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This Gallery is composed of images taken from Astro Acres.
(Click on any image for a Larger View) |
Epoch 2008 |
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| Some of the images are in. A good time was had by all, including the weather. Below are images taken during the star party. If you attended and have any pictures you would like added please email them to me. | ||
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| Panoramic image of the action at Epoch 2008. Is
that the Coal Sack Cul du sac I see? What the heck is that giant black
canon for? Must be expecting trouble. Twenty-five inches worth. Just below
the flag under the space blanket is a 20" back up. Yikes! We had good luck with weather. Most evenings allowed for excellent observing. Both visually and for Astro imaging.
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M16 Eagle Nebula Taken by Tony Kroes 7-30-2008 9 frames 30 sec, exposure each of RGB 16 frames LUM 30 sec. each Along with many dark frames subtracted. Meade 12" Lx200 Camera ? Images acquired and processed using Maxim DL. Maybe a touch of PS |
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M15 Globular
Cluster with just a touch of planetary nebula
for good measure. Taken by Tony Kroes 7-30-2008 9 frames 30 sec, exposure each of RGB Along with many dark frames subtracted. Meade 12" Lx200 Camera ? Images acquired and processed using Maxim DL. Maybe a touch of PS. |
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M57 Ring Nebula Taken by Tony Kroes 7-30-2008 9 frames 30 sec, exposure each of RGB 16 frames LUM 30 sec. each Along with many dark frames subtracted. Meade 12" Lx200 Camera ? Images acquired and processed using Maxim DL. PS perhaps.
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M17 Swan Nebula Taken by Tony Kroes 7-30-2008 9 frames 30 sec, exposure each of RGB 16 frames LUM 30 sec. each Along with many dark frames subtracted. Meade 12" Lx200 Camera ? Images acquired and processed using Maxim DL. PS perhaps.
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NGC 7331
& Company Taken by Tony Kroes 7-30-2008 9 frames 30 sec, exposure each of RGB Along with many dark frames subtracted. Meade 12" Lx200 Camera ? Images acquired and processed using Maxim DL.
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Uranus and Moons! Taken by Tony Kroes 7-30-2008 9 frames 30 sec, exposure each of RGB Along with many dark frames subtracted. Meade 12" Lx200 Camera ? Images acquired and processed using Maxim DL. So the planet is not good enough. No, some people just like to show off. But if you got it, flaunt it. Nice shot Tony.
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Neptune and Moons Taken by Tony Kroes 7-30-2008 9 frames 30 sec, exposure each of RGB Along with many dark frames subtracted. Meade 12" Lx200 Camera ? Images acquired and processed using Maxim DL. If you are on a roll. Roll with it.
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Overall
the weather really cooperated. At night it was observable. Even if it
looked a bit threatening. I was observing with my telescope when I took
time to take a picture that played with perspective. Check out video |
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NGC 7000 North American Nebula Taken by Tom P. 7-30-2008 1 Frame 180 second exposure plus 180 second autodark ISO 1600 Canon 40D Orion ED on Orion Atlas Mount
Images acquired using Canon remote utiilty software. Processed in PS7. A bit noisy but hey.
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Anticrepuscular
rays So as daylight fades the observing God gives us a sign of the pleasant viewing to come. |
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The following images are the first images taken from the Astro Acres Observatories.
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Procrastination In my normal procrastination mode. I waited till late fall. Just before winter we rearranged and set up some domes I had laying around. |
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Sunset Over AstroAcres Here are the domes just before sunset on the first night of observing and imaging. |
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Moonrise over AstroAcres 11-24-2007 After a day of working around the farm it was fun to see how really bright the moon can get. Some clouds were going to move in so not much observing was in store for this evening. This is a hand held shot. 1/8 sec. Something to be said for Image stabilized lenses. Although the moon is still a bit elongated. I suppose a tripod was in order. But as they say. Carpe da picture. |
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Comet Holmes 11-9-2007 60 sec, exposure ISO 1600 Canon 40D Orion ED80 on Orion Atlas Mount Brr. 20ish but the comet looked great. Fortunately I was in the 60ish cozy warm office/trailer taking this remotely-ish control. The system is still not totally tweated. (are they ever?) So I had to go out in the brrr. every now and then to adjust something. The Canon 40D software allows for very simple USB remote control.
