February 20 Lunar Eclipse

Slightly disappointed that I didn't get the complete story but it was the sacrifice one makes when helping host a public start party.

Here is totality showing the red. Click on the image for full size.



Here is a shot of the moon emerging from the shadow. Click on the image for full size.

More Craters on 1st attempt

7 frames stacked

Top Craters w/ Webcam

Another from a first attempt.

1st attempt with Phillips 900SPC

Still learning but it is a start: 56 frames that were graded "A" out of 1800; calibrated and stacked in Images Plus 2.82

Mistakes made:

320 x 240 resolution. SPC900NC not recognized in Craterlet so I could not choose 640 x 480

Background Subtraction Tool

As recommended in Jerry Lodgruss' book, there is a very good Java based Background subtraction tool that does a very nice job on minor uneven field illumination for JPEGs (Tiff not supported.) Simple to use; puts output into Photoshop format.

Before Background Subtraction Tool



After Background Subtraction Tool



It can be downloaded for free!

Combatting Vignetting

If you are at all familiar with SCTs you probably know getting a flat field is not easy due to Coma when adding a Focal Reducer. I don't doubt that taking a flat field is the best way to offset the problem. Right now, the vignetting is so severe, it is not possible to subtract it via software.

So I'm making an attempt with some equipment to help too. Classic SCTs don't have a 2" opening for the diagonal. I've got a Peterson 2" adapter and now I've purchased a ScopeStuff "True 2" Barrel to Canon EOS Adapter" Here's the blurb from the page:

These adapters attach to the front of SLR cameras and have 2" barrels
that fit in focusers and other accessories. The barrels provide an
unobstructed 1.75" (44.5mm) opening, and are threaded for 2" filters.

I like the idea of being able to use the 2" filters along with this adapter. So I'll experiment without the Focal Reducer in the train as well as with.

M42 in Ha False Color

Playful image in Hydrogen alpha false color

M42 Details

Here's the train:

• Meade 10" f/10 SCT operating in Alt-Az mode
• f/6.3 Focal Reducer
• Hutech 2" IDAS LPS Filter with Borg Filter holders
• Canon XTi shooting:
• 14 - 30 second exposures stacked in Images Plus
• Full Moon ~10 degrees from Orion

1st Crack at the Orion Nebula

One thing for sure, I need to learn/take some flat frames to eliminate Vignetting. Anyway, here's the image. I expected better. Anyway, it's a 7 minute stack:

93% Illuminated Moon

Took 30 images of the moon at 1/1250 of a second. Graded out the "A's" in Images Plus. Ended up with a stack of 7 of the 30.

Sharpened and slightly adjusted the curves in Photoshop.