be sub-optimal – I can get away with it with the smaller William Optics but a larger aperture / focal length would be more challenging;
  • Being a set-up / take-down observatory each night, the increased technical demands of a larger OTA would certainly take longer and in general be more difficult to undertake – as I get older moving the mount is already taking its toll on my back;
  • Time is short as there’s simply no getting away from the problem we all suffer in the UK – cloud and lots of it!  It’s been normal to go weeks, even months without a clear night sky and as a result last year I managed to image just 18 objects over some 27 nights, of which some were only over a few hours before the clouds rolled in;
  • A static observatory would help enormously but my garden is unsuitable: apart from the aforesaid problem that my house obscures a northerly view, there are also houses and substantial trees and very high hedges on all the other sides.

Regretfully I have therefore always come to the same conclusion, that unless I moved house it was best to continue with my current set-up – until now!  Inspired by a fascinating thread on the Stargazers Lounge Forum the solution was blindingly obvious, or at least it was once I understood there was another way, a larger field-of-view rather than larger telescope, achieved with a traditional though far from ordinary camera lens.

As a life-long photographer on land and underwater, astrophotography surprisingly came as something of a shock, as it’s just so contrasting to the aforesaid disciplines and requires quite different technical knowledge and aptitude.  Of course, I’ve often used my camera equipment to image the night sky, particularly the Milky Way and started out astrophotography using a modded DSLR but otherwise did not consider that a camera lens could form the basis for my astrophotography going forwards – then I discovered the Samyang 135 f2 lens.  Moreover, looking at what others achieved matching this lens with a tracking mount and mono camera, the decision to join the Samy club was a no brainer.

Located in South Korea, Samyang Optics has been manufacturing good camera lenses since 1972.  Also sold under the Rokinon brand name, the Samyang 135 f2 stands out for two reasons:

  1. The optics of the lens are top drawer, consisting of 11-elements in 7-groups using very high quality glass;
  2. The lens is very well suited to gathering photons with a maximum f2 aperture – though most users stop down to 2.8 in order to achieve good star shapes right into the corners.

The optical quality produces sharp image quality from corner to corner but combining this with a 135mm focal length achieves an enormous 9.45o x 6.30o field of view @ f2 with a Canon 550D compared with my current set-up of 2.67o x 1.78o, opening up whole new imaging possibilities.

Inner rectangle: FOV using William Optics GT81 + focal reducer & ZWO 1600MM-Cool camera
Outer rectangle: FOV using Samyang 135 f/2 & CAnon 550D DSLR camera
It would take approximately a 9 x panel mosaic from the WO to cover the Samyang area!

Furthermore, this much smaller rig is lighter, easier and thus quicker to set-up and break-down.  Put together it’s a powerful combination that I hope to fully exploit in the future.

Camera

Equipment

FOV

Resolution

ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool

WO GT81 + 0.80 FR*

2.65o x 2.00o

2.05”/px

Samyang 135 f/2

7.50o x 5.67o

5.80”/px

Canon 550D DSLR

WO GT81 + 0/80 FR*

2.67o x 1.78o

1.85”/px

Samyang 135 f/2

9.45o x 6.30o

6.45”/px

*Current set-up  

By today’s standards this lens might be considered somewhat old fashioned with no autofocus or image stabilisation etc., but the intrinsic high manufacturing standards and manual focus are excellent for those who know how to handle such a lens and perfect for astrophotography.  For such a purpose users generally either create their own rig by adapting various astronomy bits and pieces or use one of a growing number of bespoke brackets that are being made for this increasingly popular lens.

For the moment I chose to use a 3D printed bracket and integrated manual microfocuser, made by the French company AstroKraken and its founder Philippe Leca.  Therein the lens is cradled by two hinged rings, which when screwed down hold the lens firmly to either a Vixen bar or Losmandy plate.  The microfocuser then fits snuggly around and then clamps onto the focus ring, so that two screws on either side can be adjusted so as to push against a bridge located above and between the two rings, thus providing fine control over the focus ring; the said bridge also has a Synta fitting shoe on top to fix a finder / guide scope.  Altogether it’s a neat and very effective design that provides an easy-to-use tailor made platform for the lens, which can then be combined either with a DSLR or mono camera on the back; users of mono cameras tend to recommend changing the lens’ bayonet for a screw fitting and possibly add a third ring for the camera in order to eliminate the possibility of any flexure.

Whilst the AstroKraken bracket works well, the structural layout is inevitably tight making it difficult to view the focus ring settings but once established close to focus, subsequent use of the microfocuser is excellent in finessing the job of focussing before locking down the adjustment screws.  In addition, I’ve acquired a second Starlight Express Lodestar X2 autoguiding camera for use with a Skywatcher Evoguide 50ED guidescope but so far have not needed it with short exposures currently being used.

As a project for the new rig I had intended to spend the late summer imaging the suitably large Cygnus HII region but in the end conditions limited my time on this wonderful area of the sky at this time of the year and will have to wait for another time.  Notwithstanding, first light using my modded Canon 550D DSLR camera of the said Cygnus area was briefly achieved at the end of July, with promising results (see above – uncropped).  More recently, in early September I was able to obtain images of the Veil Nebula (see below – cropped to 70%) and North America Nebula (see top-of-the page, cropped to 80%), in all cases taken at 120sec exposures and ISO 1600.  Unfortunately all integration times have been just under 60 minutes for each target and in the long run the real magic of this lens will be unlocked with the addition of a mono camera and much greater imaging times.

Looking back personally and professionally, it’s apparent to me that the concept of the big picture, metaphorically or otherwise, has played a central role in my life and is an area I like to work with; it’s the big picture that provides context, understanding and opportunity. Perhaps it should therefore not be a surprise that in the end my next step in astrophotography will now follow such a path.  The detail provided with my current equipment is fulfilling and beautiful but the additional context provided by the Samyang’s extensive FOV can be more insightful and even breathtaking in scope.  After something of a slow start, I’m now really looking forwards to spending more time with this new and exciting rig in the future.  

Reflections 2019

by in Broadband, Deep Sky Objects, Galaxy, General Astronomy, Imaging, Mosaic, Narrowband, Nebula, Processing, Software, Solar system, Widefield Imaging and tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The website Watch This Space (Man) began in 2015 as I started out in astronomy and is a record of my personal journey, comments and thoughts.  Apart from the main blog, the website also contains links to other astrophotographers, astronomy tools, astronomy weather, and scientific papers etc., which can be accessed from the top menu.

Whilst there is a photo gallery of my work in this website, an overview of the better images can be found in the My Astrophotography FLICKR album, which can be found in the GALLERY menu.  Furthermore, this year I took the plunge and joined the Astrobin community, where my images can be found using the appropriate link also in the GALLERY menu.

Heat Map 2019

During the past year the site was visited from 64 different countries, literally from every corner of the world.  I always like to hear from anybody out there – comments, questions, help or just to say hello  – and can be contacted via details given in the ABOUT menu section or just leave a comment on any item if you prefer.

Reflections 2019 BannerX

Reflections is compiled at the end of each year as a review of my astronomy and astrophotography during the previous twelve months, together with some thoughts on possible future developments.

Overview, Images & Goals for 2020

The past year’s plan was simple: build-on and experiment with developments from the previous year, in particular using Plate Solving to achieve longer integration times and explore further the north sky, which I could now see from the new Shed Observatory and operates during the spring and summer months.

By routinely using Plate Solving integration times, now obtained over a number of nights or even months, have increased by up to four-fold compared to previous years.  As a result I concentrated on less objects but for longer time, achieving between 6 to 8 hours of subs on some occasions, the limiting factor as ever being British weather.  Although quite modest compared to those able to use fixed observatories, or in clear, dry climates with Bortle 1 or 2 skies, I was very pleased with the positive impact this had on my images.

Starting astronomy and astrophotography somewhat late in the day a few years ago, like many others after retirement, the learning curve was steep and often frustrating.  There were times I’ve almost considered giving up but with perseverance I’ve made progress and often get great pleasure from some of the results, as well as just enjoying and learning about this wonderful subject.  For me it is just a hobby but recognising some of my achievements and abilities acquired since starting out in 2014, I was especially proud this year to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.  For all the help in reaching this point, I’d like to thank all those who have helped me from the astronomy community, wherever they are.

RAS logo

Favourite Images

My weakness in astrophotography remains processing but having at last obtained some good integration times, this year I made a greater effort to improve these techniques – with some success.  Adopting the theme less is more, I imaged just 17 different objects this year – of which nine were full narrow or broadfband images, with the rest being  experimental or DSLR – with a total integration time of 65 hours (2018: 25 objects & 43 hours).  The resulting images turned out well, achieving Picture of the Week on the British Astronomical Association website on six occasions.  It’s therefore difficult to choose favourites from this select group based on merit alone, so this year’s favourites (see below) represent those good images that also mark a significant milestone in my astrophotography.  Detailed reviews of these and all other images from 2019 are discussed in dedicated articles that can be found via the Blog Index under the ABOUT dropdown menu.

SHO2 CompF (Large)

Horsehead & Flame Nebula: Usually imaged in LRGB broadband, this narrowband SHO version produced a very different affect and colours, whilst also showing the beauty of the accompanying clouds of interstellar gas and dust.  Taken over three nights, at nearly 7-hours, this image was also one of my longest integration times to date.     

M101 HaLRGB final Closeup

M101 Pinwheel Galaxy: Given Bortle 5-6 skies, being on the Gatwick Airport flightpath and a using a small refractor, I struggle to image galaxies and often LRGB images in general from Fairvale Observatory.  However, on this occasion the combination of 5-hours HaLRGB subs and new processing techniques to enhance the colours, M101 proved the exception and is perhaps my first decent classic spiral galaxy imaged from home.  Moreover, the HII regions light up along the spiral arms with the addition of Ha wavelength, producing a dazzling and dynamic image. 

Picture saved with settings embedded.

Heart & Soul Nebula:  Combining existing data from 2018 of the Heart Nebula and new 2019 data of the Soul Nebula + the intervening space, this is my first albeit modest mosaic, which promises to open up significant possibilities in the future. 