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M31 and Friends 11-10-2007 360 sec, exposure ISO 1600 Canon 40D Orion ED80 on Orion Atlas Mount Same day just after midnight. Gotta love one shot color. Basically just out of the camera. Tweaked the levels and such. Used the auto dark feature. Adds a lot of time but Oh so easy. Gives you some time to snack. |
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Flame & Horsey 11-10-2007 360 sec, exposure ISO 1600 Canon 40D Orion ED80 on Orion Atlas Mount OK not the definitive Horse head shot but hey. Not bad for Click- 720 seconds later- unclick and whala. (360 exposure plus 360 auto dark). Man, I am getting so lazy.
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M42 11-10-2007 60 sec, exposure ISO 1600 Canon 40D Orion ED80 on Orion Atlas Mount What winter observing session would be complete without a quick peek at the Orion Nebula?
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Trapezium 11-10-2007 5 sec, exposure ISO 400 Canon 40D Orion ED80 on Orion Atlas Mount A crop of the trapezium. Nothing special. But think about the equipment used. Totally wrong for the task. Wide field short focal length. Something to be said for camera resolution.
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Taken By:
Jim Cuca
Milky way 7-5-2008 30 sec, exposure ISO 1600 Canon 20Da (modified) Tamaron Zoom @ 17mm f/2.8 Stationary tripod Jim was getting back to basics on a beautiful calm evening looking south. A cameras on a fixed tripod. Amazing what can be done. To see his no so basic images check out.
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M27 Dumbbell Nebula 7-5-2008 600 sec, exposure ISO 800 Canon 40D Celestron C11 on Orion Atlas Mount Orion Auto guider thru Orion ED80 as guidescope This was the first really long exposure I have done using the Orion Autoguider. It uses PHD software and actually worked pretty much as advertised. It was approaching dawn so I omitted the autodark feature. (and it shows)
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M20 Trifid Nebula 5-5-2008 6 frames 60 sec, exposure each ISO 800 Canon 40D Canon 40D @ ISO 1600 Orion ED80 on Orion Atlas Mount This was my first attempt at using Maxim DL to combine the rather large color images the Canon 40D makes. This is a median combine of 6 frames.
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The following images were acquired during the Epoch 2007 Star Party |
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These are the first Images taken from Astro Acres. Generously supplied by participants (see Credits)
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Taken By:
Keith Kleinstick aka W90N45 http://www.willowberry.net/keithnk_m42/ Scope: TeleVue NP101 with TV 0.8 Focal Reducer for F4.3 Mount: AstroPhysics Mach I GTO Autoguider: SBIG's STV attached to an 80mm F6 AstroTech refractor. Camera: Modified Canon 300D with Baader UV-IR filter ISO set at 800 Location: Epoch 2007, AstroAcres Newton County, IN M8 (Lagoon) & M20 (Trifid) wide field 11 images of 150 sec exposure each ImagesPlus and PhotoEditor as above Notes: Development adjustments relatively modest. Good example of what a good mount, scope, focus and conditions can yield Conditions: about 58 deg. Seeing, about 5.5, Slight haze
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Taken By: Keith Kleinstick
E. and W Veil 8 images of 300 sec exposure each Dark frame subtracted, aligned and average combined with Images Plus Gamma, Contrast & brightness adjusted with PhotoEditor (a free addin of MS Outlook) Notes: Development adjustments over stretched to enhance contrast. Conditions: about 61 deg. Seeing, about 5.0, Slight haze
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Taken By:
Keith Kleinstick
N. American Nebulae 8 images of 300 sec exposure each Dark frame subtracted, aligned and average combined with Images Plus Gamma, Contrast & brightness adjusted with PhotoEditor (a free addin of MS Outlook) Notes: Development adjustments over stretched to enhance contrast. Conditions: about 61 deg. Seeing, about 5.0, Slight haze
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Taken By:
Jon Bentancourt 30 Seconds Exposure Canon 350D
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Moon
shots Taken By: Keith Kleinstick 7-12-07 ISO 100, 1/3rd sec single exposure Mild adjustments in PhotoEditor Notes: After a great night, those who stayed up into dawns early light were treated to this 6.7% crescent moon and earthshine. 7-13-07 ISO 100, 1/8th sec single exposure Mild Adjustments in PhotoEditor Notes: A night to catch up on sleep. However as dawn approached, the 1.7% crescent moon could be seen through the thinning clouds. The angle of the clouds are due to the equatorial mounting of the camera and the Northeastern rise of the moon. |
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If you have any shots of interest from Epoch 2007 (even day time terrestrial types) please send them to
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