2006 - 2009

As the Eclipse/Southern Hemisphere trip in June/July 2010 grew closer, I became increasingly concerned about the weight problems in taking the originally planned set up for eclipse and astro photography using my Series 5000 80 mm refractor on my EQ3-2 mount. I considered a premium small refractor, but after considerable web browsing, in particular this site, I invested in the superb Canon EF 400 f5.6L prime telephoto lens. I also managed to reduce the size of the guiding system by using a small 300mm fl mirror lens which strangely although supposedly M42 lens thread screwed easily into the 'T' threaded XY guider without an adapter. Total weight saving a little over 3 Kg. Doesn't sound much, but with airline weight restrictions.... The lens has a built in retracting hood about 75 mm deep when extended - very useful for protection and stray light exclusion as well as dew prevention. The rig as shown here is in deep sky guiding mode, but for the eclipse photography only the 400L will be used. The odd looking object mounted on the camera 'hot shoe' is a red dot finder for night time use. Postscript. Would you believe after all that, shortly before the trip I was informed that our luggage allowance was almost twice that originally expected. So no need for the weight worries and I could have stayed with the 80 mm telescope! But in the end I didn't take the 80 mm - even with three suitcases our weight was on the limit for each case, and four cases would have been unmanageable when travelling, particularly in the Motor Caravan in New Zealand! We had a fantastic holiday. Here.
Of course having bought the 400L lens, I had to test it with the Canon 350D camera. A sequence of 15 x 5 minute sub frames, ISO 800 at f6.3 yielded this shot of M81 and M82. Full size.
The owner of the 'shootout' site, also devised a system whereby using a Barlow type lens it is possible to use a diagonal and eyepiece. Details here. So I fired up my lathe and made a similar item using the bayonet adapter and other parts of a remarkably cheap but well made extension tube macro ring. These are readily available on the Internet, particularly Amazon and ebay. Search for 'Macro Extender', be sure to get the correct pattern for your make of camera lens. No need for one with internal wiring. Works well, and I was also able to make a fitting to use the lens with my ST4000 XCM. Unfortunately not enough back focus for the ST-10 with filter wheel.        Later. I eventually managed to make a slimmed down version of the lens adapter which *does* allow the 400 mm lens to reach focus with my ST-10. But only just - my Tamron zoom lens which I used for the wide angle Milky Way shots below still doesn't provide quite enough back focus. The bayonet section had to be trimmed, losing the spring for the locking pin - an elastic band takes care of that in use! And the insert is very thin to allow the lens to fit - the web is only 0.5 mm! But it does the job. It's epoxied in place, but if I were to make another one I'd probably thread it and the bayonet housing for a more secure fixing, also using epoxy resin or superglue to prevent unscrewing.         Later again (January 2012) My new QSI camera with the ws front fitted allows my Tamron lens to reach focus! The 'T' thread on my home made adapter which only just held firm on my ST-10 was not good enough for the QSI fitting. But a few hours in my workshop and a new part did the trick.               The focal length of the lens with the Barlowed system is around 1300 mm, so a finder is necessary. There was just enough room to fit a red dot unit on the adapter! I had earlier cobbled up a finder mounting block for my camera as also seen in the main picture, so all set :-)
A further experiment with the 400L lens bore fruit! The already good photographs are even sharper when the lens is stopped down to f6.3 or even f7.1 But this introduces substantial diffraction 'Star bursts' on bright stars due to the diaphragm blades. I found that by stopping down the lens using an external mask I obtained images even cleaner than with the diaphragm, and without star bursts. A modified lens cap makes an excellent removable mask, and has the advantage that if I am using the lens with my ST-4000XCM I don't need the Canon camera available to preset the stop. The star featured here is 2nd magnitude eta Bootis. This system seems to work well on most prime lenses, but experiments with zoom lenses showed substantial vignetting.

