A video of the California transit. It reveals how the transparency varied and eventually got worse.
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F4.3 10"Newtonian+WO Megrez 88 apo. The guidescope is under the main tube.
CHALLENGING THE LIGHT
My early efforts at photographing the night sky using conventional film were frustrated by the ever increasing light pollution around Milton Keynes to the point that enthusiasm eventually began to wane. For a few years my telescope gathered dust and snails and the observatory became overgrown with ivy. However, with the advent of high resolution digital cameras, more affordable filters, specialized software & the wealth of information available on the internet my interest was rekindled when the efforts of others revealed that some high quality images could be achieved despite the sky glow that ruins the view in most residential areas. This blog is a diary of my attempts to walk in their footsteps. I hope that anyone who cares to read it will find some items of interest.
Pete Roberts
Pete Roberts
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SITUATION & SKY CONDITIONS
Situated about 50 miles north of London, my location is in Stony Stratford, a small market town at the NW extremity of the new city of Milton Keynes. The town lies in a river valley so sky transparency is often compromised by mistiness and problems arise at high elevations from the church tower floodlights spilling stray light into the sky. During winter this is further compounded by the broadband illumination provided by the town's Christmas lights which remain on for 5 weeks.
Making an assessment of the general sky conditions at my locality is helped by the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale which provides some parameters against which to make a judgement. Using this scale I would say my sky usually rates a 6/7 (without the additional winter illumination).
Only on the very best evenings it might be promoted to a 5.
Making an assessment of the general sky conditions at my locality is helped by the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale which provides some parameters against which to make a judgement. Using this scale I would say my sky usually rates a 6/7 (without the additional winter illumination).
Only on the very best evenings it might be promoted to a 5.
MY EQUIPMENT
F4.3 10"Newtonian+WO Megrez 88 apo. The guidescope is under the main tube.
The Newtonian's tube assembly was purchased from Astro Systems of Luton in 1986. Optics are by David Hinds. The fork mount is self-built courtesy of some friends who owned a small engineering firm at the time and allowed me the use of their equipment. Drives and associated electronics were also supplied by Astro Systems.
Other equipment & software
William Optics Megrez 88 apochromat F5.6
Tair-3S 300mm F4.5
SMC Takumar 200mm F4
Zeiss 135mm F3.5
Canon 50mm F1.8
Canon 450D (modified with Baader filter) deep sky
Canon 550D lunar/planetary
Baader MPCC coma corrector (on main scope)
TS field flattener (on Megrez 88)
Astronomik CLS filter (eos clip version)
guidescope: 80mm f.3.2 (made from binocular objective)
guide cameras: Philips SPC 900NC, Logitech Pro 9000
Software:
EOS utility (camera control)
EOS Camera Movie Record
PHD guiding
MetaGuide
Deep Sky Stacker
Registax
Do it Again (mouse action repeat)
Faststone Image Viewer (basic editing)
Photoshop CS2 (with plug ins)
Photobrush
Nebulosity
Noise Ninja
XAT Image Optimiser
Tair-3S 300mm F4.5
SMC Takumar 200mm F4
Zeiss 135mm F3.5
Canon 50mm F1.8
Canon 450D (modified with Baader filter) deep sky
Canon 550D lunar/planetary
Baader MPCC coma corrector (on main scope)
TS field flattener (on Megrez 88)
Astronomik CLS filter (eos clip version)
guidescope: 80mm f.3.2 (made from binocular objective)
guide cameras: Philips SPC 900NC, Logitech Pro 9000
Software:
EOS utility (camera control)
EOS Camera Movie Record
PHD guiding
MetaGuide
Deep Sky Stacker
Registax
Do it Again (mouse action repeat)
Faststone Image Viewer (basic editing)
Photoshop CS2 (with plug ins)
Photobrush
Nebulosity
Noise Ninja
XAT Image Optimiser
LIGHT POLLUTION
SOCIETIES
OTHER BLOGS & ASTRO SITES
FORUMS
The Current Moon
OBSERVING AIDS
OTHER LINKS
MY OTHER WEBSITES
Blog Archive
LIST OF OBJECTS IMAGED
Below is a list of all the objects imaged since starting this blog. Each is linked to its relevant post. When an object has been imaged more than once it is the better result that appears on the list.
