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Well, the Milky Way is a galaxy, as are the Magellanic
clouds! So I feel it only right to include them here, these
being the only shots I have of the Southern sections of our
home galaxy.
During my extended holiday including viewing 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 my
400 mm Canon lens. I had no opportunity during our stay on
Tahiti and 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
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Later in the holiday we stayed with relations near
Launceston, Tasmania. 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.
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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 50 mm, just for a try. And indeed
the unguided tracking was also good enough at that focal
length. 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 !
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