M81 and M82 in Ursa Major – My first go at L(R+Ha)GB…
Another first! This is my first ever image captured in full colour using a mono camera. In order to get a colour image out of a mono camera, you capture each of the Red,...
Category: Blog
Heart of the Heart in Hydrogen Alpha – 17/09/2018, and a Discussion of Chip Size
One of the things I was concerned about when moving from DSLR to CCD was the change in the size of the sensor chip I’d be imaging with. I was concerned about not being...
Finally, Things have Fallen Into Place…
Well… it’s taken it’s sweet time, but I think I’m finally there. Where, I hear you ask? Where is there? There, just so happens to be a point at which my imaging has finally...
Hubble, Bubble, Collimation Trouble – Bubble Nebula in Ha – 10/09/18
See what I did there? No? Ah well… Today’s post is a bit of a lessons learned post. First – which of these statements is true :- Collimation is important SCTs keep their collimation...
Skywatcher Mount Power Woes (and a Way to Solve Them!)
For the last few years, I’ve had what I like to call the ‘Flash Gremlins’ visiting me fairlyt regularly. This is how I dealt with them…
Atik 314L – First Light: Rosette Nebula in Ha – 18/04/2018
I recently acquired an addition to my astronomical imaging arsenal. A mono Atik 314L (not the 314L+), came up for an extremely good price on an astro-classifieds site, and finally, I bit the bullet...
Power Box Mk II – Power Box Strikes Back
I love a project. A few weeks ago, I was at doomed UK electronics tat-merchant Maplin, looking for some bargains in their closing-down sale. Incidentally, I love what Maplin used to be, but unfortunately,...
Meade 8″ LX90 ACF
Since I made the decision in January 2015 to sell my Celestron C8, I have made several changes to other parts of my setup which have again made an 8″ Catadioptric Scope a realistic...
My First Tentative Steps Into Video Astronomy
The idea of sharing my hobby has always been something that appeals to me, hence the creation of this site, and my involvement in my local astronomical society. To me, the sharing of what...
Waxing Lyrical About Power Plugs
A quick rundown of one of my pet peeves with Astro equipment – the faithful but troublesome 12v car cigar lighter connector – basically why they drive me crazy, and my solution to the issue on my own setup…
First Light Report – Explore Scientific 305mm Ultralight Dobsonian.
What is it about astro gear that it lends itself to snap decisions in regards to buying and selling…!? I made just such a decision the other day. First a bit of background… From...
First Light – Ikharos 70ED Apo
This is a new acquisition to bring me back into wider-field imaging. Since I sold my 80mm Revelation Semi-Apo, I’ve really missed being able to capture the larger objects, with less fussy guiding, and...
The Isle of Wight – A Few Images From the DDA Star Party 2014
Here are a few more images I took during the Disciples of the Dark Arts Isle of Wight star party 2014. Unfortunately, despite the darkest skies I’ve ever imaged under in the UK, the...
Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro – Guiding issues, servicing, and the Rowan Astronomy Belt Modification
Ah! The good old HEQ5 Pro! A great mount at a very pocket-friendly (well, relatively) price. I’ve had mine for a few years now. It’s a very solid mount, with a lot of features,...
Project – Hybrid Wireless Router / Power Splitter Box
A while back, I posted about using Skysafari to control your EQMOD interfaced mount via a wonderful little utility known as ‘WiFi Scope’. In order to do this, you need some sort of wireless...
Saturn and the Curse of (Astronomical) Seeing
Last night, a clear night got me out into the garden to attempt a proper imaging run on Saturn. Unfortunately, the ringed wonder isn’t best placed at the moment for imaging from my...
My First Solar Images, and How I Got Them…
Today, I had an opportunity to go out and attempt my first solar imaging session. A couple of months ago I constructed a Baader Solar film filter for the objective end of my Starwave...
Firecapture – An Introduction
I’ve been asked recently to help a few people who are new to imaging get their heads around planetary capture. As a result, I’ve decided to produce my first screencast – an introduction and...
First Light With a New Planetary Camera: The ZWO ASI120MC on Mars and Jupiter – 13/04/2014
I’ve just become the owner of a new planetary camera – a ZW Optics ASI120MC. This post is the fruits of my first efforts with it. Unfotunately, on a night of terrible seeing (the...
Jupiter – Colour and Mono comparison
A quick post to illustrate the differences between processing data from the same night from a Toucam Pro and a QHY5v Mono taken through my f/6 Newtonian with a 2x Barlow. The left pic...
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