   

Following the 2010 Solar Eclipse in the South Pacific, it was always my intention to photograph the Southern Milky Way, not only in wide field, but also with some more close up images using the 400 mm lens. I had no opportunity on Tahiti or Moorea, and for most of the following two weeks on New Zealand the Moon was intrusive. Towards the end of that stay I obtained this image from a dark camp site (we were in a camper van) at Fairlie in South Island. Lots of trees unfortunately, and the Moon rose before I could go for close ups. But good views of the Clouds of Magellan, the Southern Cross, the Coalsack and Carina nebulae. Composite of 5 x 5 minute exposures at ISO800, Canon 350D and Tamron 17-50 lens at 17 mm and f5.6 Full Size This image featured in the September 2011 Sky at Night magazine CD 'Hotshots' section. And some features named. Full size. NOTE The full size versions of these three deep sky images are all over 1 MB in size
After leaving New Zealand we travelled via Sydney to Tasmania, and I was given a warm welcome by Shevill Mathers who lives on the outskirts of Hobart. He has a large home observatory with superb equipment. Thanks for an enjoyable visit, Shevill. His excellent web site is here.
And just to prove I was there!
Although Shevill lives only a few miles outside Hobart, nevertheless he has very good sky conditions. This is a photo he took from his home. Single frame, Canon 450D 10 seconds static shot with a Sigma 30mm lens at f/2 and ISO 1600. Wish I had skies like that!
From Hobart, we moved North to stay with relations near Launceston. With four nights there I expected to be able to enjoy the night sky - New Moon and a dark site. But it was not to be - cloud and rain alas. The only remaining opportunity was from the next stop with relations on the Gold Coast near Brisbane. But there was light pollution and a brightening Moon. Nevertheless I obtained this pic of the heart of the Milky Way - a couple of constellation figures in for identification. Canon 350D, 5 x 5 minute sub frames at ISO 800, Tamron lens at 17 mm. Constellation figures also on the medium size image (click on thumbnail). Full size.
All the 17 mm shots were taken unguided on my EQ3-2 mount - the mount tracking was accurate enough at the short focal length, and I had a good Polar alignment. So to finish off, I zoomed the lens up to 40 mm, just for a try. And indeed the unguided tracking was good enough at that focal length as well. This shows the Southern Cross and Coalsack area. So although I had a guide camera with me, I never used it. Full size. I guess I'll have to return South some time. Maybe in 2012 for the Transit of Venus !

At the same time as I was collecting colour data for NGC 1961 on the night of 15th November, I imaged much of Ursa Major wide field with my Canon 350D and Tamron 17-50 zoom lens at 17 mm f5.6 Unguided on my EQ3-2 mount. 14 x 5 minutes at ISO 800, stacked in Deep Sky Stacker, final processing in Photoshop. Cropped a little - some coma. How many galaxies can you find? You'll be surprised how small they are in this wide field context! M51 is particularly interesting. This image was used in the December 2010 Sky at Night BBC TV programme. Full Size (1.1 MB!)

When I'd finished messing about with my earlier ST-4000XCM offering of a wide field Orion, I got to wondering how my modded Canon 350D would cope with the subject. So while out on the evening of 8th February 2011, I left it running unguided on my EQ6 mount for a couple of hours with this result. I'd felt the slightly smaller pixels might resolve the stars better than the SBIG ST-4000XCM, but there's nothing in it - the SBIG version looks more fussy simply because more background stars are visible! I'd intended to image at ISO800, but in fact (I was in a hurry and didn't check!) ended up with ISO 1600. 14 x 10 minute subs, same Tamron 17-50 f2.8 lens at approx 30 mm, f5.6. Dark frame subtracted of course, and it was pretty cold, so not much noise anyway. Considering the SBIG was cooled to -30 deg C and I used 15 minute subs for that pic, I think the Canon has acquitted itself quite well. But IMHO the dedicated camera wins - so it should for the money! Again used StarSpikes Pro to bring up the main stars. Full size (2 MB!) Still those dratted power line shadows. I don't think I'll get another proper chance this winter. Maybe next season if I and the world survive .

On 2nd September 2011 comet P1 Garradd was due to pass close to the 'hook' of Collinder 33 - the Coathanger asterism. But the forecast for that night (and those either side) was dismal, and unfortunately proved to be correct for my part of the country. However the weather did relent briefly on the evening of 30th August, and I was able to get a wide field image of the comet and Coathanger prior to the close encounter. 10 x 5 minute exposures with my Canon 350D camera and a 200 mm camera lens. Larger image. This image appeared in the Gallery section of the November 2011 Astronomy Now magazine, and again (cropped) in the April 2012 'Sky Diary' section

There was a fine conjunction of Venus with the Pleiades on the night of 5th April 2012. But so bright in comparison! Stack of 5 x 5 minute subs with darks, Canon 350D with Canon 400L prime lens and f7 round mask. The mask is to reduce diffraction spikes, but it would appear that I've either got diffraction circles (!) or multiple internal reflections. A strange effect! This image appeared in the June 2012 issue of Astronomy Now magazine. Larger image.

