My best Galactic photo yet...

Since the major upgrade to the 6" f/5 Schmidt-Newt OTA on the Celeston CGE with the right LPS-P2-FF filter, I've had lots of variables to work with, including my post-processing routine.

Now I can drive up to and past 10min subs with guiding on the 4" piggybacked skywatcher.  It's pretty cool to work with, but the weather has kept me from practicing very often.

May 19th, I got a try at M101, the CN challenge of the month.

Mine is far from the best, but it's a personal best for me.

I followed my v1 routine which will end up as a blog here soon enough.

Enjoy,

Mike

Shooting Stars Explained!

Not cool....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6RpCYGxzD0

Astronomy - Planetary - Mercury (all years) Gallery

I don't get much more than 1 or 2 views of Mercury each year so I'm lumping them all in together in one album

Older focus and collimation test

Red filter on Castor in Gemini
Good illustration of focus and collimation on the airy disk of a star. Set gain to full, leave gamma off / default and set exposure to a spot near where the 1st diffraction rings appear 'bright'

My weekend photo shoot of the Bluebirds

2nd nesting season for them in NC, but 1st of this season for this particular location/box.
details on the photo page

Spring's in full swing

That's honeysuckle or (Lonicera sempervirens) and one of the baby Cardinal's perched on the bushes right outside the garage door!

Nesting Cardinals 2

Tape25--2009.04.22_15-05-12.wmv