RECORD CARD – 2019
Goal Specifics / Results Outcome
Improve broadband and narrowband imaging

 

 Achieved major increase of image integration times and overall quality. MUCH, MUCH BETTER

 
Improve processing Continuing to make slow improvements, with greater use of new Photoshop techniques. BETTER

 
Expand & Improve Widefield Imaging Despite some good images of the Milky Way in the USA, I never used the Vixen Polarie tracking mount and did not make it to any other dark sky sites  = disappointing. FAILED

 

My objectives in 2019 mostly went well in (see above), so here goes for 2020:

  • Imaging: There’s always scope to improve imaging techniques but probably most of all I still need to improve guiding quality and increase exposure and image integration times even further.
  • Mosaic: Expand the use of mosaic imaging using Plate Solving and new CdC planning software.
  • Improve processing: I expect this will continue to be something of a challenge for some time to come unless I go to the dark side and adopt software such as PixInsight & / or APP.
  • New Observatory: Unfortunately this will not be a fixed obsy whilst I continue to live here at Fairvale which is unsuitable.  However, I’m hopeful that another location between the Main (North) Observatory and the Shed Observatory might open up the north sky better and by getting away from the high hedges that surround the garden allow longer imaging sessions than can be currently obtained at the Shed.
  • Other: My mind is always thinking about larger telescopes or a dual rig and / or a new high-end encoded mount but probably not until I make further progress with the above goals and / or move to a better dark sky location – dreaming is part of astrophotography = watch this space!

Although you never know, I don’t see any major breakthroughs in the coming year but more of the same – revisiting familiar objects in order to obtain new image versions based on greater integration time and hopefully using mosaic techniques to build-out images in order to encompass wider areas of the sky.  This year I was surprised to discover objects that I had hitherto considered out of reach from my location (M101, M51 etc.), as well as exciting features that were completely new to me and still hold great promise e.g. DWB 111 AKA the Propeller Nebula.

Looking back I’m very happy to say 2019 was an excellent year for astronomy and astrophotography, almost certainly my best yet.  You can’t ask for more than that and I hope that WTSM’s Reflections 2020 will record further such success.

Watch this space!

wtsm logo

 

2019 CHRONICLE 

Below is a quarter by quarter summary of my astronomy and astrophotography for the year, followed by an imaging record.

JANUARY TO MARCH

Towards the end of 2018 I decided to undertake a project, with the prime objective to gather a much longer period of integration than hitherto achieved by using my newly developed skill of Plate Solving.  I’d previously imaged the Horsehead and Flame Nebula in the more traditional colour palette, either with a modded DSLR or by LRGB broadband.  However, I’d recently seen this iconic image undertaken using the Hubble Palette to great affect and was inspired to do the same myself. Thereafter, for more than 2-months the clouds rolled in and I thought my project would then be impossible, not least because by now Orion had crossed the Meridian in the early evening and imaging times were at best limited.  But as is often the case with astrophotography everything suddenly changed and it was game on!

The first evening of clear skies since 11th November 2018 coincided with the full lunar eclipse on 21st January, which I was therefore able to image once again.  Then six days later a very untypical clear and quite warm period of weather arrived and I was able to complete my intended project after all, with further time to image both the Great Orion Nebula and the reflection nebula M78 + Barnard’s Loop (see images below).

HaLRGB2FINALcrop (Large)

Combined +180 degrees 3+5min HaLRGB (Large)

Achieving much longer integration times of between 5 and nearly 8-hours, the impact on the resulting images was transformative.  I was especially pleased with the outcome of the Horsehead project in SHO (see Favourites Images section) but found the Ha-only starless version of the same scene (see below) particularly mesmerising, as the large HII structures throughout this region bring the image to life.

NGC 2024 Ha Starless2

By the end of February the night sky at 51o latitude has moved inexorably on to the so-called Galaxy Season, which provides something of a dearth of imaging opportunities for my 81mm telescope.  However, with a good patch of weather at the end of March, whilst experimenting with the Leo Group I noticed that small areas of Ursa Major region could be seen directly above for a couple of hours, which to my surprise opened up a whole new world of possibilities hitherto considered unavailable.  Shortly after I managed to obtain almost 5-hours of data on M101 the Pinwheel Galaxy, which is one of my best galaxy images taken from Fairvale Observatory (see Favourite Images section).

APRIL TO JUNE

Having discovered the albeit limited possibilities of seeing Ursa Major, I moved to the Shed Observatory early in April, which by then afforded slightly better views of the same area of sky and thereby to my great joy provided the possibility of imaging the wonderful Whirlpool Galaxy, M51.  Unfortunately time was somewhat limited but it was better than nothing and I was thrilled to obtain an image of this wonderful object for the first time.  Weather permitting I’ll be back for more data in 2020 with which to build on the promising result obtained this year.

LRGB Image FINALX2 (Large)

By the end of April just 8-weeks away from the summer solstice astronomical darkness is in short supply.  Fortunately having moved earlier to the Shed Observatory this year, I was in a good position to return to inaging the Bodes and Cigar Galaxies (see below), which had been my first ever image of north sky objects in 2018.

LRGBFinal (Large)

JULY TO SEPTEMBER

From May until late July the absence of Astronomical darkness makes astronomy difficult and frankly having progressed from the time of being a beginner, it is quite refreshing to take a break.  Therefore it was only after an evening viewing the partial eclipse on 16th July and a brief experiment with the Wizzard Nebula (something for the future) at the beginning of August, that much later I returned to astrophotography seriously.

SHO2SCcrop (Large)

Having messed up imaging the Soul Nebula with poor framing in 2018 and being at the Shed Observatory, I decided to re-image the Soul properly, together with some of the adjacent sky in order to combine the new data with last year’s adjacent Heart Nebula to form a mosaic of both objects.  I don’t know why but this was my first attempt at a mosaic.  Only very recently has integrated software for mosaic planning combining  Cartes de Ciel and Astrophotography Tool for image capture has been released.  However, on this occasion I planned and implemented the said mosaic imaging manually, with a satisfying outcome (see Favourite Images section) but with the new software now available I hope to embark on more extensive mosaic projects in the near future.

This year’s astrophotography has followed two themes, the aforementioned ‘less is more’ with the aim of producing better images using much greater integration times.  The second has been largely determined by chance, being the discovery of new objects that had hitherto either been unknown to me or considered to be out of view from Fairvale Observatory; the combination of my house, very high hedges + trees and adjacent houses obscures large swathes of the night sky.  Earlier in the year such chance had led me to the M101 and M51 galaxies and in the autumn it was first the iconic Pacman Nebula and then an exciting area of Cygnus constellation.

Pacman is not particularly large for my equipment but nevertheless produced a decent narrowband image, my last from the Shed Observatory for this year.  Not until late September did the clouds again relent for my next project that initially seemed something of a long shot but actually turned out very well.  The Propeller Nebula is located in a vast HII region of the Cygnus Constellation, which from my point-of-view was a complete surprise.  At some 25 arc seconds the nebula is again on the small side for my equipment but the complexity of the adjacent HII region transforms the wider image into something really spectacular (SHO version below), which I certainly intend to visit again next year to build on the current data and explore further afield the HII region which presents exciting possibilities.

SHO F HLVG (Large)

A subsequent long trip to the USA stopped all astronomy in Surrey but a couple of evenings out in Wyoming and Utah produced some incredible dark skies and DSLR Milky Way images (see below).  Despite the remoteness of Spilt Mountain in the UTAH section of the Dinosaur National Monument – designated a Dark Sky Area – whilst imaging at 20 second exposures only one-in-ten images were without a plane track, very sad.

IMG_2345 ComboX

OCTOBER TO DECEMBER

Prior to the arrival of Orion and other fun objects of the mid-winter night skies, imaging opportunities are sparse with my equipment but it’s been a couple of years since I last imaged M31 the Andromeda Galaxy and therefore for two evenings in late October it was time to give our neighbour the extended integration treatment.  At 7½ hours data acquisition went well but although the processed image is probably my best yet of this object, there’s room for improvement, which I suspect will require a move to more advanced processing software?

HaLRGBx5b (Large)

ASTROMINAGING RECORD 2019

No Date Type Object Name
       
1 21/01/19 DSLR Full Lunar Eclipse  
       
2 27/01/19* NB  Barnard-33 &

 NGC 2024

 Horsehead & Flame Nebula
       
3 23/02/19* Combo M42 Great Orion Nebula
       
4 25/02/19* Combo M78 Reflection Nebula Orion
       
5 12/03/19 BB NGC443/444 Jellyfish Nebula
       
6 24/03/19 Combo M95/96/105 Leo-1 Group
       
7 29/03/19* Combo M101 Pinwheel Galaxy
       
8 10/04/19 Combo M51 Whirlpool Galaxy
       
9 13/04/19 BB M81 & m82 Bodes & Cigar Galaxies
       
10 16/07/19 DSLR Partial Lunar Eclipse  
       
11 02/08/19 NB NGC 7380 Wizzard Nebula
       
12 23/08/19* BB IC 1848 Soul Nebula +

Mosaic Link

       
13 26/08/19 NB NGC 281 PacMan Nebula
       
14 05/09/19* NB DWB 111 Propeller Nebula
       
15 Sept DSLR Milky Way Split Mountain Utah
       
16 22/10/19* Combo M31 Andromeda Galaxy
       
17 18/11/19 BB M74 Galaxy
       
18 18/11/18 NB SH2-240 Spaghetti Nebula
       

*multiple evenings        Combo = HaLRGB       Underlined = BAA published

POSTSCRIPT

The ones that got away – imaged but not seen in WTSM this year – warts and all

RHB_2ajelly (Medium)

I saw some wonderful narrowband versions of the supernova remnant IC 443 Jellyfish Nebula this year, in particular adopting a wider view to incoporate its sentinel-like parner stars Tejat (Mu Geminorum) left and the tripple star Propus (Eta Geminorum) right, together with the reflection nebula IC 444 in the background.  As an experiment I think it may hold promise but will require a lot more integration time to improve the quality, colour and bring out more of IC 444.

M95_96_105 (Medium)

I’ve tried the Leo-1 group (M95/96/105) before but, as they say, if you don’t succeed try again.  Unfortunately the passage of time didn’t help – I need a larger telescope to do these critters justice! 

IMG_2336 (Large)

Dinosaur National Monument – Split Mountain, Utah.  Even at this wonderfully remote location, which is one of the darkest places in the USA, passing planes still get in the way of a good image – just like at Fairvale Observatory! 

M74 LRGBx (Medium)

At <=10 arc minutes the spiral galaxy M74 is too much for my equipment.

SH2-240 AB combined Ha Stretch (Large)

Located between the constellations Auriga and Gemini, SH2-240, Simeis 147 AKA the Spaghetti Nebula is a very large (+3 degrees) supernova remnant but it’s very low brightness makes imaging extremely difficult.  In fact prior to and during capture in Ha-wavelength, I had no idea if it was even within the image frame.  Aggressive stretching shows that it was there but only much darker skies and probably longer exposure time is likely to produce a more viable picture. 

