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Hi, I would really value the community's feedback on my first astrophotograph as an amateur. For over 30 years, I was a professional astronomer, having cut my teeth on CCD imaging and spectroscopy since the early 1980s. I was privileged enough to work at some of the best telescopes and sites in the world, including La Palma, La Silla, Hawaii and Siding Spring. I was lucky enough to be an early member in the Supernova Cosmology Project team, where extensive CCD imaging started us on the road to discovering the acceleration of the Universe. During my time as a professional astronomer, I always marvelled at the ability, knowledge and dedication of the "amateur" community. If ever there was a misnomer it is the word amateur applied to what you do. After moving away from research due to leadership commitments - I was Director of both the Anglo-Australian Telescope and Australia Telescope National Facility as well as Australia SKA Director - I have now retired to rural New Zealand, where one of the activities I would like to pursue is astrophotography. The photos on this site are the inspiration to me . This is photo of the LMC taken last night is my first. This was taken with my Canon 5D Mk II mounted on a Sky Adventurer mount with 105mm zoom lens at f/5.6 with 135 x 30 sec exposures. Reduced with PixInsight. Background correction and colour correction only applied post processing. I am quite happy with it, even it is doesn't match the splendour of others on this site. Clear coma is the corners (I have ordered a second hand Canon 200mm f/2.8 Prime), but 2.5px FWHM for the stars is not bad focussing! I took so many exposures because I didn't trust my own polar alignment, but in the end there was only 0.3px shift between successive frames. Which I suppose is acceptable? The occasional 10px jump however, which is either gear errors or, more likely, my inability to properly balance the mount. Thank you for welcoming me into your community. Brian Boyle |
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Hi, You live in God's Country... been to KiwiLand about 15 times fishing including Wanaka... used to be a place Cedar Lodge near there with chopper fly outs... Dick Frazer was the loon who did that at cut rates.... Normally fish the Nelson Lakes area with a guide in St Arnaud... did a bit of conservation work on the Wairau, which I know well. Anyway less fishing and more astrophotography as I have gotten older. I have a complex set up at my house, so if any questions, ask. As you know, this is a business of miilimeters...... I have just been trying to piggy back my Nikon D800 on top of my Stellarvue 130mm and I think it is going to work... free guiding... two shots for the price of one.... can't get the exposure right yet... I am starting with a prime 50mm f 1.4 lens... I get a big white circle  Good luck and happy you are COVID-free JY PS Send a PM and will send my personal e-mail... |
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| Hi Brian, I'm an amateur astroimaging over the hill in Queenstown. Please send a personal message so we can connect by email. Alastair |