For the winter season 2112-13 The Sky at Night BBC TV program introduced a 'Moore Winter Marathon' suggesting numerous targets for both direct visual and telescope observation. Some of these were in Taurus, and since Jupiter was beautifully placed near the Hyades cluster I took this wide field image. Canon 350D at 40 mm focal length, 8 x 8 minutes at f7.1 in the early hours of 12th November 2012. Click on the thumbnail for a larger image with 'mouseover ' names for some objects. Those with numbers after them are Moore Marathon targets. Full size (no names, 800 KB) This image appeared on the March 2013 'Sky at Night 'Magazine Disc Hotshots section, and a crop of the Hyades area featured on the January 2017 'Sky at Night' TV programme. And full size with names

During my visit to Tasmania in February 2013 I had hoped to do some imaging of the deep Southern Milky Way and several of the interesting targets there. Alas the weather was unkind - despite wall to wall sunshine during the day every evening at the dark site clouded over after Sunset. I only managed 2 frames under clear skies one evening and this is the result. 15th February, 2 x 10 minutes (the second started to cloud over half way through - just visible as a haze around the SMC) using my Canon 350D and Tamron 17-50 mm f2.8 zoom lens at 17 mm and f5.6. Unguided on my EQ3-2 mount. The medium size image (click on the thumbnail) has 'mouseover' names for several objects. Larger image with names here. (I didn't notice the comet near the Small MagellanicCloud until June 2013!) This image appeared in the August 2013 issue of Sky at Night magazine. Full Size (2.1 MB!)

On 18th February there was an occultation of Jupiter by the Moon. Not visible in the UK, but I managed to observe and capture it from our location despite tree branches and clouds. I had to keep moving the mount to avoid branches, and unfortunately the focus shifted slightly so the field stars and moons of Jupiter are not the pinpoints of earlier but partially obscured attempts. But worth keeping! Canon 350D with Canon 400L Lens, single 2 second exposure at f5.6 and ISO 100. Just enough Earthshine to see the unlit part of the Moon. The star which has emerged from Occultation (top left) is 5th magnitude Omega Tauri. This image appeared in the April 2013 issue of Astronomy Now magazine. Full Size

Comet C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS was set to grace our Northern skies after it rounded the Sun in March 2013. Forecast to be potentially a naked eye bright comet. But certainly its initial appearance was disappointing. I was hoping for a substantial tail stretching up towards the beautiful thin crescent Moon. But low in the western sky shortly after sunset on 13th March it was lost in the sky glow. Visible in binoculars, but small and faint. This photo was a 2 second exposure with my Canon 350D camera at 50 mm focal length. The comet is just visible below the clouds in the centre. Larger size
The evening of 16th March 2013 was blessed with very clear air. Although there were clouds around it was clear right down to the western horizon with very little glow. I found Comet Panstarrs easily in binoculars, and lined up my red dot finder fixed to my Canon camera with the help of a passing cloud for location. Then because the camera was mounted on my driven EQ3-2 mount, it kept the comet nicely in the field of view of the 400 L lens. Several shots, but this was the best of the bunch - as the comet lowered so the sky darkened, and at last it was indeed a naked eye object. Only 4 degrees above the horizon for this shot, and going from the star positions I reckon the tail is at least 1 degree long. The medium size image (click on the thumbnail) has 'mouseover' identification and exposure details. This image appeared in the May 2013 issue of Astronomy Now magazine. Larger image
Very mixed weather lately here in NE England but 3rd April 2013 was obviously going to be the best from this part of the UK for this shot, so I travelled a few miles to a dark location with a clear low northern horizon near Redesmouth, Northumberland. With this result. The comet was circumpolar, but by full dark was never above 11 degrees altitude and rapidly fell to 6. So even with clear air was in the murk. Those in the North of Scotland or Norway would have had the best views. The tail was large and diffuse - interesting but disappointing in a way. Modded Canon 350D with 200 mm (old style M42 thread) lens at f8. 8 x 5 minute subs on my EQ3-2 mount, guided with the Lodestar and 300 mm mirror lens. Stacked with Deep Sky Stacker, final processing in Photoshop. Cropped from the original to cut out amp glow in the corner. Amusingly one of my subs was ruined by what I assume was a passing Police car. Must have spotted my red head torch, stopped on the road outside the gate and pointed a spotlight straight up the lens! A frantic cry of 'Put that light out' was too late. They just drove on, but I have a nice white sub! Larger image
The tail of the comet eventually thinned out, with a noticeable 'anti-tail'. Bernhard Hubl from Austria posted these links of his superb images on the SBIG user group: Closeup Wide field Details are on his web site.. I decided to have a go myself on 2nd June 2013 under clear skies, but at my Northern latitude with astronomical twilight and light pollution I was pretty well doomed to failure. Got something tho', so here it is. 5 x 5 minute subs (I ran out of time - had difficulty locating it so near the Pole), Canon 350D ISO800 200 mm old style (M42) lens at f7. The tail points almost due North, the brightest two stars are (bottom to top) epsilon UMi and delta UMi (the two fourth magnitude stars in Ursa Minor nearest to Polaris). It was the asterism around delta that finally helped me position the comet. Large image