 

Howling Wolf

by in General Astronomy, Imaging, Solar system, Viewing, Widefield Imaging and tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

lunar eclipse mosaic 210119x

I have a theory that at or about the time of each full moon the night sky is almost always clear, I don’t have the data but it just seems that way most of the time.  As an astrophotographer I am more than usually aware of the full moon as it makes all except narrowband imaging impossible, when it floods the night sky with its brilliant white light.  Apart from a brief and somewhat futile attempt on 14th December – the Moon and mixed cloud curtailed imaging on that occasion – my last astronomy at Fairvale Observatory was on the 17th October, thereafter being plagued by persistent cloud and bad weather; after a promising start at Les Granges Observatory in early November no further astronomy was possible during the rest of the week due to cloud and poor weather conditions.  I’m beginning to think I need a new hobby, one that is not weather dependent at least!

Given the disappointing lack of astronomy conditions I paid little attention to the upcoming lunar eclipse on the early morning of 21st January.  However, as the day approached various weather forecasts were inevitably mixed but at least two out of five held some promise of clear skies during part of the eclipse.  I therefore started to at least undertake some preliminary planning, only to discover that much of the eclipse might be obscured by houses and tall trees to the west of my location; Plan-B was to travel to nearby Reigate Priory Park which has a decent westerly outlook closer to the horizon.

As it turned out on the 20th a clear, sunny but cold and clear day preceded a clear evening and at about 3 a.m. on the 21st shortly before the action was due to start, the sky was still clear, thankfully proving my theory correct on this occasion.  Furthermore, my concerns over obscured views turned out to be mostly unfounded, with the Moon higher in the sky than envisaged and good sightlines up until the end of totality, at which time the cloud eventually rolled in anyway.  As a result I was able to enjoy over two hours viewing and imaging time, which encompassed the entire penumbral and totality stages of the eclipse.

Having obtained excellent images of the last lunar eclipse on 28th September 2015, tracking with a DSRL and the William Optics GT81 + another static, tripod fitted DSLR and 250mm zoom lens, this time I decided to adopt a different, more mobile set-up, in case Plan-B was necessary.  In 2017 I purchased a Canon 300mm f/4 L-Series telephoto lens to use for astronomy and wildlife photography.  The Canon’s Series-L lenses are a high quality, professional line especially made for APS-C cameras such as the 700D.  With no less than 15 lens elements and a fixed focal length, the picture quality for terrestrial imaging is fantastic, further assisted by a very accurate and quite image stabilizer.

This time I mounted the lens directly onto the tripod, with the camera further back so as to provide good balance between the two components.  As the autofocus and IS functions cannot be used in a dark sky for astrophotography, focus can be tricky and a compromise is required between the aperture setting for sharpness and a low ISO for quality.  As I discovered last time, the light quality diminishes significantly whilst the eclipse progresses across the face of the Moon and the aforesaid settings need to be constantly adjusted to compensate, especially during totality.  In the end I was pleased with the outcome of imaging the so-called Super Blood Wolf Moon (see mosaic above and image below).

img_1235x

As pleasing as imaging the eclipse is, like a solar eclipse viewing is an entirely different experience.  It is a pleasure to just watch the whole phenomena play out but the dramatic changes of light also has a profound effect on both the night sky itself and, in particular, the very nature of the Moon as perceived by the naked eye. On a clear night the full moon floods the night sky with its very bright light, thereby effectively hiding all but the very brightest of stars from view.  As the penumbral stage progresses (see diagram below) for about an hour the dark night sky is slowly revealed in all its glory, it’s as if someone has pulled the curtains and a new world has appeared.

total-lunar-eclipse-jan-2019-plot

Furthermore, as the moon darkens and eventually enters totality it takes on a completely different and eerie feeling, as well as a red hue caused by Raleigh scattering.  As is often the case with astrophotography the camera sensor is able to capture much greater colour and detail than the naked eye can see, thus producing beautiful images of one of nature’s best shows.  However, to the naked eye the moon takes on a different, somewhat strange nature during totality – something of a 3D effect occurs as it seems to float in the night sky like a big red balloon – something that an image cannot ever capture, making the night time adventure more exciting and worth all the effort.

Lunar eclipses are not that rare but we now have to wait 10-years for the next one in the UK which will take place on 20th December 2029, with or without cloud!

IMAGING DETAILS
Object Lunar eclipse – Super Blood Wolf Moon
Distance <238,000 miles (30,000 miles closer than usual)
Size 31’or 1/2o  
Apparent Magnitude -12.74  @ mean full moon
 
Scope / Lens  Canon L-Series 300mm f/4
Mount Manfrotto tripod
Camera Canon 700D  
Capture & Processing Manual, Photoshop CS3- Extended
Exposures x50:  Penumbral f/8   1/125’   ISO 100     Totality f/5.6  0.80’   ISO 400    
    
Location & Darkness Fairvale Observatory – Redhill – Surrey – UK        Typically Bortle 5
Date & Time 21st January 2019 @ approx. 03.30h  
Weather <= 1oC   RH <=95%                  🌙   Eclipse

Lost In Space

by in General Astronomy, Widefield Imaging and tagged , | 1 Comment

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Night produces a very different feeling to day.  Familiar locations take on a distinct atmosphere created by the absence of light, as the darkness imbues a sense of being in another world.  With restricted sight other senses of sound, temperature and smell become more vivid.  Furthermore, as my familiarity with the night sky has improved through astronomy, I’ve felt an increasing impression of physical separation.  Just being outside at 3.0 a.m. in the morning when most others are in bed, one becomes not only more aware of the night’s unique senses but a magical feeling of Earth’s movement through space itself.

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  The Milky Way & Magellanic Clouds from Slab Hut Creek, South Island, New Zealand 

When travelling I like to read and learn about the new places I visit, in order to gain insight into the people, their culture, what’s happening and what makes them tick.  For this purpose during my recent trip to New Zealand I enjoyed reading two very different but equally fascinating books:

  • Long Cloud Ride by Josie Dew, which describes Josie Dew’s epic 6,000 mile cycle journey around New Zealand, and…
  • Squashed Possums by Jonathan Tindale. ‘Written’ by a caravan (that’s right!) assisted by its occupant. Possums describes life off the beaten track in New Zealand, specifically Jon’s life in a semi-derelict caravan in the wilderness.  The experience provides an amusing but insightful description of New Zealand, New Zealanders and the impact of living in such a remote location on humankind.  Apart from the practical and physical issues, the impact is sometimes profound – for the caravan and Jon – I was particularly struck by the description of their experience of the night sky in the back country, which powerfully captures something of my own feelings of being outside on a clear night, alone in the darkness.

SQP

I put my book down, pulled not one but two jumpers on and ventured outside to look at the cloudless night sky.  Brrr! True, it was cold, freezing probably but the view was breathtaking.  The Moon was out, or at least some of it was, and the Milky Way stretched across the sky like a colossal halo embracing the planet.  The Southern Cross stood proud, forever pointing north (?).  I turned around to look at my caravan, its windows filled with light, surrounded by the stars and darkness, reminding me of a satellite.  Lost and far away, suspended in space, I imagined an astronomer observe me from afar.

I stood there a while, quietly watching and taking in the view.  I tasted the chilled air, with a sense of time winding down a gear.  The there was a palpable jolt, like a quite earthquake that left no physical impression.  There was no crack in the earth, but there had been a change nonetheless – a profound and intoxicating sensation.

For a moment, I was disconnected.  I felt strangely without form, somehow insubstantial and insignificant.  Lost, like a speck on a rock in the darkness.  At least it might have been a moment, it may well have been much longer.  Moments may have been minutes, minutes might have been hours.  Time ceased to have any meaning.

I’d stumbled across something that is not easy to express.  It was the feeling of utter isolation, of removal not just from society, but from the world and then finally being removed from my own sense of self.  And yet, something intangible was filling this void and it pushed a tickle up my spine.

The sense of isolation quickly dissipated and instead of feeling lost, I had the profound experience of being part of everything – the earth, air and stars – all of it.  I was utterly overwhelmed by this new awareness. My subconscious struggled desperately to find a cultural reference point to cling to.  David Bowman swam past, cast adrift in the final moments of 2001: Space Odyssey, calling out to Bowie’s Major Tom.

And then, as quickly as it happened, the moment passed.  I was returned to reality, with something like an elastic twang. I’d not so much been thrown but catapulted back to this small patch of damp grass on a cold night, having been in an unexplained place.  What on earth was that?  One thing I was sure of, I was desperate for a steaming hot mug of tea.

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Antipodean Astronomy Adventures

by in Astronomy holidays, General Astronomy, Other, Solar system, Widefield Imaging and tagged , , | 1 Comment

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I’ve recently returned from visiting family on an extended trip to Aotearoa – Maori for New Zealand – and whilst travelling around used the opportunity to learn something about astronomy in that part of the world (NZ Astro Directory).  Of course, the main difference Down Under is that it’s currently summer, plus everything in the night sky is upside down.

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Topsy Turvy – everything’s in the wrong place ! Red arrow = Betelgeuse, Yellow arrow = Orion Nebula

It’s obvious really but relatively speaking the sky has not changed, you’re just  personally inverted compared to the Northern Hemisphere – which from the point of view of astronomy takes some getting used to when looking at otherwise familiar objects such as the Moon or Orion Constellation.  Although being their summer, at our principal location of latitude of 38o on North Island there was more than four hours of astronomical darkness even on the December solstice; viewed from the perspective of the Northern hemisphere, it is interesting to note that this is about the same latitude as Athens or the Korean DMZ!

Half Moon at home- Surrey, UK
Moon in NZ: upside-down & crescent reversed

Moon Man

It’s all about perspective – obvious really!

Although the weather was mostly very good, I was struck by how frequently the sky at night was cloudy – just like good old Blighty – it is after all also known as The Land of the Long White Cloud by the Maori.  Notwithstanding, as a country with only 4.85 million people most of the country is rural or even desolate, so that when the skies are clear the darkness and seeing conditions can be quite spectacular.  Viewing conditions are particularly good on South Island around the Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook district where a number of astronomy ventures are based, including the University of Canterbury’s Mt John Observatory – shown at the beginning of this blog.  For practical reasons I was restricted to taking only limited equipment – DSLR & lenses + Gorilla Pod & ball head + Vixen Polarie tracker + 10×50 binoculars – but was still able to obtain some pleasing images during the trip.