GALAXIES
NGC 891 Andromeda
NGC 2403 Camelopardalis
NGC 2537 Lynx
NGC 2683 Lynx
NGC 2742 Ursa Major
NGC 2768 Ursa Major
NGC 2841 Ursa Major
NGC 2903 Leo
NGC 2964 Leo
NGC 2968 Leo
NGC 2970 Leo
NGC 3003 Leo Minor
NGC 3021 Leo Minor
NGC 3077 Ursa Major
NGC 3079 Ursa Major
NGC 3184 Ursa Major
NGC 3185 Leo
NGC 3187 Leo
NGC 3190 Leo
NGC 3193 Leo
NGC 3198 Ursa Major
NGC 3294 Leo Minor
NGC 3304 Leo Minor
NGC 3384 Leo
NGC 3389 Leo
NGC 3628 Leo
NGC 3681 Leo
NGC 3684 Leo
NGC 3686 Leo
NGC 3691 Leo
NGC 3938 Ursa Major
NGC 3953 Ursa Major
NGC 4013 Ursa Major
NGC 4244 Canes Venatici
NGC 4298 Coma Berenices
NGC 4302 Coma Berenices
NGC 4394 Coma Berenices
NGC 4535 Virgo
NGC 4559 Coma Berenices
NGC 4562 Coma Berenices
NGC 4565 Coma Berenices
NGC 4631 Canes Venatici
NGC 4656 Canes Venatici
NGC 4712 Coma Berenices
NGC 4725 Coma Berenices
NGC 4747 Coma Berenices
NGC 5033 Canes Venatici
NGC 5322 Ursa Major
NGC 5326 Canes Venatici
NGC 5337 Canes Venatici
NGC 5346 Canes Venatici
NGC 5350 Canes Venatici
NGC 5353 Canes Venatici
NGC 5354 Canes Venatici
NGC 5355 Canes Venatici
NGC 5358 Canes Venatici
NGC 5360 Virgo
NGC 5363 Virgo
NGC 5364 Virgo
NGC 5371 Canes Venatici
NGC 5377 Canes Venatici
NGC 5394 Canes Venatici
NGC 5395 Canes Venatici
NGC 5585 Ursa Major
NGC 5676 Bootes
NGC 5740 Virgo
NGC 5746 Virgo
NGC 5879 Draco
NGC 5907 Draco
NGC 5943 Bootes
NGC 5945 Bootes
NGC 5947 Bootes
NGC 5963 Draco
NGC 5965 Draco
NGC 5966 Bootes
NGC 5969 Draco
NGC 5971 Draco
NGC 5981 Draco
NGC 5982 Draco
NGC 5985 Draco
NGC 5987 Draco
NGC 6015 Draco
NGC 6140 Draco
NGC 7013 Cygnus
NGC 7331 Pegasus
NGC 7332 Pegasus
NGC 7479 Pegasus
NGC 7339 Pegasus
PGC 055238 Bootes
PGC 2503300 Draco
PGC 35362 Leo
PGC 57087 Draco
PGC 57108 Draco
PGC 57109 Draco
PGC 57129 Draco
UGC 09873 Bootes
IC 342 Camelopardalis
IC 4336 Canes Venatici
IC 4563 Bootes
M 31 Andromeda
M 33 Triangulum
M 51 Canes Venatici
M 63 Canes Venatici
M 64 Coma Berenices
M 65 Leo
M 66 Leo
M 77 Cetus
M 81 Ursa Major
M 82 Ursa Major
M 85 Coma Berenices
M 87 Virgo
M 88 Coma Berenices
M 90 Virgo
M 94 Canes Venatici
M 95 Leo
M 96 Leo
M 99 Coma Berenices
M 100 Coma Berenices
M 101 Ursa Major
M 102 Draco
M 105 Leo
M 106 Canes Venatici
M 109 Ursa Major
NGC 2403 Camelopardalis
NGC 2537 Lynx
NGC 2683 Lynx
NGC 2742 Ursa Major
NGC 2768 Ursa Major
NGC 2841 Ursa Major
NGC 2903 Leo
NGC 2964 Leo
NGC 2968 Leo
NGC 2970 Leo
NGC 3003 Leo Minor
NGC 3021 Leo Minor
NGC 3077 Ursa Major
NGC 3079 Ursa Major
NGC 3184 Ursa Major
NGC 3185 Leo
NGC 3187 Leo
NGC 3190 Leo
NGC 3193 Leo
NGC 3198 Ursa Major
NGC 3294 Leo Minor
NGC 3304 Leo Minor
NGC 3384 Leo
NGC 3389 Leo
NGC 3628 Leo
NGC 3681 Leo
NGC 3684 Leo
NGC 3686 Leo
NGC 3691 Leo
NGC 3938 Ursa Major
NGC 3953 Ursa Major
NGC 4013 Ursa Major
NGC 4244 Canes Venatici
NGC 4298 Coma Berenices
NGC 4302 Coma Berenices
NGC 4394 Coma Berenices
NGC 4535 Virgo
NGC 4559 Coma Berenices
NGC 4562 Coma Berenices
NGC 4565 Coma Berenices
NGC 4631 Canes Venatici
NGC 4656 Canes Venatici
NGC 4712 Coma Berenices
NGC 4725 Coma Berenices
NGC 4747 Coma Berenices
NGC 5033 Canes Venatici
NGC 5322 Ursa Major
NGC 5326 Canes Venatici
