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Just an hours worth of data before the clouds rolled in with the Redcat 51, Star Adventurer and Canon 450d. Needed the narrowband filter with the moon so full. Not my best but shows the potential for this rig when conditions are better 🔭😉

....and here's my 2-pane mosaic of the Sadr region for an ultra-wide view of the butterfly and crescent nebulae. Hope you like it 🙂

For the past year or so we've been making some regular visits over to an area in Wales (Snowdonia National Park) known as the 'Mach Loop' It's an area used by UK and US military aircraft for low level training. A quick climb us some of the hills and you can be level with, or above, the jets as they come through at speed well in excess of 500mph. Camera: EOS 750D Lens: Sigma 150-600mm When the aircraft don't come through the scenery is amazing, peaceful, quiet and I love it! The place also has some very dark skies (although some restricted views E & W!) which I intend to make full use of. The view to the S/SW They when they do come through ..... USAF F-15E 48th Fighter Wing F-15 close up of the cockpit - not a bad day job RAF Tornado - sadly all now retired Not just the jets .... the bigger transports turn up for a go RAF A400M And the smaller jet and prop trainers I should be back there in another 2 or 3 weeks.

Really pleased how this turned out ,comments welcome as i have no idea if colour looks ok seems to be with a quick look on the Net ,definetley more data required on this target . sw 200pds -baader cc -idas D2 LPS filter- Eq6 mount- guided in phd2 approx 25x120 sec sec dithered ,bias as darks and Flats ,stacked in Regim ,canon modded 1000D ,qhy5L-11 guide camera on a qhy miniguide scope .

Saw a lovely poppy field today. It's on Wheatlands Lane in Baslow, Derbyshire. Don't normally do landscapes so quite pleased with these.

Flat Field Quadruplet Apochromat Aperture 70mm Focal Length 350mm F Ratio - F5

I've only recently realised that the field flattener on my GT81 scope was not focussing things correctly since I swapped from my DSLR to my mono ZWO183 Pro camera. So I did some calculations and ordered the requisite spacers to get the back focus correct, and they arrived last Thursday. Low and behold, it was clear Thursday night, so everything was connected up and I went out about 11PM. It took me ages to work out why my electronic focuser was no longer in focus, it had always been really close before. Dipstick! I'd just added 13 mm into my optical train. Once I had focussed, it was 12:30am. Set out to take the witches broom. I set up to take 2 min subs of Ha, Oiii and Sii in cycles of five each in case it got cloudy. It did, so the result below is a mere 10 minutes on each filter. Glad to say that the field flattener is sharp again, and just need to get back to this object with more time, and get some more data. Processed in DSS, Photoshop, and applied the Hubble palette.

A few pictures of the little ones. Mum has been bringing up four youngsters this year. They are growing so fast. A couple of weeks ago they looked like mice running about my lawn. Mum is very camera shy and is off as soon as the camera tries to focus but the little ones are totally un phased.

This popped up at a little after 5 am this morning. Possible space junk returning home ???

quick process only 7 x 120 sec probably a better target for the quadruplet ,bit noisy but considering only a few subs came out well

First imaging run I have done in a long long time. Decided on the Crescent Neb as it was in the mount's rotational range of my shortest usb lead. GT 81 Atik 414 EX 5 Nm Astronomik HA filter 47 subs at 300 seconds. ( had to stop at 47 as I had run out of lead on the guide camera. 😂 ) Captured and stacked in Maxim. Polished in PS 6. Click on the image a couple of times to get to full res.

Hi everyone - my final version of the Eagle and Omega Nebulae presented as a widefield bi-colour image of this region of the Constellation Serpens. 41 x 2 min subs through the Redcat\Canon450d\STC duo narrowband combo mounted on my HEQ5 and captured with Sequence Generator Pro. Processed in Pix\PS CC\PS LR. Hope you like it

Maybe I spoke too soon, a bit of decent seeing and things improve. Or maybe forget the colour cam and go for IR filters is the way to go. I have more data to prod and poke but am in need of sleep. 200mm SCT x2.5 powermate IR642 filter Chameleon mono cam.

