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Lion Nebula SH2-132 - RC71

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Posts Made By: Cal Sandfort

March 28, 2006 10:51 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M106 Luminance

Posted By Cal Sandfort
I've been goofing around with this for two weeks when the clouds allow. Some shots were through high, thin clouds and there are complex gradients but I'll work on it some more if I get color frames.

AP155 f/7 and SBIG ST-10 with Astrodon filters.

Cal

April 15, 2006 03:25 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M106 with color

Posted By Cal Sandfort
First, I'd like to tell everyone how much I'm enjoying their images. Spring is my busy time at work and I don't have time to comment but I am enjoying your efforts!!

I grabbed some color shots last week to add to my previous L frames. I'd like to improve the star colors and I hope to reprocess when I get more time. I welcome suggestions.

Thanks - Cal

June 11, 2006 03:50 AM Forum: Wildlife Photography

Hey buddy, can I borrow your shovel?

Posted By Cal Sandfort
The Badgers are numerous this year. They are everywhere and could care less about a curious photographer.

Cal

August 19, 2006 12:00 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Central Oregon birds - Red Crossbill

Posted By Cal Sandfort
I finally finished my busy season at work and took a quick work/vacation trip to Texas where the highlight was a behind the scenes tour of the various domes at Mcdonald Observatory. The 107" sure makes anything I have look like a toy. It was great fun to see a huge smile on my sixteen year old daughter's usually disinterested face when she got to slew the mount.

Anyway, we then traveled to central Oregon for a week of some of the best bird photography I've had in a long while. Here's a sample!

August 30, 2008 02:57 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Veil in Ha & OIII

Posted By Cal Sandfort
I've been struggling with this image for a few days and hoped I could get some constructive criticism. I feel it is either too blue (as presented) or too green but not quite right. It's only one hour each, because of weather, of Ha (for red) and OIII (for green) with blue being 20% Ha and 80% OIII.

It's first light for my STL-11000 through my old Tak-FSQ. What do you think?

Cal

July 16, 2002 02:19 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

CCD polar alignment?

Posted By Cal Sandfort
Mike,

You can get a great alignment with your ST-8 by first calibrating your mount to the camera then guide on a star that is approximately +20 dec and 1 hour of meridian. BUT, turn off your RA and Dec corrections in the software and log the corrections for a turn or two of the gear. Now save the log file and graph the RA and Dec corrections with a spreadsheet such as Excel. The graph will show you any slight drift because the data will rise or fall. Make corrections by moving the mount east or west until the graph shows no drift and you will only see periodic error. Then point to a star in the east and do it again. Any drift means the polar axis is too low or too high. Again make your adjustments until there is no rise or fall on the graph.

I hope this helps - Cal Sandfort

July 17, 2002 07:31 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

M33 - A Whirpool Galaxy

Posted By Cal Sandfort
This is a beautiful image Matt! Are you focusing by hand or do you have a motor focuser that works with the extender-Q?

Cal

July 19, 2002 04:27 PM Forum: Home Observatories

DIY dome slits

Posted By Cal Sandfort
Hi Mike,

My opening is 34". I have used (all on a GEM) a 10" SCT, a 10" SCT with a guidescope on top, a 4" refractor with a 3" refractor mounted side by side and now a 6" refractor with a 4" refractor mounted on top. When using the side by side version I felt I had to move the dome too often until the mount tracked to the point the scopes were on top of each other and vice versa for the scope mounted on top. My application is for unattended imaging so your application may vary. I think you would soon regret the 24" opening. If I build another dome it will have a 40" opening.

I hope this helps - Cal

December 26, 2002 11:18 PM Forum: Pictures of Me and My Telescope and........

My wife and I at Table Mountain

Posted By Cal Sandfort
When this photo popped up I thought "Hey! Is that Chuck Norris?" :-)

Cal Sandfort

January 1, 2003 05:16 AM Forum: Pictures of Me and My Telescope and........

Mw and my 106

Posted By Cal Sandfort
What a beautiful setup Frank! I like a well mounted scope:-) What is your guidescope?

Very nice - Cal

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