NGC 5337 Canes Venatici
NGC 5346 Canes Venatici
NGC 5350 Canes Venatici
NGC 5353 Canes Venatici
NGC 5354 Canes Venatici
NGC 5355 Canes Venatici
NGC 5358 Canes Venatici
NGC 5360 Virgo
NGC 5363 Virgo
NGC 5364 Virgo
NGC 5371 Canes Venatici
NGC 5377 Canes Venatici
NGC 5394 Canes Venatici
NGC 5395 Canes Venatici
NGC 5585 Ursa Major
NGC 5676 Bootes
NGC 5740 Virgo
NGC 5746 Virgo
NGC 5879 Draco
NGC 5907 Draco
NGC 5943 Bootes
NGC 5945 Bootes
NGC 5947 Bootes
NGC 5963 Draco
NGC 5965 Draco
NGC 5966 Bootes
NGC 5969 Draco
NGC 5971 Draco
NGC 5981 Draco
NGC 5982 Draco
NGC 5985 Draco
NGC 5987 Draco
NGC 6015 Draco
NGC 6140 Draco
NGC 7013 Cygnus
NGC 7331 Pegasus
NGC 7332 Pegasus
NGC 7479 Pegasus
NGC 7339 Pegasus
PGC 055238 Bootes
PGC 2503300 Draco
PGC 35362 Leo
PGC 57087 Draco
PGC 57108 Draco
PGC 57109 Draco
PGC 57129 Draco
UGC 09873 Bootes
IC 342 Camelopardalis
IC 4336 Canes Venatici
IC 4563 Bootes
M 31 Andromeda
M 33 Triangulum
M 51 Canes Venatici
M 63 Canes Venatici
M 64 Coma Berenices
M 65 Leo
M 66 Leo
M 77 Cetus
M 81 Ursa Major
M 82 Ursa Major
M 85 Coma Berenices
M 87 Virgo
M 88 Coma Berenices
M 90 Virgo
M 94 Canes Venatici
M 95 Leo
M 96 Leo
M 99 Coma Berenices
M 100 Coma Berenices
M 101 Ursa Major
M 102 Draco
M 105 Leo
M 106 Canes Venatici
M 109 Ursa Major
NEBULAE
NGC 281 Cassiopeia
NGC 896 Cassiopeia
NGC 1977 Orion
NGC 2174 Orion
NGC 2261 Monoceros
NGC 2264 Monoceros
NGC 2392 Gemini
NGC 6820 Vulpecula
NGC 6826 Cygnus
NGC 6888 Cygnus
NGC 6914 Cygnus
NGC 7000 Cygnus
NGC 7023 Cepheus
NGC 7129 Cepheus
NGC 7380 Cepheus
NGC 7538 Cepheus
NGC 7635 Cassiopeia
NGC 7662 Andromeda
NGC 7822 Cepheus
Abell 80 Lacerta
DWB 111 Cygnus
IC 63 Cassiopeia
IC 405 Auriga
IC 410 Auriga
IC 443 Gemini
IC 1318 Cygnus
IC 1805 Cassiopeia
IC 4954 Vulpecula
IC 4955 Vulpecula
IC 5067 Cygnus
IC 5070 Cygnus
IC 5146 Cygnus
James-Emberson 1 Lynx
LBN 341 Cygnus
vdb 152 Cepheus
PK 103+0.1 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 86 Vulpecula
Sharpless 2 - 90 Vulpecula
Sharpless 2 - 101 Cygnus
Sharpless 2 - 104 Cygnus
Sharpless 2 - 106 Cygnus
Sharpless 2 - 112 Cygnus
Sharpless 2 - 132 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 135 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 140 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 147 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 148 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 149 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 152 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 153 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 155 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 156 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 157 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 168 Cassiopeia
Sharpless 2 - 187 Cassiopeia
Sharpless 2 - 188 Cassiopeia
Sharpless 2 - 199 Cassiopeia
Sharpless 2 - 254 Orion
Sharpless 2 - 255 Orion
Sharpless 2 - 258 Orion
Sharpless 2 - 261 Orion
Sharpless 2 - 274 Gemini
M 1 Taurus
M 27 Vulpecula
M 42 Orion
M 57 Lyra
M 76 Perseus
M 78 Orion
M 97 Ursa Major
NGC 896 Cassiopeia
NGC 1977 Orion
