Greg Hewgill ([info]ghewgill) wrote,
@ 2003-10-28 21:01:00
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Entry tags:astrophotography

astrophotography
Several years ago I bought a telescope, a really nice one (Takahashi FS-102). Unfortunately, I haven't really used it very much, perhaps I bought just a bit too much telescope. It's probably 50 pounds of stuff that can't be conveniently moved all at once. I think I can count on one hand the number of nights I've used it so far. (This will change.)

Today was one of those nights. I got home shortly after sunset, a bit too late to get any good sunset pictures. But I noticed the moon was fairly bright and crisp. So I decided to drag out the telescope to see if I could get any pictures through it. This involves simply placing a digital camera (Canon S110 in my case) up to the eyepiece and taking a picture (with the camera set to infinite focus). I'd never tried this before, but had seen others do the same with good results.

Anyway, I got some reasonably nice pictures of the waxing crescent moon. Click on the picture for a few more.


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[info]openmynd
2003-10-28 07:33 pm UTC (link)
Fucking spectacular! That's what I say! :-)

Now, find the fittings needed to bolt your camera to your telescope, equip it with a tracker (if it doesn't already have one), and take some other cool pics! :-)

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[info]ghewgill
2003-10-28 07:56 pm UTC (link)
Thanks! I have a really nice equatorial mount for my telescope, so that's under control (though I couldn't make it work correctly last time I tried to use it, but I suspect that was just me). I'm not sure whether there is an easy way to bolt a digicam to a telescope though.

I might have to go all out and get a real CCD imager. Some day, I will. :)

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[info]cetan
2003-10-29 06:24 am UTC (link)
The problem with "real" CCD imagers is all the liquid nitrogen you have to keep around to get rid of the thermal noise.

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[info]ghewgill
2003-10-29 06:53 am UTC (link)
I only said real, not hard core. :) I've seen some that use Peltier coolers to keep the imaging element cool enough. I'm sure there is a middle ground that I can get into without having to spend an arm and a leg.

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[info]cetan
2003-10-29 07:28 am UTC (link)
If you're going to go...go all the way!

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[info]dbaker
2003-10-28 07:54 pm UTC (link)
Incredible! Very nice.

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[info]goulo
2003-10-28 08:31 pm UTC (link)
Sankta feko, ĉi tiuj bildoj bonegas!

Nun mi volas vidi vian forvidilon! (Kaj kompreneble, vidi per ĝin. :)

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[info]ghewgill
2003-10-29 06:54 am UTC (link)
Aŭ vere, per ĝi. :)

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[info]goulo
2003-10-29 07:14 am UTC (link)
Damne! Kial mi estas tiel akuzativebria? :)

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Nice!
[info]eng1ne
2003-10-28 10:17 pm UTC (link)
Gorgeous.

So, these shots are gonna make it into your next version of the earth simulator right, as an extension? ^_^

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Re: Nice!
[info]ghewgill
2003-10-29 06:58 am UTC (link)
Thanks! As for xearth, well, it's xearth, not xmoon. Though the latter might make a nice screensaver...

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[info]novi
2003-10-29 08:41 am UTC (link)
very very nice, i say. for a starter on astrophotography, those moon pictures are great. but i don't do astrophotography, i just like to look at them and wish i could do it. and wish that i had a decent telescope and a nice digital camera instead of a refurbished digital camera. my digicam has a sticker on it that says refurbished. i thought it was funny.

yeah, i added you to my friends, hope you don't mind. your journal looks interesting and fun.

:D

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[info]ghewgill
2003-10-29 10:16 am UTC (link)
Thanks and welcome. :) You can probably get decent pictures with most any digicam and telescope. Give it a try, I found it was pretty easy. The hardest part was getting the focus right.

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[info]x_archer_x
2003-11-02 05:27 pm UTC (link)
Wow. Goregous.

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[info]ameya_raine
2004-06-10 08:30 pm UTC (link)
wow, i think the pictures are amazing!
Adn if that was only your first time taking the photos.

First the moon, next... saturn and its rings would be very cool!!

I was wondering if i could use one of the pictures as my LJ icon??? Of course i would credit you in my journal...

Fire_faerie

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[info]ghewgill
2004-06-11 08:07 pm UTC (link)
I think I'll have to acquire more toys before I can take pictures of the planets. It's on my list though.

Feel free to use my pictures in your icon.

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