Joined me for over 3 hours. This afters I built a hedgehog box from old pallet board

I managed to grab about 2 hours of Oiii data on the crescent nebula last night, and did a quick process to see what i'm dealing with. I am currently capturing more data right now. about 3 hours total with 1600mm Pro, SW 200PDS + Baader MPCC, EQ6. My first colour witht the 1600mm Pro! 🙂 https://joesastrophoto.myportfolio.com/

Another go with the low down beast. 5 short sers chopped up due to cloud derotated in Winjupos to give me an L and layered onto the centre RGB image. 200mm SCT ZWO178 ADC

Despite the poor seeing conditions I had a great run on Saturn tonight. Using the 5 inch Helios frac, a 2.5 X Barlow and the Point Grey camera I had a ball. First up is a 10,000 frame AVI. Captured in Fire Capture Stacked in Registax Second one is only a 1000 frame AVI as conditions were getting pretty bad. Loads of other AVI's to process.

Picked up the final piece of the jigsaw today, was a epic drive as was working the other side of Bristol and the new CEM25P at ROV but worth the drive 🙂 Setup WOZ61, ASIAIR+Powerbank, Mod canon 1100D, IOptron CEM25P, ZWO MiniCam and ZWO OAG, Polemaster, small 6 inch pier riser . The mount is super smooth and quiet, time will tell on accuracy. The learning curve begins again.

Quick process of 1 ser file 200mm SCT ADC ZWO178 colour cam 1o% of 3000 frames

Hi folks. I came across this online this evening..... Its an interactive atlas of all the Solar Systems many moons. Lots of info and good visuals to keep you busy for hours on a cloudy night. Be warned.....its no 10min read through......when you get to Jupiter, things start getting rather complex ! 😀 Well worth a look.... https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/07/the-atlas-of-moons/?utm_source=digg&utm_medium=email

This is definitely a work in progress. It should end up as another one of my very large mosaics given enough clear nights. SH2 - 91 is situated not far from the Veil complex and very close to the double star Albireo. Set in a massive star field it is a little known target as it is really really faint. At only 16.4 Mag this is probably not the time of year to be trying to do this but then I do like a challenge. 😊 This is the first panel of probably a dozen or so. WO GT 81 Atik 414 EX 13 subs X 600 seconds in HA. 12 subs X 600 seconds in OIII. Captured and stacked in Maxim. Processed and combined in PS 6. Click on the image a couple of times to get to full res.

Picture of the Month June 2019 The poor start to the month weather wise and the shorter nights didnt deter some, theres been some cracking images posted this month, here's a quick rundown; Deep Sky 8472 started the month off with an M106 https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16108-last-months-m106/ and an M104 https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16110-m104-wip/ Chris P gave us the NA and Pelican with the Redcat https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16020-n-america-and-pelican-nebula-in-haoiii-bi-colour/ and the Veil https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16168-the-veil-nebula/ Graham showed us the first DSO through the new scope https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16131-first-serious-imaging-attempt-with-the-big-scope/ then the Crescent with the GT81 https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16233-crescent-neb-in-ha/ Red Dwarf gave us an M101 https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16197-m101-in-lrgb/ Derbyshire Dave had a go at the Veil as well https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16203-the-witches-broom-in-narrowband/ Lunar Ibbo was at doing the thing he doesnt do again https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16132-luna-8-6-2019/ https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16199-a-couple-of-bits-of-luna-21-6-2019/ Graham gave us a full Mr Blobby https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16165-luna-from-last-night-16062019/ Planetary Graham was the new scope to use https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16101-jupiter-and-a-surprise-guest/ https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16194-saturn-from-tonight-22062019/ Ibbo was out bagging the 2 gas giants as well https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16145-jupiter-9-6-2019/ https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16177-jupiter-21-6-2019/ https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16221-jupiter-27-6-2019/ https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16230-quick-and-dirty-saturn-29-6-2019/ Solar Graham started off the month https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16097-solar-today-01062019/ https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16153-just-to-prove-it-does-still-exist/ https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16188-at-last-some-sun-bothering/ Ibbo gave us some sunshine as well https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16193-sol-ha-22-6-2019/ https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16220-sol-27-6-2019-ha/ https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16222-sol-28-6-2019ha/ https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16231-sol-29-6-2019-ha/ Widefield June often means holiday shots and this June is no exception Peter Shah gave us a stunner MW shot https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16115-the-gate/ A very atmospheric shot from ChrisP https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16137-thinnest-crescent-moon-and-sunset-over-the-baltic-sea/ A wider than average shot of the Eagle and Omega region from ChrisP https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16196-the-eagle-and-omega-nebulae-widefield-version/ As usual not an easy choice this month, I am torn between 3 images, Peter Shahs Gate, Ibbos Saturn and Grahams Crescent Nebula all of them a excellent but I have to pick one, oooer! Ok, Ive just been flicking between the 3 and I have lingered longer on Grahams Crescent Nebula so that image is picture of the month for June 2019. That will be a corker with some colour. https://www.eastmidlandsstargazers.org.uk/topic/16233-crescent-neb-in-ha/