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Mt Cook from near our campsite – the night sky here was fantastic

Early on it became evident that New Zealand seems to have all the right conditions required for the formation of lenticular clouds (altocumulus lenticularis).  I’m presuming this is related to its somewhat exposed position between the South Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea, thus providing favourable wind and moisture conditions which are then influenced by the mountainous tectonic terrain that runs along the spine of South Island and the volcanic topography of North Island.  Whatever it is it works, providing really beautiful and often spectacular sights of these elusive and somewhat rare high altitude cloud phenomena.

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Lenticular clouds south of Mt Cook – South Island 

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Lenticular clouds near Te Awamutu – North Island 

Prior to arriving in New Zealand I tried unsuccessfully to link up with some local astronomy clubs.  However, close to our base near Te Awamutu on North Island I was able to visit the Te Awamutu Space Centre at nearby Kihikihi.

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The Te Awamutu Space Centre – Kihikihi

Conceived and run by the enthusiastic Brit Dave Owen (well he wasn’t going to be a Kiwi was he?), the Centre is an eclectic and interesting collection of space, space programme, astronomy and related educational items (see below).

Essentially the Centre is an outreach programme, which would be of interest to anyone in general, young and old, as well as the seasoned astronomer.  I particularly found the area on New Zealand astronomy & astronomers, astronauts and the historical role of Maoris in astronomy very  interesting.

Pliades

Maori star names of Mataraki (Pleiades)

As we travelled the length and breadth of the country with the tantalising promise of some very dark skies, I was keen to view and image the Milky Way and particularly the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, which are only visible from the Southern Hemisphere. Thwarted for a while by cloud cover I eventually got my first look at all these features whilst camping near the base of the 3,724 metre Mt Cook on South Island.  The sight did not disappoint but I was unfortunately unable to obtain any images on this occasion.

No worries (as they say in New Zealand – frequently!), a few nights later whilst camping at the improbably named Slab Hut Creek (site of old alluvial gold workings) west of the historic mining town of Reefton, I was at last able to image all these features.  Remotely situated in the middle of woods adjacent to the aforesaid gold creek, the night sky was inky black, albeit with some passing cloud from time-to-time.  Furthermore, located in the centre of the opening were two very large quartz boulders, which provided an ideal platform on which to set up the camera and Gorilla Pod.

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A few tons of conveniently placed quartz helped imaging later in the night!

I didn’t get much sleep that night but it was a magical experience and I was thrilled to image both the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds not individually but together.  As an added bonus we were also able to successfully undertake some gold panning during the day in the creek!

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The Milky Way at Slab Hut Creek with the Large & Small Magellanic Clouds

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Thereafter I was hindered for the next few weeks by Christmas events and the inevitable full moon at the start of January, though the ISS did pass directly overhead on one evening (New Zealand from the ISS).  However, 10-days later back on North Island at our cottage in the Waipa district, I was eventually able to view and image once again the wonderful sight of the Milky Way + Magellanic Clouds + Southern Cross at the same time – sky chart and image below.

Ohaupo Sky

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From our base on North Island: The Milky Way & Magellanic Clouds (right) + Southern Cross just above the left-hand side of the roof line 

When the conditions are right the night sky in New Zealand is truly outstanding. I would have liked to spend time there with the full astronomy set-up and camera that I use in the UK but for now I was very pleased to experience and enjoy Antipodean astronomy, it really is worth the long journey.

Reflections – 2017

by in Deep Sky Objects, Equipment, General Astronomy, Imaging, Narrowband, Processing, Software, Solar system, Viewing, Widefield Imaging and tagged | 1 Comment

Following some important developments, I think it’s fair to say that the past year has hopefully marked an appreciable turning point for my astrophotography.  Reflections is a summary of my astronomy last year, in particular astrophotography, as well as some thoughts about how I hope to progress in the 2018.

I’m again pleased that there is continuing interest in Watch This space (Man) – A personal discovery of the Universe through astronomy and astrophotography.  This is a personal journey and I’m glad to see there is also regular activity in many of the older blogs, which altogether illustrate what I expect many others have experienced during their own personal journeys? For those starting out or with related interests, I hope they will find these pieces interesting, instructive and perhaps even inspiring; it’s not an easy hobby but when it works – it usually does with patience, perseverance and help from the wider community –  the experience is  very rewarding, often exciting and mostly fun.

I’m aware that many of my blogs can sometimes be on the long side, that’s because I want to thoroughly document and discuss the matters rather than superficially comment on them.  However, I am mindful that from time-to-time there are issues that can best be covered in a more concise manner or just events that speak for themselves and can therefore be brief, for which purpose I have now introduced the AstroBites section.  Unfortunately, despite the best of intentions, I’ve so far only used this item occasionally but hopefully will rectify the situation next year.

I’m always tinkering with the website, so even if you’re a regular visitor take a look around from time-to-time.  There is a photo gallery but for a simpler view of some of my better images I’ve recently added a FLICKR album, which is accessible from the Gallery menu.  The sharp eyed may also note that in response to new imaging techniques, I have changed the image and technical details summary for each picture; I find this information invaluable when looking at other astrophotographer’s images, as it can be very helpful when starting out in general or when using similar equipment or imaging the same object for the first time.

Once again the site attracted much interest from all corners of the world, which are summarised in the map below.  Please do get in touch if you have and relevant thoughts, queries or just to say – hello – contact details are in the ABOUT section of the main menu.

WTSM Heat Map

Reflections Crop

JANUARY TO MARCH

After overcoming some major technical problems that almost brought my nascent hobby to a premature end in 2016, I felt I needed to consider what would be the best way forwards thereafter.  My initial inclination was a larger telescope in order to get at those faint fuzzies but most of all I just wanted better quality images.  In the past this would inevitably result in acquiring a CCD mono camera and all that means in terms of very exacting technical issues and very long exposures, neither of which I was prepared to take on, or at least only to a degree – life’s too short and the UK weather too cloudy!

However, during the latter part of 2016 something of a game changer was emerging in the world of astrophotography and after following developments online for a few months, I was persuaded that the new ZWO1600MM-Cool mono camera could also give me what I wanted, without many of the issues of a conventional CCD camera.  As a result I purchased the aforesaid camera and matching x8 EFW just before Christmas in 2016  and eagerly awaited clear skies in the New Year.  Unfortunately it wasn’t that simple – now there’s a surprise!

The crucial benefits of the new CMOS based ZWO camera are three-fold: (i) very low read noise and high sensitivity achieved with, (ii) relatively short exposures – sometimes as little as 30 to 60 seconds, (iii) larger field-of-view compared to a CCD. Wow!  Unfortunately there was still much to sort out, notably the image train, image capture and processing, all of which differ considerably from a DSLR camera.  Notwithstanding, eventually first light (see image below) was achieved in March and it was immediately obvious that this was going to fulfil my astrophotography dreams and more for now – hopefully!

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Rosette Nebula in Ha | William Optics GT81 + ZWO ASI 1600MM-Cool & 0.80 focal reducer guided | 15 x 180 secs + darks & bias calibration Gain 300, Offset 10 | 21st March 2017

Using mostly narrowband filters – more on that later – I was initially able to obtain some exciting and very promising images of classic HII-region objects just before they disappeared over the western horizon; thereafter followed weeks of frustration whilst I waited for other suitable objects to appear – timing is everything.  The ZWO1600 camera is very good for most deep sky objects, nebulae, galaxies and globular clusters but with the William Optics GT81 the combination is best suited to larger targets.  As a result by late winter and early spring, when smaller objects such as galaxies dominate the night sky, it became necessary to find something else to do for the next few months.

Aurora Borealis Northern Norway February 2017 I’ve previously worked north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden and Russia but in February I took a more relaxed ferry trip along the west and north coast of Norway from Bergen to Kirkenes, close to the Russian border.  Given the time of year it was of course very cold and the nights long but the ship was comfortable and the scenery spectacular.  However, once north of Tromsø the real show began in the form of the Aurora Borealis AKA the Northern Lights.  This natural light show lived up to expectations and with some difficulty I managed to obtain numerous images of the spectacle – the problem being imaging from a moving ship in severe cold, which with wind chill was well below -20oC – but it was worth it and made for an exciting end to my winter astrophotography.

No Date Type* Object Name
1 20/01/17 DSLR M45 Pleiades
2 20/01/17 N NGC 2244 Rosette Nebula
3 22/01/17 DSLR M45 Pleiades
4 22/01/17 N IC 434 Horsehead & Flame Nebula
5 21/03/17 N NGC 2244 Rosette Nebula
6 21/03/17 B M65 Leo Triplet
7 24/03/17 B NGC 4874 Coma Cluster
8 25/03/17 N M42 Orion Nebula
9 27/03/17 N IC 434 Horsehead Nebula

Record of quarterly photographic images taken in 2017

*Type: DSLR colour, B Broadband LRGB, N Narrowband Ha-OIII-SII, V Video

APRIL TO JUNE

The period from April until the end of July can be a frustrating time of the year for astronomers, except those with an interest and the equipment for solar imaging.  Other than just giving up for a while, the secret is to abandon normal pursuits and just make the best of whats on offer, which is exactly what I did this year.  After limited success  attempting some of the larger galaxies in early Spring, I moved on to webcam imaging Jupiter and Saturn, insofar as is possible with my small telescope.  At about this time I also managed to capture the comet C/2015 V2 (Johnson), my second one after previously imaging C/2014 Q2 Comet Lovejoy in early 2015.  As I had not attempted such objects for more than two years and was more than a bit rusty with the different imaging and processing techniques, the results were varied but is was still good fun, which I hope to repeat in 2018 depending on what’s around at the time.

10 x 60 sec @ ISO 3,200

I also used the much improved weather and extra spare time afforded to go over the basics of my mount-telescope-computer set-up: balance, leads, equipment alignment, computer updates etc.  I inspected and replaced some old cables, wherever possible using cold-resistant silicon leads.  Following last year’s catastrophic camera power lead failure, I am now aware of the damage that cold can do to cables and pay greater attention in order to avoid repeating such problems.  I was also aware that with the change to the ZWO camera and using autoguiding routinely there had been a noticeable increase in cables, which I therefore tidied and strapped with Velcro bands to restrict unnecessary movement and snagging.

IMG_20170324_194502542 (Medium) The overall impact of these changes has transformed my working practices, making set-up and dismantling quicker, more efficient and more effective, itself a huge improvement.  In addition, I’ve also been able to move the mount and image capture controls indoors, which being more convenient and comfortable has made operating conditions and results much better.  Astrophotography inevitably becomes more complex and working in a warm environment with access to a cup of tea really does improve the outcome when working, in particular when resolving problems.  Given the significant benefits achieved from this housekeeping, in the future I intend to repeat this exercise each summer – it really pays off.