This wide field image mainly of theTaurus region taken on 3rd November 2013 while waiting to image Comet ISON, shows the Hyades cluster with the bright red star Aldebaran, the Pleiades and sneaking in at the top the California nebula in Perseus. 10 x 10 minute sub frames with modded Canon 350D and Tamron 17-50 zoom lens at 44 mm and f5.6.  The open cluster to the left of the Hyades is NGC 1647. Large image (840 KB)

Comet C2012 S1 ISON on it's first (and last!) visit to the inner solar system was widely forecast to be a 'great' comet. But prior to its close encounter with the Sun it didn't live up to expectations. This image was taken around 5 a.m. on the 4th November 2013. 4 x 5 minute frames with the Canon 350D and 70-200mm L zoom lens at 200 mm and f5.6 Large image

After the disappointingly small image of Comet C2012 S1 ISON on 4th November, another opportunity around 5 a.m. on 10th November 2013 prompted me to use my Meade 127 refractor (950mm fl). With this result. It was a clear (and VERY frosty!) morning, but my Eastern sky alas is in the direction of Newcastle, so there is always light pollution sky glow despite my generally quite dark location, and the background masks some of the tail, although it's just visible up to the centre of the frame. Still disappointingly faint - the brightest star in this image is magnitude 7.6 6 x 5 minute subs again using my modded Canon 350D. Guided using a little 300mm mirror lens and Starlight Xpress Lodestar. Stacked using the excellent 'Comet and Stars' feature of Deep Sky Stacker. Core slightly elongated in each sub due to the movement over the 5 minutes - it's getting faster as it nears the Sun! Large image

In the UK the Milky Way is at its best in late August when the skies are dark and part of Sagittarius is visible. But later in the year it can still put up a wonderful show, and although I am on the edge of the Hexham 'light dome' a clear night gives me a good view from my back garden. This image was taken early in the evening of 22nd November 2013 before the Moon rose. It consists of a two frame mosaic, the top third or so being added to a full frame lower section to include all of Cygnus. Canon 350D modded for Hydrogen alpha with Tamron 17-50 f2 lens at 17 mm and f5.6. Lower section 6 x 5 minutes, upper 5 x 5 minutes all unguided on my EQ3-2 mount. With the mount tracking the sky, the horizon was very blurred, so I later patched in a static shot showing my Observatory and skyline. This is correctly positioned - a crop from the original stacked image is here. Processed with Deep Sky Stacker and Photoshop, brighter stars slightly enhanced with Star Spikes Pro. Large image here, annotated with constellation lines, some stars and deep sky objects here, or 'mouseover' here (if your mouse has a wheel use it to scroll the annotated image without losing the annotations.)

I've seen this sort of thing from others, but never tried it myself until the night of 17th December 2013. Very frustrating with thin cloud continually forming just where it wasn't wanted. But I wanted to catch the Moon while nearly full, and eventually got a satisfactory exposure. Canon 350D (Ha modded), ISO100, single 1/800 second frame. On my Meade 127 refractor, cropped from the original. Initially balanced the colours of the RAW image using Canon's own Digital Photo Professional, then brought them out in Photoshop. This image appeared in the February 2014 issue of Sky at Night magazine. Larger image

2014