Hi everyone- just over 2 hrs of data with the Redcat and Canon 450d combo for this wide(r) view of the Elephants Trunk Nebula. Processed as a bi- colour image in Pixinsight and PSCC. 🔭😉

Just back from hols in North Cornwall. Went for a 2 hour speedboat trip on Friday, got very wet and windswept but it was invigorating and we saw Puffins, yeay. hese cute little guys were bobbing along on the waves quite a distance away from us as we stopped to look at them plus Razor Bills and Gillemotts off this big rock near Padstow. I was astounded that I got anything due to the choppiness of the sea and being bounced around in the boat. Taken with the Oly EM1 mirrorless and the venerable 75-300 zuiko zoom. I set the ISO to 1600 so I stood a chance of getting something in focus whilst being thrown around. They have been cropped, at 300mm (600mm FF equiv) they were at the maximum range and I was surprised to get anything useable. They aint pin sharp in glorious detail but hey I don't care cos I got my first shots of Puffins 😀 😀 Oh and theres some Guillemots and Razor Bills thrown in as well

Finally got round to processing the latest image, taken over the last few months, 3 minute subs with darks, flats and bias frames, stacked in Deepskystacker, processed in Stattools and a tweek in Photoshop. around 40 x 3 minutes of Luminance about 30 x 3 minutes of RGB

Tried out the Point grey through LRGB filters last night just to see what would happen. Unfortunately there is not a lot of colour on the moon but it was fun doing it. 1000 frames in each LRGB channel per panel and 2 panels per channel. 5 inch Helios frac. Point grey camera. Stacked in Registax Stitched in Microsoft ICE LRGB compiled in PS 6. This image is a JPEG to allow loading on here. I also have a TIFF which I will get printed up into a photo at work tomorrow. The Tiff is 39 Kb's The Yellowish patch in the bottom corner is a flaming tree that ingressed whilst doing the Blue channel. Click on the image a couple of times to get to full res.

Hi everyone - this one gave me a bit of bother I don't mind saying. A lot of contrast of dust and nebulosity. Just over 2 hrs of data on a non-too-good seeing night. Might give this one another go towards the end of summer

I really couldn't resist observing a setting Moon so I set the *Big Mak up at 20:30 so it could cool nicely. This is the first real chance to give the 20mm WO eyepieces a good workout. I started off with 75x and a Baader Single Polariser in the diagonal. I mainly used the WO's but did try the 12mm GSO Plossls briefly. As it got darker I used the 1.6x and 2x WO Barlows for 120x and 150x. The seeing or transparency weren't good enough for the TS Optics 2.6x Barlow. I also saw Jupiter right up until transit. I now had a Baader Neodymium filter in the nosepiece. Again, not brilliant as the conditions hadn't greatly improved but I could see the GRS. I also saw a rising Saturn for a short while. So I'm a pretty happy bunny. *At 127mm it's my biggest Mak, so it's big to me lol.

Managed to grab a couple of hrs last night on The Crescent Nebula with the Redcat & DSLR. I processed the data as a bi-colour image in Pixinsight and PSCC 75 x 2min subs> Hope you like it!

Hi everyone - hope you're enjoying the recent run of clear night. Managed to get 106x2min subs on this one last night with the Redcat\Canon 450d Combo. Hope you like it

Managed to get 58 x 300 second subs in OIII last night to add to the HA image. Bit of a disaster as the FR had come loose and I ended up with a lot of rotational difference between the two sets of subs after I had reset it. Took a lot of tweaking in PS 6 to get things to align again. Just the SII to go.

Either way they are looking slightly rough. 😂😂😂 Came across this fine fellow just now on my garden path. Stuck a pound coin in beside him for a bit of scale. Click on the image a couple of times to get to full res. ( Not for the faint hearted though. )

200mm SCT and ZWO178 cam with ADC

You have just got to love Hedgehogs. I have got an extended family of them here. They hibernate at the bottom of my garden every year under a mountain of branches and tree cuttings which I leave there for them.