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Eastern Veil Nebula in SHO – for Will| 21st June 2017

Notwithstanding these virtues, by June I was eager to start imaging again with the ZWO1600MM-Cool and with good weather and some very late nights I was able to obtain a few narrowband subs of the Eagle and North America nebulae.  To my surprise on the morning of 21st June I even briefly managed to image the Eastern Veil Nebula in narrowband; who would have thought imaging the Veil on the Summer Solstice?  Once again the results of just a few subs from the new camera continued to show great promise.

No Date Type* Object Name / Type
10 02/04/17 B NGC 2903 Galaxy
11 02/04/17 B M61 Galaxy
12 18/04/17 B NGC 4438 Markarian’s Chain
13 14/0517 V Jupiter Video Sequence
14 25/05/17 V Jupiter Video Sequence
15 26/05/17 DSLR Comet C/2015 V2
16 11/06/17 V Saturn Video Sequence
17 14/06/17 V Jupiter Video Sequence
18 19/06/16 N M20 Eagle Nebula
20 20/06/17 N NGC 7000 North America Nebula
21 21/06/17 N NGC 6992 Eastern Veil Nebula

JULY TO SEPTEMBER

After a taste of the ZWO1600MM-Cool at the start of the year and briefly around the Summer Solstice, the end of July finally brought the return of astronomical darkness, more suitable DSO targets and at last the opportunity to get serious with narrowband and broadband imaging.  Combined with some exceptionally good weather and clear skies this period was very productive and successful.  Without plate solving the maximum imaging time I can achieve at the moment is about two hours before or after the Meridian but using a high Gain of 300, 180 second exposures and autoguiding, for the first time I was able to get some very decent subs of various nebulae – now it was really getting exciting!

At the time of purchase I wavered between the ZWO EFW x5 filter or the soon to be released alternative x8 version and in the end waited for the larger version, together with the matched LRGB, Ha, OIII and SII filter bundle.  There were initial problems controlling the EFW and camera, inevitably resolved after some time with a new driver code but in the end the x8 EFW and camera have proved to be an excellent combination.  I have especially found narrowband imaging to be a revelation and when possible have so far mostly concentrated on this technique; its use when the Moon is about is an added and somewhat pleasing bonus.  The detail shown in Ha-subs can often be quite spectacular and for the best results I’ve discovered that more aggressive stretching is needed.

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To my surprise, I’ve so far found LRGB broadband imaging more difficult than expected, both to capture and in post-processing.  It’s apparent that Gain and Offset settings are more critical than narrowband, perhaps because such objects tend to be brighter, with more contrast and often greater complexity?  I had been looking forwards to imaging the Andromeda Galaxy in LRGB and as is often the case with M31, first thought that my subs were overblown.  However, after dialling down Gain, Offset and exposure time the alternative result was even more disappointing.  It was instructive that by returning to the original data and applying greater care during processing, I was able to tease a good image from the subs after all.

No Date Type* Object Name / Type
22 27/07/17 N M20 Trifid Nebula
23 31/07/17 N NGC 6960 Western Veil Nebula
        & Pickering’s Triangle
24 10/08/17 N IC 5070 Pelican Nebula
25 11/08/17 N IC 1318 SADR Region
26 11/08/17 N NGC 6888 Crescent Nebula
27 13/08/17 DSLR Perseids  
28 19/08/17 N NGC 6995/ NGC 6992 Eastern (Bat) Veil Nebula
29 20/08/17 B M15 Globular Cluster
30 27/08/17 N NGC 7000 North America Nebula
31 28/08/17 B M31 Andromeda Galaxy
32 28/08/17 B M33 Pinwheel Galaxy
33 15/09/17 DSLR Milky Way  

OCTOBER TO DECEMBER

From the experience of the new camera to-date I had arrived at two critical questions:

  • What are ‘right’ Gain and Offset settings?
  • What are the ‘best’ methods for LRGB imaging and post-processing?

Imaging during the final quarter then turned out to be something of a mixed bag trying to answer these questions.

I have a general feel about Gain, Offset and the related ADU values but if I’m honest despite reading around the subject I’m still mainly in the dark – no pun intended!  Such are the new challenges posed for all by the features of the ZWO1600MM-Cool it seems to me that even after 12 months the jury remains out over the answer to the first question – so it’s not just me!

The manufacturer provides value guidelines but based on experience, three schools of thought seem to have emerged from users:

  • Use Unity Gain 139 setting and vary exposure times – longer for nebulae, shorter for brighter objects such as M31;
  • Use low Gain for bright objects and higher Gain for faint objects + short and longer exposures, mindful of achieving a relevant ADU level across the resulting sub;
  • Use very high Gain and take lots and lots of short to moderate exposures.

I’m still experimenting with each of these techniques but increasingly lean towards higher Gain and varied exposure times of between 60” and 300”.  I have certainly found that lower Gain and short exposures didn’t work well for me when applied to the Andromeda Galaxy and California Nebula.

One issue when taking shorter exposures with the ZWO camera compared to a CCD is that many more subs are required, which inevitably needs very large storage and processing memory requirements – it’s a small price to pay for such quality and other advantages.  My laptop was already well specced for processing, with an Intel i7 64 bit chip 16GB RAM and to store the extra data I purchased a 4Tb external hard disc at a very reasonable cost = problem solved.

Picture saved with settings embedded.Like most people M42 has long been one of my favourites but like M31 I’m still struggling achieve a decent broadband image with the new camera and M45 is a similar problem; there’s nothing wrong with the camera, I just haven’t mastered the technique required yet.  However  narrowband images of M42, the Horsehead and Monkey Head nebulae all worked well at my standard default used of Gain 300 and Offset 10.

In preparation for further experimentation, at the beginning of  November I took time to compile a more comprehensive calibration library at various Gain, Offset and exposure settings.  Like most CCD cameras the new ZWO camera incorporates cooling to -45oC below ambient in order to reduce noise that is associated with all photoelectric sensors; I have been using the camera at a nominal temperature of -20oC.  By having such control it is therefore possible to obtain the aforementioned calibration frames irrespective of the ambient temperature and at any time.  Since June I’d already been successfully using another calibration set which has saved considerable time during each imaging session, unlike DSLR imaging which generally has to be undertaken at the same time + every time to ensure the same conditions.

Passing Shot: I’m posting Reflections later than usual this year having just returned from a protracted trip to New Zealand over the Christmas and New Year period.  The night sky down under was spectacular and I managed some good widefield imaging using a basic DSLR and tripod set-up; more on astronomy in New Zealand at a later date – Watch This Space Man! In the meantime below is a taster of the results taken whilst staying at my daughter and son-in-law’s house in Ohaupo, North Island.  Other than the beautiful Milky Way itself, note the Southern Cross just above the roof line and especially the large and Small Magellanic Clouds.

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No Date Type Object Name / Type
34 12/10/17 B M31 Andromeda Galaxy
35 13/10/17 N NGC 1499 California Nebula
36 28/10/17 B NGC 2174 Monkey Head Nebula
37 28/10/17 B IC 434 Horsehead Nebula
38 30/10/17 B M45 Pleiades
39 30/10/17 B M42 Orion Nebula
40 01/11/17 N NGC 1499 California Nebula
41 13/11/17 DSLR Jupiter-Venus Conjunction
42 25/11/17 B NGC 1333 Reflection Nebula / Perseus
43 26/11/17 N NGC 2264 Cone Nebula

  ETCETERA

Once again my astronomy year was often shaped by other events and related matters.  Throughout the first quarter I completed an online MOOC course at Edinburgh University on the Higgs Boson and Particle Physics hosted by a wide variety of relevant experts, including no less than Peter Higgs himself.  It’s relevance to astronomy only came right at the end but was well worth waiting for.  Based on the theories of particle physics, the Higgs Boson, scalar fields and inflation, cosmologist Professor John Peacock ably demonstrated:

  • There was no Big Bang;
  • The existence of a multiverse – of which our Universe is but a part.

Intuitively I’ve long wondered about such possibilities and Professor Peacock’s lectures were by far the most convincing case I have seen for such a model.  Of course the implications of these conclusions are  profound and I’ve continued to think about this for the rest of the year.

As previously reviewed, for two weeks in February it was my good fortune to sail along the Norwegian coastline on the Richard With, flagship of the Hurtigruten ferry line.  At this time of the year it was very, very cold being mostly north of the Arctic Circle and the weather can be rough at times but overall the journey was outstanding.  Like most, my personal goal was to see and image the Aurora Borealis, which I was successful in doing on a number of evenings.  However, it’s got to be said that such imaging from a moving ship at -20C is both difficult and very uncomfortable.  Whilst I was pleased with the photographs, next time I’d prefer to be on land, where it should be so much easier.

Inspired both by the aforementioned trip and meeting a fellow geologist on board the Richard With who worked as a guest speaker on other cruises, I subsequently attended an audition to lecture myself on astrophotography.  Whilst my talk was successful and I was chosen to join the agency’s list of speakers, I have yet to be asked to join a cruise.

Favourite Images

With only a few exceptions, the outcome of my astrophotography in 2017 reflects the transition that took place from DSLR to the ZWO1600MM-Cool mono CMOS sensor camera.  The new camera has in every sense been a game changer and the resulting images have shown just how much colour and detail can be achieved in both broadband and especially narrowband.  Some of my personal favourites taken during the year are shown below, in no particular order:

Aurora Borealis-2 Northern Norway February 2017

LRGB1 GXCrop

NGC 2244 SHO Final1

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SHO Final

Eastern Veil Nebula detail in Bicolour 19th August 2017

Western Veil Nebula (Witch's Broom & Pickerings Triangle) in Ha-OIII Bicolour July 2017.jpg

MiIky Way Isle of Purbeck Dorset September 2017

M31 FINAL

CalCrop FINAL

SHO2 FINAL

Cygnus Wall BiCol FINAL

Above Images (from top-to-bottom): Aurora Borealis off Norwegian Coast – DSLR; Leo Triplet – LRGB; Rosette Nebula – SHO; Flame & Horsehead Nebulae – Ha; Eastern Veil Nebula – SHO; Eastern Veil Detail – Bi-Colour; Western Veil Nebula & Pickering Triangle – Bi-Colour; Milky Way from Isle of Purbeck, Dorset – DSLR; Andromeda Galaxy – LRGB; California Nebula – form left-to-right, Ha-SHO-Bi-Colour; North America Nebula – SHO; Cygnus Wall – Bi-Colour 

Round-up & goals for 2017

Since resolving a number of critical issues in 2016 and finally getting to grips with autoguiding, I’m pleased to say the basic processes worked very well in 2017.  In addition to improvements in the set-up, being able to operate from indoors has greatly improved both working conditions and the results.  Not surprisingly my astrophotography last year was dominated by learning and using the new camera.  Whilst the experience of DSLR imaging and related matters was helpful, I was surprised at just how different working with a mono camera, filters and especially processing has been by comparison and I’m still learning.  Some of the minutiae can be very important and are frustratingly easy to miss but, with the assistance of those ever helpful astronomers online and perseverance the results are really starting to show in my work.

