Exposure: HaRGB 180/50/50/50 

 20min subframes  for Ha bin 1x1

10 min subframes for RGB bin 2x2

Exposure: HaRGB 180/50/50/50  

 20min subframes  for Ha bin 1x1

10 min subframes for RGB bin 2x2

Exposure: LRGB 30/15/15/15 

10min subframes for L bin 1x1 

 5min subframes for RGB bin 2x2

Exposure: LRGB 30/15/15/15  

10min subframes for L bin 1x1 

 5min subframes for RGB bin 2x2

Clouds were passing over and I was chasing the sucker holes but did manage to get a few frames in.

 3-10min images

3-10min images

1-10min image

Date: 01/2005   Camera: Canon Modified 20D    Scope: FCT-150 @ F5 Astronomik UV/IR Filter.

Another successful trip to New Mexico Skies!  I had the pleasure to go to New Mexico Skies with Doc G. this time.  We had good weather, skies , company and great food! Thanks Doc.

Most images unless otherwise noted were taken with a modified Canon 300D, the IR blocking filter was removed.  I used a Astronomik IR blocking filter in its place. A Takahashi FCT-150 at F5 or F7 was also used. No time to give a detailed description of each object. I had 5 nights of imaging so there was allot of data collected. 

M22 Globular Cluster 

Wide Field Sagittarius

M8 Lagoon Nebula

The Master at Work Ron Wodaski

Thanks again Ron!

I will try to go here 2 x a year and it will be a treat every time!

If you ever have the chance to Visit NMS its well worth the trip and  Lynn, Mike and Bowzer will take great care of you. A nice an well planed  out Telescope & Bed  retreat.  I stayed there for 3 nights this time (still too short) and rented a nice cabin  and the Tak FCT-150 for those nights as well as a 12LX200 for piggyback shots. Here are some pictures from the trip:

Date: 01/18/2004   

Camera: Canon 10D    Lens: Canon 50mm F1.4 and 135mm F1.8 piggy-backed on a LX200

Exposure: 10-5min ISO400, 10-5min ISO800 for each half of the mosaic using the 50mm at F3. 

 10-5min ISO1600 with a Lumicon UHC filter through the 130mm at F2.8. I used this to get a more detail shot of  The Horshead and M42 as well as the The Witch head   and rosette areas. 

All these frames were converted then calibrated using 6 median combined dark frames.

Then each set of frames were then aligned, combined and then stitched together and stretched using Images Plus.

That a total of 6.5 hours of exposure.

The large image is only 33% size.

Running Man Nebula

Date: 01/18/2004   

Camera: Canon 10D    Scope: 6" Tak FCT-150 at F5 riding on a Paramount and unguided.

Exposure: 15-4min Exposures at ISO 800 and 7 averaged dark frames.  The seeing was  average when I was imaging this object.  Images were Processed  in Images Plus and Photoshop CS. 

M101 

Camera: Canon 10D    Scope: 6" Tak FCT-150 at F5 riding on a Paramount and unguided.

M81 & 82

Date: 01/19/2004   

Camera: Canon 10D    Scope: 6" Tak FCT-150 at F7 riding on a Paramount and unguided.

Exposure:   21-4min Exposures at ISO 1600 and 7 averaged dark frames.  The seeing was very good when I was imaging this object.  Images were Processed  in Images Plus and Photoshop CS. 

M106 Wide field

Date: 01/19/2004   

Camera: Canon 10D    Scope: 6" Tak FCT-150 at F5 riding on a Paramount and unguided.

Exposure: 15-4min Exposures at ISO 1600 and 7 averaged dark frames.  The seeing was average  when I was imaging this object.  Images were Processed  in Images Plus and Photoshop CS. 

NGC 4158,4217,4248,4231,4232,4226,4346,4220 and UGC7325,7356 are also visible in the wide field shot. 

Wide Field Rosette 

Date: 01/19/2004   

Camera: Canon 10D    Lens: Canon 135mm at F2.5 with Lumicon UHC filter

Exposure:  10 -5min at ISO 400 and 10-5min at ISO800, 5 averaged darks. All processed in Images Plus and Photoshop CS

This was a trip I planed at the last minute and went to Carlsbad Caverns and New Mexico Skies it was a short trip packed with excitement and lots of pictures.  I have been a caver for some time and have never been to Carlsbad caverns so I finally found an excuse to go Dark Skies and picture taking at a dark site (NMS).

If you ever have the chance to Visit NMS its well worth the trip and  Lynn, Mike and Bowzer will take great care of you. A nice an well planed  out Telescope & Bed  retreat.  I stayed there for 2 night (too short) and rented a 1 bedroom and the Tak FCT-150 for those nights.

Here are some pictures from the trip:

Date: 7/1/03   Camera: Canon 10D    Scope: 6" Tak FCT-150 at F5 riding on a Paramount and unguided.

These are from the pictures below.  I used IP to create a mosaic. When I initially set up I used the mosaic tool in The Sky to align and frame these 2 objects with a 5% overlap.

Date: 7/1/03   Camera: Canon 10D    Scope: 6" Tak FCT-150 at F5 riding on a Paramount and unguided.

Exposure:  Its 10-5min Exposures at ISO 800, no dark frames were used and it was processed in Images Plus and Photoshop. 

M8 the Lagoon Nebula

Date: 7/1/03   Camera: Canon 10D    Scope: 6" Tak FCT-150 at F5 riding on a Paramount and unguided.

Exposure:  Its 10-5min Exposures at ISO 800, no dark frames were used and it was processed in Images Plus and Photoshop. Dark Skies really help as does a perfect tracking mount and a high dollar scope.

Date: 7/1/03   Camera: Canon 10D    Scope: 6" Tak FCT-150 at F5 riding on a Paramount and unguided.

Exposure: This is a picture of M24 the star Cloud in Sagittarius.  Although I was a little out of focus I processed it anyway. It was 10-5min exposures at ISO 800, no darks and was processed in IP and PS.

The Temp really dropped that night and I didn't check the focus enough. Live and learn.

6" of hail fell the one day in Cloudcroft.  Went from 85 deg to being able to see my breath in 30 minutes.