Image of the day

Captured by
Douglas Rollain

M20 Trifid Nebula in LRGBHa

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Posts Made By: Louis Busby

March 25, 2017 07:24 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Arp 335 From MN

Posted By Louis Busby
Nice capture. These ARP galaxies are very cool.. I'm just now reading a Halton Arp book about the relationship of unique galaxies with their companions and quasars. It seems that Arp does not accept the premiss that redshifts indicate distances and speeds of galaxies. Rather, he argues that redshifts are a product of age. Interesting reading nonetheless.

August 10, 2017 05:41 PM Forum: After Dark

Red Lights for Astronomy

Posted By Louis Busby
They do make red chemlights, but the green ones are better and don't destroy your night vision. Look for them at Bass Pro Shops, Gander Mountain, or Amazon.

March 25, 2018 06:55 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Usual Suspects...M51

Posted By Louis Busby
Very nice.

July 6, 2018 09:14 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Saturn 2018

Posted By Louis Busby
Here a recent Saturn image captured with my Takahashi FRC 300 and a ZWO ASI120MC camera.  2000 frames aligned and stacked with AutoStakkert! v.2.6.8 and finished up in PS CS6.

August 1, 2018 01:26 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Searching for Takahashi FRC 300 owners

Posted By Louis Busby
Would love to communicate with FRC300 owners to discuss tips, techniques, operation, collimation and mirror cleaning.  I wish to establish PM with all owners to discuss above including experiences and astrophotography techniques.  If you are a BRC250 owner, your comments are of equal value.  Please chime it.

Thanks in advance.

September 29, 2018 02:51 AM Forum: AstroMart FAQ

Submitting Articles

Posted By Louis Busby
How does one submit an article?  I see no clear way to do it.  I assume that the article needs to be reviewed before submission, but who do I submit it to?

November 6, 2018 06:08 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

NGC 7331

Posted By Louis Busby
NGC 7331 FRC300/EM400/ZWO ASI1600 MM-C @f15.6 70 frames @ 60s

April 16, 2019 01:27 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

Globular Clusters in M110

Posted By Louis Busby
An astronomy associate of mine got me thinking about actually identifying the known globular clusters in M110 (NGC205, PCC2429) from an image of same I took recently. Fortunately, there was enough references and tools available on the Internet that allowed me to do some research to identify them. I believe I’ve successfully identified 10 of the known globular clusters in M110. G73 (M=15) would have been visible, but is out of the frame towards the east (top left corner). Amazingly, magnitudes for the GCs range from M=16.6 (G63) to M=18.5 (G54). I would have never believed I could achieve this level of resolution. The Takahashi FRC300 is an amazing scope. Couple it with a very capable camera like the ZWO ASI1600MM-C and who knows what one could achieve from a backyard observatory. The BOL and GC objects are globulars identified in the SIMBAD database. I compared them visually with the location of objects in my M110 image. There are other possible globulars in the image, but they were either not visible or I could not make a positive id. There are also dim galaxies in the image, but I did not attempt to identify them.  Image details: Tak FRC300 at f15.6, 40x60s frames stacked in DeepSkyStacker and finished in PSCS6 for Mac. 

May 30, 2019 08:20 PM Forum: Antique/Classic/Vintage Optical Instruments

Garage Find - Cave Astrola 10-Inch Deluxe

Posted By Louis Busby
I quite literally found a 1971 Cave Astrola Model C Deluxe 10-inch reflecting telescope with fully rotating tube, electric clock drive, setting circles, electric declination slow motion, f/6 focal ratio with portable column and leg stand. Along with the find, I have the original Bill of Sale and three letters (Cave Optical Company Letterhead) all signed by Thomas R. Cave. All, absolutely free. Had to drive to Gaithersburg, MD to pick it up today and it’s now in my shop. Other than what’s portrayed in the pics below, optics and mirrors are a little dirty, but in great shape. All scope covers were left on during a very long storage.  Scope cleaned up nice and restoration work on the mount will be required.  Collimated the mirrors last night.  Have yet to see 1st light though.

For you Cave Astrola owners - please come in.  I have a few questions.

June 18, 2019 12:33 AM Forum: Antique/Classic/Vintage Optical Instruments

Cave Astrola GEM Restore

Posted By Louis Busby
Working to restore my CAVE Astrola 10" EQM.  I need to remove the RA shaft from its housing.  Any clue how to do this?  The RA shaft appears to have locking collars at either end locked to the shaft by two hex nuts.  Both end of the shaft housing are to restrictive to allow me to use a small hex wrench.  The removal of either collar should allow the shaft to slide right out.  See the pics.

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