RECORD CARD – 2017

 
Goal Specifics / Results Outcome
Improve processing After some set-backs now successfully processing FITS files in DSS and compiling broadband and narrowband images in Photoshop – all very different to DSLR RAW! Noticeable improvements using more complex techniques in PS.

  MUCH BETTER

 
Expand & Improve Widefield Imaging For the first time I obtained some decent images of the Milky Way but otherwise barely used the Vixen Polarie and did not make it to any other dark sky sites – disappointing.   FAILED

 
Start LRGB  imaging Now using the ZWO1600MM-Cool mono camera + EFW with LRGB & Ha- OIII- SII filters with good narrowband and varied broadband results.   GETTING           THERE

 

I think it helps to set some goals for the forthcoming year, so here goes:

  • Improve processing – more: Despite some noticeable improvements in 2017 there’s always more to learn whichever software is being used. I aspire to working with PixInsight or the newly acclaimed APP but will likely persevere with various more advanced Photoshop techniques.
  • Expand widefield imaging: First – use the Vixen Polarie as had been intended last year to obtain nightscape images at UK dark-site locations. Second – look at ways of using a widefield set-up with the mount.  Having previously failed I’m hoping to be more successful in 2018.
  • Improve broadband and narrowband imaging: In considering how to progress in 2016, I came to the conclusion that the next step should be a move to a mono camera rather than a larger telescope. This has turned out to be a great decision but it’s still early days.  There’s plenty more to learn and finesse but most of all after nearly a year’s learning and experimentation it’s clear that I need to improve one matter above all – increased integration time and this means learning plate solving.  I’ve been very happy using Astro Photography Tool (APT) for FITS image capture, scheduling and filter control (the APT Forum has been very helpful), but I also own the much praised Sequence Generator Pro (SGP) and might switch or at least give it a try in 2018.

I’m very pleased to say 2017 was a very good year for astrophotography, perhaps my best yet, which was especially defined by two positive developments:

  • In general the equipment set-up was much better after some long overdue changes and in particular operating from indoors, once all the basics are completed. With a good basic starting set-up and alignment of the guidescope-autoguiding camera with the main OTA, I’m often able to just quickly refresh EQASCOM alignment models directly from the computer = no more crawling around on the ground in the dark, or at least very little!
  • Although it’s still early days and despite my reservations over the complexity (which is true) of using a mono camera and filters, it’s revolutionised and revitalised my imaging and therefore proved very worthwhile. It is a lot of fun and the improvement of my images has been both exciting and very fulfilling.

You can’t ask for more than that and holds much promise for the coming year, which I hope to record in WTSM’s Reflections at the end of 2018.

Watch this space!

POSTSCRIPT

The ones that got away:  Imaged but not seen in WTSM this year (warts and all)

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NGC 2174 281017

Pleiades 301017

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M15 Crop 200817

Above Images (from top-to-bottom): M42 Bi-Colour, Ha & SHO; Monkey Head Nebula Bi-Colour; Crescent Nebula SHO & Bi-Colour; Pleiades LRGB; Sadr Region Ha; M15 Globular Cluster LRGB    

AstroBites-2: Home Sweet Home

by in Galaxy, General Astronomy, Imaging, Other, Viewing, Widefield Imaging and tagged | Leave a comment

IMG_8748 FINAL (Large)

From time-to-time I’ve been fortunate to see the Milky Way but due to the lack of dark skies, rarely in the UK.  With a move towards urbanisation taking place throughout the world, light pollution is a major obstacle to such views and astronomy in general and it is only in more remote, unpopulated locations that such sights are now possible.  On such occasions a view of our galaxy from within is always striking and usually memorable. I’ve been fortunate to visit many such remote places but either didn’t look upwards (why not?) or was hindered by the inevitable cloud.  Recently on a trip in 2016 to Arizona and Utah in the South West USA, such views were hampered by the full moon – timing is everything!  However, there have been two occasions when the darkness was so complete that I found the view of the Milky Way to be not only incredible but quiet profound – first in the Kalahari desert in Botswana and subsequently on a scuba diving trip whilst motoring southwards along the middle of the Red Sea at night with the boat’s lights turned off.

Notwithstanding, since my interest in astronomy started a few years ago I have yet to successfully image the Milky Way, which has remained resolutely elusive to my camera sensor.  I have tried a few times at Fairvale Observatory but the night sky here at best rates 5 on the Bortle scale and makes such imaging almost impossible.  Then whilst in the Arizona desert last year (see above) and on other occasions I have been thwarted by a full moon.  Apart from the obvious problem of light pollution I was beginning to wonder if I was doing something wrong but no, it was the sky conditions.

Finally during September this year, whilst camping in Dorset on the Isle of Purbeck just west of Corfe Castle, I at last managed to image the all elusive galaxy – our galaxy (see top of page).  Looking south across the Purbeck hills towards the English Channel, the Milky Way was revealed in all its glory traversing the clear, very dark sky which itself was pierced by the vivid light of the myriad of stars; it is on such occasions I realise just what I’m missing at home.  Once accustomed to the darkness the form and some detail of the Milky Way could be clearly discerned with the naked eye but of course the camera saw a lot more.

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Some processing shows good detail of the Milky Way but at ISO 6400 is too noisy

Using my unmodded Canon 700D DSLR and an ultra wide-angle 10mm lens, for the first time I was able to capture some reasonable images of the Milky Way.  All were shot on a static tripod between 15 and 20 second exposures at ISO 6,400; I had set-up the camera on the Vixen Polarie for tracking but could not obtain a favourable view of the galaxy in this way.  From this experience next time I would reduce the ISO to at least 3,200 or less and increase the exposure time based on the ‘Rule of 500’ to about 30 seconds.  However, for now I’m happy with the result and hope the next opportunity doesn’t take another  lifetime coming.

Headhunter

by in Deep Sky Objects, Equipment, Imaging, Widefield Imaging and tagged | Leave a comment

 

Orion constellation January 2016
Orion stars + apparent magnitude

The latter part of 2016 was very productive, especially around the end of November and early December.  Remarkably the clouds were completely absent for over a week, it was cold but the air was unusually dry and furthermore it was only just past the New Moon, all-in-all excellent conditions for astrophotography.  With Orion starting its Christmas-New Year parade across the night sky it was also a good time to investigate other parts of this fascinating constellation which I had not previously imaged.

Depicted in Greek mythology as Orion the Hunter, attention is most often given to the ‘sword’ that hangs from his belt – formed by three open star clusters which notably includes M42 the Orion Nebula.  Located just above, in the eastern region of the Hunter’s so-called belt and is NGC 2014 the Flame Nebula and the nearby Barnard 33, or as it is more famously known – the Horsehead Nebula.  I have imaged these and other targets such as the reflection nebulae M78 just above the aforementioned Flame Nebula and the difficult to image IC 2118, better known Witch’s Head nebula, situated just beyond the bright star Rigel which forms the Hunter’s left foot.

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Barnard’s Loop & Lamda Orionis Nebula + Rosette Nebula on far left (east) : Vixen Polarie & modded Canon 550D + Sigma UWA lens @ 20mm | 14 x 240 secs @ ISO 800 | 14th January 2016

However, a much wider view of Orion shows the presence of very large regions of HII nebulosity enveloping the main constellation, which altogether form the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex.  Most notable of these areas is Barnard’s Loop, a large HII cloud that arcs across some 10o of the sky encircling the lower, eastern section of the Orion star asterism.  I have had some limited success imaging the Loop before but on this occasion I tried some of the other areas of HII nebulosity which are located within the higher parts of Orion the Hunter.

The combination of the William Optics GT81 and their x0.80 field flattener reduces the focal length from 478mm to 387mm and increases the speed from f5.9 to a fast f4.72.  Apart from removing distortion at the periphery of the image, when used with the Canon 550D DSLR the field flattener increases the field-of-view by a staggering 64% or from 2.67o x 1.70o to 3.34o x 2.23o.  This has its shortcomings when imaging galaxies which generally have a small FOV but is perfect for large DSOs such as my first target.

the-hunter-crop

The basic ‘anatomy’ of the Hunter is outlined by a number of stars that form his legs, waist and arms, with a club held above in his right hand and either a shield, lion’s pelt or bow held outstretched in his left hand.  On this occasion I first attempted to image his head; catalogued as SH2-264 it is otherwise known as the Lamda Orionis Nebula or sometimes the Angelfish Nebula. This very large HII cloud is located, as would be expected, at the top of the Hunter’s body and should be a good target for the aforementioned equipment with a modded camera, now aided by the longer exposures from my newly found PHD2 guiding expertise.

lamda-orionis

Upper Orion constellation & Lamda Orionis setting

This HII-feature is broadly centred on the giant double star Meissa or Lamda Orionis, which is itself at the apex of a triangle with the red giant superstar Betelgeuse to the east and blue giant star Bellatrix to the west and thus forms the outline of the Hunter’s shoulders. Some 8o in its entirety, the Lamda Orionis Nebula is enormous but consists mainly of very faint Ha-light, so that despite good imaging conditions, long exposures and good framing I was unable to obtain any sign of its presence on this occasion.

Frankly I was surprised there wasn’t at least a vestige of red Ha-light somewhere in the image but for now I will have to admit defeat.  However, looking back I can see the Hunter’s head in previous wide-field nightscapes of Orion taken in January 2015 and 2016.  Notwithstanding, together with other nearby stars Meissa forms the open star cluster Collinder 69, which on this occasion fortunately produced something of a pleasant alternative image.

