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RICHARD COFER

VdB 141 Ghost Nebula

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Posts Made By: Steve Mathis

June 9, 2012 02:41 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Venus 3½ days after transit

Posted By Steve Mathis
I sort of have Venus fatigue, but still wanted to get a decent image of the thin crescent. We had good transparency and decent seeing here this morning. I set up a "sun shade" to keep the sun off the scope, and waited for Venus to rise above it. This was at 8:38 AM CDT, with my C11 @ f/10 and ToUcam. I think I satisfied my Venus-crescent-image need with this one.

Steve

June 23, 2012 03:52 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Saturn with ToUcam and C11 06-22-12

Posted By Steve Mathis
We had some decent seeing last night, so I braved the mosquitoes to try to get Saturn before it is gone for the year. This is 667/2000 frames. I've been hoping to get an image that shows Cassini's division all the way around, and I think this one does. Thanks for looking.

Steve

June 26, 2012 02:00 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Lunar Mosaic

Posted By Steve Mathis
Here is an 8-frame mosaic made with my ToUcam and C11 with an Antares 0.63 reducer/corrector. Each frame started as a 900 frame AVI, processed with AviStack. The resulting images were stitched together with PSCS3. I was trying to get the entire crescent moon, but the moon went behind the trees in my yard before I could finish.

July 2, 2012 03:31 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Bigger Lunar Mosaic

Posted By Steve Mathis
It took a while to get all the AVIs processed for this. This is a 21 frame mosaic, made with ToUcam and C11 on June 28.

July 11, 2012 10:08 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Sunspot 1520 and company

Posted By Steve Mathis
A huge complex, easily seen naked eye (through solar filter of course). Check this out if you can!

This photo was made with my Nikon D70 and 8" f/5 Newt. I was set up to try to catch an ISS transit of the sun, but drifting clouds spoiled my plan. Five minutes after the transit occurred it was thundering...

March 9, 2006 12:58 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

My first Astrophoto- Canon 20D

Posted By Steve Mathis
Good job! I wish you could see my first attempt....well, maybe not. Did you do any adjusting on the image? Is your sky actually dark? Here is what I get....this is a 2 min. exposure with a Nikon D-70 at ISO 1600 through a 6" f/4 RFT...before and after adjusting levels with photoshop. I am in the inner part of Oklahoma City, and can see stars all the way down to 4th mag....

March 27, 2006 03:44 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

M46

Posted By Steve Mathis
Hey Robert, great shot! Did you focus by just looking through the viewfinder of the camera, or are you using some kind of focusing aid? I have a 6" f/4 Newt (home built with old Coulter mirrors). At f/4 coma is more of a problem. I have a Nikon D70, and focusing is tough.

Steve

May 8, 2006 02:40 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Nikon D50 experiences anyone?

Posted By Steve Mathis
Keith, I have the D70, and a buddy of mine has the D50. Both are great for taking star photos. Set the ISO to 1600, turn on the Long Exposure NR, put the camera on a tripod, and try a 30 second exposure. You'll be amazed. The "barndoor" tracker will let you go longer. At ISO 1600, 2 or 3 minutes will show the Milky Way pretty well. Nikon DSLR's have more thermal noise than the much-touted Canons, but the D50 is supposed to have less noise than the D70.
I bet you will be pleased! What lens do you have?

good luck....

Steve

August 21, 2006 11:18 PM Forum: Digital SLR AstroPhotography

Milky Way

Posted By Steve Mathis
Well, thanks for the kind words, everyone.
The lens I used is the Nikkor 18-70 mm f/ 3.5 - 4.5 that came with the camera. At 18 mm, the lens is at f/3.5. I exposed each frame for 4 minutes at ISO 1600, and let the camera do the noise reduction. I did some adjusting of the individual images with Photoshop during the "stiching" operation to get the levels, etc. to all match up.

Thanks again,

Steve

November 17, 2006 12:36 AM Forum: Mounts

Orion Atlas

Posted By Steve Mathis
Hey, thanks, guys.
This gives me several things to pursue. Thanks for taking the time to respond! Having this forum (and guys like you) is a great asset.

Clear skies to all....

Steve

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