This may be better?

Well, I put together a little PowerPoint presentation in the end and the school and little ones loved it. Great to see the genuine interest and positive reactions in their little faces, at some of the material. I can see how educating kids must be one of the most rewarding careers, at times.

The shortest session i think i've ever had : A 10 second look at Lunar, with my 15x50 binocs. A 60 second look at Jupiter through the 300mm Newton through deteriorating cloud. With the low power arm in the bino gave around 60x with my 24mm's, and i thought i could detect the GRS.... So i thought i'd up the power to 90x with the medium power setting, but lost it in the clouds as i was refocusing. And that was it.....!! Game over. A one hour round trip for just over a minutes observing. Would i do it again...? Of course i would !! 😀 Always a pleasure to see everyone, and have a chinwag over tea and cake. Till the next session.....

A new member of my strange family. This little chap was on the wrong side of an argument with a car. Had him for a couple of weeks now. He has made a remarkable recovery and hopefully will fly off soon. He has gone from a battered and bruised lifeless bird to a right royal PITA. He is more inquisitive than the proverbial cat. He is into everything. Totally unafraid of me he just wanders into the house from the garden for a snout around. Tonight I had to turf him out of the obs so I could set up without tripping over him. Feeding him on cat food has other benefits as well. Meet one of my many Hedgehogs. She had 4 little ones with her tonight but they made a bee line for the hedge when I came out with the camera.

Readers of Steve Tonkin's newsletter will be familiar with the Bino Bandit, a neoprene light shade which fits over binocular eyepieces to reduce extraneous light. I tried mine on both binoculars and my binoviewer and am impressed with them. Only snag is some tendancy to fog up if you have too snug a fit. Interestingly, I can hand-hold my 15x70s with the Bandit in place, which I couldn't before.

Whilst posting up my images of Saturn just now this little beauty hit the detector. Made me jump with the racket it made.

They are cute, we had some a few years back. Your right, they grow up so fast, eat your food, treat the place like a hotel, then next thing you know they are off without a word of thanks 🙂

Yes I forgot the important bit the swearing

I have mounted my ED80 pro onto my SW Adventurer as a quick grab'n'go set up, with an added weight! The 150PDS is staying as my main scope on the NEQ6 so while the stacking worked it meant I had no scope for Wymeswold etc!!

So for once the gods were on my side no problem to report, guiding calibrated no issues so took a few M11 , then tried M20 and M17 superb targets will try and get round to processing today , m20,I must have been just above the neighbours garage roof but what a gorgeous target, was going in at 1 , work this morning but then took a peek at M17 ahh what the heck in bed for 2 and up at 5 for work couldn’t help myself, hopefully I will get back to those in the very near future pictures to follow hopefully they turn out alright.

First one I've seen this year in the garden.

What I have done on all my star parties is leave my gear set up outside the tent all weekend just put them under a very good weatherproof cover that way the caravan is free from clutter. Only thing I used to bring into the tent was my eyepieces at the end of the night. I haven't got a dob now so will bring both my refractors as they don't take up to much room. Maybe you should bring your dob Rob, because the whole point of a dark site star party is to go and track those fuzzies down. We will share your dob and my triplet, best of both worlds.

Few photos of my new toy https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/share/Dp1FtEAqoxMaep1KeXR7gBwCwcgNKSqpqErmTqL5GT9 https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/share/bIcIKh5sXh6u8oadBT6JkeADKC34kCKnolmvo3BgAXY

Low down Mr B with the 200mm sct give them a click or 3 for full res

Finally on this wet and soggy summer, some sun shine. Set up first thing this morning and have only just packed away. I must admit it was good to be studying our local star again. Unfortunately not a lot going on but there were a couple of subtle changes over the course of the day. Gathered about 80 gigs of data over the day in 1000 frame AVI's. The seeing was pretty bumpy to say the least but these Point Grey cameras deal with it superbly. This was taken mid afternoon. 60mm double stacked Lunt. AZ EQ 6 Mount. Point Grey camera. Captured in Fire capture Stacked in Registax. Tweaked a little in PS 6. Click on an image a couple of times to get to full res. False colour added in PS 6.

Never used a temp sensor. Mine are controlled with a variable resister. If they are warm to the touch that's good enough. Never had a problem with dew or thermal currents. All this techy stuff means more to worry about and more to go wrong. I am all for stress free imaging which is probably a contradiction in itself.