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Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)

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Posts Made By: Mike Wirths

August 23, 2008 04:34 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Plato....again!

Posted By Mike Wirths

Hi all,


Got in some imaging 2 nights ago despite windy conditions. Now I know how spoiled I was having the walls of my observatory! Used the 4X's powermate for an image scale of 0.11"/pixel


more to come

Mike

August 27, 2008 05:07 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Copernicus

Posted By Mike Wirths

Heres one more I salvaged from the other night. Seeing was deteriorating should have dropped back in Focal length!

--Mike

August 27, 2008 09:43 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Ptolomaeus & Alphonsus

Posted By Mike Wirths

Last one, backed down to the 2.5X's powermate to combat the wind. Not framed with Arzachel as I would have liked, wind was pushing it out of the frame. Did'nt nail focus it seems either, still turned out better than expected.

--Mike

October 18, 2008 08:59 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Cauchy-domeland

Posted By Mike Wirths

Hi all,

Had some decent seeing this am, and the moon was nice and high in the sky.
118 framesout of 440. Windy conditions so I had to cut video short.
18" Starmaster, 2-2 Infinity camera
Taken from my Astro B&B in Baja norte.

thanks

Mike

October 20, 2008 09:46 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Posidonius and Le Monnier

Posted By Mike Wirths

My best shot from 2 nights ago.

same details as before 32 MAP points.

cheers

Mike

October 18, 2010 04:50 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Equuleus South Observatory- Baja Norte

Posted By Mike Wirths

Hi all,

Its been a few years since last posting here (usually in lunar/planetary imaging area) but my Wife and I have moved from icy Canada to the very dark mountains of northeen Baja Mexico. We are close to opening our astro B&B, my new observatory is about 2 weeks from being finished! I got the plans from the Backyard observatories folks, it is a 20X24' roll off roof observatory. Our house is off grid solar so I will be running the power from our house to the observatory for the roof motor and a couple lights, plugs etc. Decided against vinyl siding as our high UV (11+) would damage them imo. I'll post another pic when its done.

cheers

Mike Wirths

www.bajadarkskies.com


February 29, 2004 02:32 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Jupiter 02/27/04

Posted By Mike Wirths

Wes,

Very sweet image, you got the colours spot-on! Reminds me of the colours I see in a very large dob in good seeing.

--Mike W

March 3, 2004 06:19 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

comparison of Jupiter/Io images

Posted By Mike Wirths

Alan,

Thats a fantastic comparison of 2 superb images! I use Guide 8 software to check out what side of Jupiter I will be seeing on an observing run, it also has very detailed bitmap images of all the gallien moons. The trouble with Io from what I understand is that its violent surface changes over a very short period. If it ever clears up again here and if seeing permits I may even put the 5X's powermate on the 30" Starmaster and concentrate on the moons, with that barlow Jupiter does not even fit in the FOV any more.


cheers

Mike Wirths

March 17, 2004 09:24 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

max FL for Toucam chip

Posted By Mike Wirths

Vincent,

I image with my 18" F/4.3 dob using a 5X's powermate. This gives me close to 10,000 mm fl or about F/22-25 with back focus of chip. I imagine with your setup 5X's would be too much as with my fl Jupiter is a tight squeeze (I attached a raw uncroppped frame to give you an idea) maybe just go with a 3X's for nights of really good seeing and stick with a 2 or 2.5X's the other nights. JMHO ;>)

cheers

Mike Wirths

March 29, 2004 02:14 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Not Another Jupiter... :^)

Posted By Mike Wirths

Beautiful shot Jim! I love the colour, very smooth with pretty much no noise, yet lots of detail!

--Mike W