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Meissa double star & Collinder 60 open star cluster | William Optics GT81 + modded Canon 550D & 0.80 FF + Guiding | 14 x 300 secs @ ISO 800 & full calibration | 4th December 2016

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Subsequently I slewed the telescope and camera to another, nearby HII-cloud, this time situated along the Hunter’s right arm, just above his elbow.  Discovered by amateur Californian astronomers Harold and Charles Lower in 1939, at about 45’ x 45’ size H2-261 or Lower’s Nebula is much smaller than the Lamda Orionis Nebula but also faint and difficult to image.  However, here I did manage to capture something of the Ha-feature, albeit that the image was rather noisy when processed and yes I did apply Gradient Exterminator, though it doesn’t look like I did.

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Lower’s Nebula SH2-261 | William Optics GT81 & modded Canon 550D + FF + guiding | 12 x 30 sec @ ISO 800 | 4th December 2016

The Orion Molecular Cloud Complex is one of the best known areas for star formation that is closest to Earth and provides an abundance of wonderful imaging targets at this time of the year.  However, as previously experienced with Barnard’s Loop, the large areas of HII cloud that encircle much of Orion’s constellation can be elusive and difficult to image, which will probably require a camera of greater sensitivity and many more exposures to achieve success.  However, on this occasion the image of Lower’s Nebula was some consolation as I continue my quest for Orion’s scalp.

Reflections – 2016

by in Autoguiding, Comments, Deep Sky Objects, General Astronomy, History, Imaging, Widefield Imaging and tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2016 was the second full year of Watch This Space Man (WTSM) and once again it’s been something of a mixed period.  Faced with a major, apparently insoluble problem, by mid-year I actually thought of giving up but by year-end it’s all come good again, in fact very good.   Reflections is a look back at the ups-and-downs of the past year, astronomically speaking and a peek into the next twelve months, which one way or another could determine the future of my astrophotography.

wtsm-visitor-map

I have been astonished by the interest in this website, with some 7,000 visits and 14,000 page views from more than 65 different countries during the year, the list is quite amazing.  Though I write this blog for myself, I am increasingly aware of this unsolicited readership – you are all most welcome and I would be very pleased to hear from anyone who would like to get in touch with queries, comments or just to say hello – contact details are in the Contact drop-down section of the About main menu.

reflections-2016

JANUARY TO MARCH

The year started poorly, got much worse, then finally improved. Using my recently acquired Vixen Polarie I was pleased to start the year with an image of Barnard’s Loop, something notoriously difficult to photograph and had previously eluded me.  Sadly I was not so successful with the Milky Way and have reluctantly come to the obvious conclusion that this can only be imaged in much darker skies than I’m ever likely to experience located just to the south of London and close to Gatwick airport!

As Orion starts to move on after Christmas and especially from February, I struggle to find suitable imaging targets; Coma Berenices and other constellations at this time contain numerous galaxies but they’re mostly too small for my William Optics GT81 and otherwise what might be doable I have already done before.  Notwithstanding, after looking carefully I came across two HII nebulae still lurking in the early evening.  The size and Ha-light of NGC 2174 Monkey Head Nebula and IC 2177 Seagull Nebula, provided just what I was looking for.  Located close to Gemini and Monoceros constellations, both these DSOs are within the part of the Milky Way section of the sky, an area that thankfully produces many other similar opportunities at this time of the year for a modded DSLR camera.

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Monkey Head Nebula

It’s often the small things that either alone or cumulatively can help transform the outcome with astrophotography.  The quarterly period finished by acquiring two new pieces of equipment, one which could help improve the set-up and operation of the mount, the other which I hoped would help me move to the next level of imaging.

  • When working in the dark and worse still in the cold, the ergonomics and general convenience of operating the equipment becomes paramount.  Since starting to use EQMOD-ASCOM and Cartes du Ciel for mount control and tracking, I encountered the problem of having to be in two places at the same time; in this case co-ordinating adjustments at the mount and the computer, in particular when making and syncing star alignments.  The answer to this conundrum was a gamepad, which I purchased for a nominal sum on eBay and after watching the inimitable Chris Shillito’s video on setting up and using a gamepad with EQMOD-ASCOM, have never looked back.  By using the gamepad the telescope can now be manually slewed, centred and synced on any object whilst remaining at the scope, thereby making the process of alignment much quicker and convenient.

Wireless gamepad provides extensive control of critical alignment functions without being at the computer: front x4 buttons are assinged to set various slew rates, the mount-telescope can be directed either via the rear (right) joystick or POV buttons on the right, button-1 parks and button-2 syncs. Other buttons have yet to be allocated.
Starlight Express Lodestar x2 Guide Camera can be used either via the mount’s ST4 port or via ASCOM and the computer for pulse guiding.

  • At the end of 2015 it was my intention to start guiding in the coming year, a prerequisite for the long exposures necessary to increase data capture and thus hopefully improve image quality.  I had originally intended to use my ZWO ASI120 MC camera together with a William Optics 50mm guidescope for this purpose but there always seemed to be other problems to overcome first and to be honest, I was somewhat intimidated about tackling the black art of guiding.  I was finally prompted to do something about this when in March a second-hand Starlight Express Lodestar X2 autoguide camera came up on the UK Astronomy Buy & Sell.  From previous research I knew this was considered to be a very good and popular guiding camera, so as it had only just been posted on the website, I immediately went for it and was successful – timing is everything.  Inevitably I had problems setting-up and in particular getting the camera to focus – which was my own fault – but by the end of March I was guiding!  Truth is my guiding at this stage was not very good and I needed to look further into using the PHD2 guiding software but nonetheless, the equipment was at least now working together!

No

 Date Object*

Name
1 07/01/16 Orion Barnard’s Loop
2 14/01/16 Orion Barnard’s Loop
3 02/02/16 Catalina Comet
4 02/02/16 Milky Way  
5 10/02/16 IC 2087 Dark nebula
6 NGC 2174 Monkey Head Nebula
7 IC 2177 Seagull Nebula

*Record of quarterly photographic images taken in 2016

APRIL TO JUNE

After finishing the previous quarter on something of a high note by getting PHD2 working for the first time, I was now hopeful that from herein my exposures and thus images would show improvement – unfortunately I was soon to be very disappointed.

In April we went on a trip to the Southwestern USA – something of a geological pilgrimage for my wife and I (we are both geologists) – to see the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park as well as many other similar areas.  Prior to going I had purchased a Sigma 10mm-20mm wide-angle lens in anticipation of all the big views that are characteristic of the region and was not disappointed by the lens or the scenery.

Being largely an uninhabited wilderness area, I also took the Vixen Polarie with a plan to at last capture images of the Milky Way.  Unfortunately, whilst I had checked the sky beforehand on Cartes du Ciel, I think I must have made an error with the dates.  We did get clear skies but unfortunately it turned out to be a full moon whilst there, which ruled out any hope of seeing, let alone imaging the Milky Way; oh well there’s always another day and it’s not going anywhere in the meantime.  Notwithstanding I did manage some pleasing nightscapes at Monument Valley and Bryce Canyon.

IMG_6235 (Large)

Given my initial guiding success prior to visiting the USA, I had been looking forwards to getting to grips with improving guiding and imaging on my return.  Furthermore, on 6th May there was a rare solar transit of Mercury and in preparation, the week before I set up and tested all the equipment and then successfully took some test images of the Sun using a Baader solar filter.  All was well on the appointed day which was also fortunately clear and sunny, so that shortly before contact I was all set and ready to try and capture the movement of a small black dot (Mercury) across the face of the Sun.  Unfortunately it was not to be and the weeks that followed almost marked the end of my still nascent hobby of astrophotography!

In short, EQMOD crashed when I turned on the DSLR camera to image the transit!  I tried re-booting and checked every other piece of equipment numerous times but to no avail.  I subsequently spent weeks trying to track down the problem, checking and re-checking every cable, piece of equipment and updating or reinstalling all the relevant software without success.  The nature of the problem strongly suggested there was a conflict between EQMOD-ASCOM and the camera and I therefore turned to the EQMOD forum for help, without success.  Somewhat late in the day and by now desperate, I posted the issue on SGL and quickly received a reply from someone who had had a very similar problem, which though also very difficult to identify, turned out to be a very small break in the outer cover of the DSLR AC/DC power adapter cable.  It’s not clear to me why this matters but I bought a new adapter and as they say, Bob’s your uncle, it worked!  I have looked very carefully at my adapter and cable and can see nothing wrong but am very thankful for the advice.

acdc

AC/DC Adapter: How can something as basic as this cause so much disruption?

It seems ridiculous that this very minor problem was nearly terminal but just in case it happens again I have since bought another spare power adapter.  Together with my daughter’s wedding in early June and the adapter meltdown, imaging for two of the three months during this period was almost non-existent.  Still by July I was ready to start again but by then there was no astronomical darkness!

No

 Date Object

Name
8 April USA Monument Valley etc
9 06/06/16 M5 Globular cluster
10 M13 Globular cluster
11 M57 Ring Nebula

JULY TO SEPTEMBER

After the carnage of the last quarter, I was then unable to resume imaging in July due to travel commitments.  So I used what time was available to improve my knowledge of PHD2 and once again, check everything was now working ready for the return of astronomical darkness and better night skies from 20th July; I am of course now paranoid of another similar breakdown.  At the start of August I manged to obtain a just passable image of the Eagle Nebula for the first time.  Then shortly afterwards on the evening of 11th / 12th August, clear skies produced a decent night for viewing and imaging a few of this year’s Perseids meteor shower.  But it was at month-end and continuing into September that my imaging in 2016 finally took off.

m27-comps-paintfile

At that time the weather was consistently dry and warm, providing more than a week of clear skies and almost nightly imaging.  Dark nebulae are interesting features I’d hitherto not recognised as imaging opportunities and was therefore intrigued to successfully image the E-Nebula at this time.  Thereafter I used the opportunity of the weather window to experiment with PHD2 by using M27 the Dumbbell or Apple Core Nebula as a control imaging object.  Of course, each year is different but I’ll try to use any similar conditions in the future to sort out and develop old and new techniques, such unusual moments are precious for UK astronomers.  At the end of nearly two tiring weeks I had PHD2 working quite well and have not looked back since.  As a result of this work soon thereafter obtained good images of the Andromeda Galaxy, as well as the Veil, Crescent and Ring Nebulae.