NGC 2174 Orion
NGC 2261 Monoceros
NGC 2264 Monoceros
NGC 2392 Gemini
NGC 6820 Vulpecula
NGC 6826 Cygnus
NGC 6888 Cygnus
NGC 6914 Cygnus
NGC 7000 Cygnus
NGC 7023 Cepheus
NGC 7129 Cepheus
NGC 7380 Cepheus
NGC 7538 Cepheus
NGC 7635 Cassiopeia
NGC 7662 Andromeda
NGC 7822 Cepheus
Abell 80 Lacerta
DWB 111 Cygnus
IC 63 Cassiopeia
IC 405 Auriga
IC 410 Auriga
IC 443 Gemini
IC 1318 Cygnus
IC 1805 Cassiopeia
IC 4954 Vulpecula
IC 4955 Vulpecula
IC 5067 Cygnus
IC 5070 Cygnus
IC 5146 Cygnus
James-Emberson 1 Lynx
LBN 341 Cygnus
vdb 152 Cepheus
PK 103+0.1 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 86 Vulpecula
Sharpless 2 - 90 Vulpecula
Sharpless 2 - 101 Cygnus
Sharpless 2 - 104 Cygnus
Sharpless 2 - 106 Cygnus
Sharpless 2 - 112 Cygnus
Sharpless 2 - 132 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 135 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 140 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 147 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 148 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 149 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 152 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 153 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 155 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 156 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 157 Cepheus
Sharpless 2 - 168 Cassiopeia
Sharpless 2 - 187 Cassiopeia
Sharpless 2 - 188 Cassiopeia
Sharpless 2 - 199 Cassiopeia
Sharpless 2 - 254 Orion
Sharpless 2 - 255 Orion
Sharpless 2 - 258 Orion
Sharpless 2 - 261 Orion
Sharpless 2 - 274 Gemini
M 1 Taurus
M 27 Vulpecula
M 42 Orion
M 57 Lyra
M 76 Perseus
M 78 Orion
M 97 Ursa Major
CLUSTERS & STAR FIELDS
NGC 457 Cassiopeia
NGC 663 Cassiopeia
NGC 869 Perseus
NGC 884 Perseus
NGC 1245 Perseus
NGC 2158 Gemini
NGC 5053 Coma Berenices
NGC 5466 Bootes
NGC 6229 Hercules
NGC 6791 Lyra
NGC 6819 Cygnus
NGC 6823 Vulpecula
NGC 6939 Cepheus
NGC 7044 Cygnus
NGC 7142 Cepheus
NGC 7209 Lacerta
NGC 7235 Cepheus
NGC 7243 Lacerta
NGC 7419 Cepheus
NGC 7510 Cepheus
NGC 7789 Cassiopeia
M 3 Canes Venatici
M 13 Hercules
M 15 Pegasus
M 35 Gemini
M 36 Auriga
M 39 Cygnus
M 44 Cancer
M 45 Taurus
M 52 Cassiopeia
M 53 Coma Berenices
M 67 Cancer
M 71 Sagitta
M 92 Hercules
M103 Cassiopeia
Rosalund 4 Vulpecula
Star chain Serpens
Cygnus WF1 50mm
Cygnus WF2&3 50mm
Cygnus WF 4 200mm
Cygnus WF 5 200mm
NGC 663 Cassiopeia
NGC 869 Perseus
NGC 884 Perseus
NGC 1245 Perseus
NGC 2158 Gemini
NGC 5053 Coma Berenices
NGC 5466 Bootes
NGC 6229 Hercules
NGC 6791 Lyra
NGC 6819 Cygnus
NGC 6823 Vulpecula
NGC 6939 Cepheus
NGC 7044 Cygnus
NGC 7142 Cepheus
NGC 7209 Lacerta
NGC 7235 Cepheus
NGC 7243 Lacerta
NGC 7419 Cepheus
NGC 7510 Cepheus
NGC 7789 Cassiopeia
M 3 Canes Venatici
M 13 Hercules
M 15 Pegasus
M 35 Gemini
M 36 Auriga
M 39 Cygnus
M 44 Cancer
M 45 Taurus
M 52 Cassiopeia
M 53 Coma Berenices
M 67 Cancer
M 71 Sagitta
M 92 Hercules
M103 Cassiopeia
Rosalund 4 Vulpecula
Star chain Serpens
Cygnus WF1 50mm
Cygnus WF2&3 50mm
Cygnus WF 4 200mm
Cygnus WF 5 200mm
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