No

 Date Object

Name
12 07/08/16 M16 Eagle Nebula
13   M11 Globular
14   B142-3 Dark E-Nebula
15 11/08/16 Perseids  
16 23/08/16 LDN 673 Dark Nebula
17   NGC 6781 Planetary Nebula
18   M27 Dumbbell Nebula
19   Albireo Double star
20   Moon  
21 28/08/16 M11 Globular cluster
22   NGC 6905 Blue Flash Neb
23   Albireo Double star
24   15 Aquilea Double star
25   NGC 6960 W Veil / Witch’s Broom
26   M32 Andromeda Galaxy
27 29/08/16 M27 Dumbbell Neb
28   NGC 6960 W Veil / Witch’s Broom
29   NGC 7814 Pegasus galaxy
30   M15 Globular
31   M27 Dumbbell Nebula
32   M27 Dumbbell Nebula
33 08/0916 M27 Dumbbell Nebula
34   M27 Dumbbell Nebula
35   NGC 6960 W Veil / Witch’s Broom
36   NGC 6960 W Veil / Witch’s Broom
37   M31 Andromeda Galaxy
38 11/09/16 NGC 6888 Crescent Nebula
39   NGC 6992 Eastern Veil  (NGC 6995)
40 13/09/16 M57 Ring Nebula

OCTOBER TO DECEMBER

Normal conditions resumed later in September and into the final quarter in the form of overcast skies.  A minor break in the weather allowed a crack at the M33 Triangulum Galaxy towards the end of October but only in late November did another clear period occur, by which time the winter sky had arrived and temperatures had fallen to nearly 0oC.

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M33 Triangulum Galaxy – consisting of some 40-billion stars, the photons in this image have travelled 3-million light years in order to reach my camera sensor! | WO GT81 + modded Canon EOS 550D & FF guided | 18 x 300 secs @ ISO 800 & full calibration | 22nd October 2016

Unfortunately I am unable to establish a permanent observatory here at Fairvale and have to take-out the bring-in all the astronomy equipment each time.  Apart from being inconvenient this has two practical disadvantages: (i) it can be uncomfortable even unpleasant working outside in such temperatures, and (ii) it is necessary to polar and star align every time; on occasion when using SynScan and EQMOD-ASCOM it can take up to 2-hours before starting imaging.  Fortunately, I think I have now sorted out both these problems which should greatly help in the future.

By re-configuring the computer, mount and camera wiring, combined with establishing a wireless link between my tablet and the computer, once set-up I can now control most of the functions from indoors.  The comfort of being indoors benefits operating in general and especially thinking, which can be quite difficult when astroimaging and made even harder when it is cold.

With prolonged periods of clear weather in the second-half of the year, I was sometimes able to set-up and leave the equipment for a few days under a waterproof cover, which meant that from day-to-day I could be up-and-running each time in less than 30 minutes!  However, I expect this will only rarely be possible and nightly set-ups are likely to continue to be the norm.  Fortunately, I have also recently discovered two techniques that should help both streamline and improve star and polar alignment in the future.

In addition to guiding, PHD2 has a very good polar alignment facility that eliminates the use of the SynScan handset and enables the procedure to be carried out from the computer; it can also be undertaken without sight of the Polaris star, which is a major problem at Fairvale Observatory where it is totally obscured by my house.  At times when the mount can be left outside, I can also save and subsequently re-use the star-alignment model in EQMOD-ASCOM.  All-in-all these and other procedures have made a very positive impact on my astronomy and astroimaging.  The outcome of these changes led to a decent sequence of imaging with which to finish the year and, furthermore, hopefully provides a strong foundation for continuing improvements in 2017.

No

 Date Object

Name
41 22/10/16 M15 Globula cluster
42   M33 Triangulum Spiral Galaxy
43 28/11/16 M45 Pleiades
44   NGC 2024 Horsehead Nebula
45   M42 Orion Nebula
46 29/11/16 Hyades Open star cluster
47   NGC 2244 Rosette Nebula
48 30/11/16 NGC 1499 California Nebula
49   IC 405 Flaming Star Nebula
50 03/12/16 M74 Spiral Galaxy
51   M77 Spiral Galaxy
52   M1 Crab Nebula
53   IC 2118 Witch’s Head
54   M78 Reflection Nebula
55 04/12/16 SH2-264 Lamda Orionis
56   SH2-261 Lower’s Nebula

ETCETERA

A few other astronomy and imaging related matters helped shape the past year for me. After  coming across WTSM, I was surprised to be contacted by the Purley Photography Camera Club to give a lecture on astrophotography in March.  I’m pleased to say the event went very well and, furthermore, the process of compiling the presentation beforehand helped expand my own knowledge of the subject too.

TTT Cover

In May I received a sun dial installed on a carved Purbeck Stone plinth as a retirement present.  As a time piece it’s accuracy is limited but it is a beautiful addition to my garden and solar astronomy for which I am very grateful.  By coincidence, later in the year I also came across a simple but charming sun dial set into the ground by the upper lake at Earlswood Common, a short walk from my home and  Fairvale Observatory.  Intriguingly it works by standing on a central stone, located depending on the season, and then uses your own shadow to read off the time – clever.

Sun dial at Earlswood Common
My new sun dial

In September we visited Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire, home of William Fox Talbot in the 19th Century – photography pioneer and notable for developing photographic fixing and printing.  The photography museum there is very good and it was fascinating to see his place of work in the house, where the very first photographic print is also displayed.  His contribution to photography  is unique and today he is generally recognised as the father of modern photography.

william-henry-fox-talbot-with-camera-141697035181903901-141210123557

As  a Londoner born and bread, I like to think I know the city well and over my lifetime have visited most of its unique sites, old and new.  However, for some inexplicable reason I had never been to Westminster Abbey, so decided to put that right in November.  It is, of course, a building of unparalleled history, with numerous graves and memorials of centuries of kings & queens, as well as scientists, explorers, poets, actors etc.  Noteworthy amongst these for the astronomer is the physicist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton and  Second Astronomer Royal, Edmond Halley.

I must next give mention to the man who throughout the year dominated my reading, learning and thinking – Albert Einstein.  His work during the early part 20th Century still dominates today’s physics and astronomy.  We continue to make ground breaking discoveries that substantiate and build on his ideas that were originally postulated over 100-years ago.  Pictures only recently obtained using the the Hubble telescope have spectacularly demonstrated the effect of gravitation lensing and in 2016 for the first time ever the existence of gravitational waves was confirmed.  This year I therefore decided to understand the man and his work better.  During the first half of the 2016 I read Walter Isaacson’s excellent biography of Einstein and have recently completed and 8-week Stanford University course on the Special Theory of Relativity.  They were both very enjoyable, immensely interesting and time well spent.

CMB some 380,000 after Big Bang.
Einstein vindicated: gravitational lensing

Finally, this Christmas I was surprised and very pleased to receive a printed, bound copy of the WTSM blog for the period since its inception on 5th August 2014 until 10th November 2016.  A lot of work has gone into producing this blog and I’ve always been concerned that somehow something might go wrong with the website or internet and it would all be lost. This book now safely preserves in print all the blogs and images posted during the aforementioned period.  The production is generally very good and I have already enjoyed re-reading some of my blogs once again.

img_20161227_122915516

WTSM: The Book!

Favourite Images

As a result of the aforementioned issues, 2016 has certainly been a year of two halves.  Having resolved the equipment problem and started to employ some very useful new techniques and software, I was eventually able to obtain some good images. My personal favourites in no particular order are shown here below:

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Barnard’s Loop & Lamda Orionis Nebula : Vixen Polarie & modded Canon 550D + Sigma UWA @ 20mm | 11 x 240 secs @ ISO 1,600 + darks | 7th January 2016

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Monument Valley by Night: order of buttes same as daytime photo above. Canon 700D + 10mm Sigma wide-angle lens | 20 x 15 secs @ ISO 6,400 | 10th April 2016

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B142/3 Barnard Dark E-Nebula

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M27 Apple Core Nebula | William Optics GT81 + 50mm Guide Scope & 10-point EQMOD-ASCOM alignment model | modded Canon 550D + Field Flattener | 3 x 300 secs @ ISO 1,600 & full calibration, 90% cropped | 30th August 2016

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M31 | WO GT81 + modded Canon 550D & FF | 10 x 300 secs @ ISAO 1,600, darks + flats | 8th September 2016

First ever print, taken at Lacock Abbey 1835
The same picture by me September 2016

 

Round-up & goals for 2017

Despite the frankly awful start to the year, astronomically speaking 2016 finished on something of a high.  Furthermore, contrary to initial indications I was in the end partially successful in achieving some of my objectives set out at the beginning of last year:

RECORD CARD – 2016
Goal Specifics / Results Outcome
Increase imaging exposure times Improved equipment set-up and alignment and successfully started autoguiding with exposure times of up to 8-minutes. DONE

 
Improve processing Started using newer version of Photoshop CS2 + other related software. Improvement with post-processing using online tutorials and Nik Syzmanek’s booklet Shooting Stars. GETTING THERE

 
Start widefield imaging Purchased Vixen Polarie, with portability put to use in the USA but did not make UK dark sky sites as planned. GETTING THERE

 

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Getting better: PHD2 working screen 30th November 2016, DEC is good but room for improvement with the RA settings. Notwithstanding, the impact of tracking and image quality is noticeable.

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I’m concerned about setting more goals or the forthcoming year but I think it helps, so here goes:

  • Improve processing: As the headmaster’s report would say “room for improvement” and I will try.  I have purchased Warren Keller’s book Inside PixInsight, considered by many to be the gold standard of post-processing software but is a nightmare to learn – this may be a step too far for now, we’ll have to see – maybe 2018?
  • Expand and improve widefield imaging: First – use the Vixen Polarie as had been intended last year to obtain nightscape images at UK dark-site locations.  Second – look at ways of using a widefield set-up with the mount more successfully.
  • Start LRGB imaging: I spent a lot of time in 2016 considering the question – what next? I am keen to image smaller DSO objects, in particular galaxies and was on the verge of purchasing a larger telescope – probably another refractor.  However, after attending a talk by Nik Syzmanek, one of Britain’s foremost astrophotographers, I have come to the conclusion that the next step should probably be a move to LRGB imaging, which if successful probably has the greatest potential to improve my pictures – let’s hope so.

Looking back 2016 was a funny old year, which for me was defined by three experiences:

Despite two wonderful periods at the end of August and November the weather for astronomy was mostly awful, with cloud cover for weeks on-end and when it was clear, it was a full moon – frustrating or what?

I had already learned that patience and perseverance are required in large quantities for astroimaging but the equipment break-down in May and June was so severe and apparently insoluble that, together with the aforementioned cloudy skies, I really thought of giving up.

However, this time there is a happy ending: after I finally solved the equipment problem and started autoguiding, I feel I have eventually made some great strides with my imaging in 2016 which, furthermore, holds much promise for the coming year and I hope can record in WTSM’s Reflections at the end of 2017.

Watch this space!