M42 Orion Nebula - First Light With The QHY8L

M42 Orion Nebula - First Light With The QHY8L

  November 12, 2013    Unknown

---

After what seemed like a long wait, I finally had a clear night this week and managed to get first light with the QHY8L that I purchased second hand on astrobuysell.com. The target was M42 (the Orion Nebula) and I have to say that I am quite pleased with the result. The image...

Read More

The QHY8L Cooled CCD Review

The QHY8L Cooled CCD Review

  October 26, 2013    Unknown

---

I have achieved some good results with my modified DSLR, but controlling noise has always been difficult and has often limited the amount of faint detail I have been able to draw out. So I have decided to take the next step up and purchase a cooled CCD camera. The advantage...

Read More

Three Images In One Night

Three Images In One Night

  October 06, 2013    Unknown

---

The trouble with being an amateur astronomer in the UK is the reliability of the weather. On more than a handful of occasions, I have spent an hour or so meticulously setting up the scope, framing my image and calibrating the guide camera, only to find the clouds have rolled...

Read More

Getting Started: Learning The Night Sky

Getting Started: Learning The Night Sky

  September 10, 2013    Unknown

---

Astronomy is a fascinating hobby for the beginner and doesn't necessarily require complicated or expensive equipment to get started. Equipped with nothing more than the naked eye, a map of the stars and an inquisitive mind it is possible to observe many fascinating features...

Read More

Capturing and Processing Andromeda

Capturing and Processing Andromeda

  September 01, 2013    Unknown

---

I think this has to be my favourite image so far - captured last night from my back garden using my astro-moddified Canon EOS 1000D, attached to my Sky-Watcher Explorer 190MN Pro. The image is of our close neighbour - the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) - and is the result of almost...

Read More

Experimenting with Star Trails and Time Lapse

Experimenting with Star Trails and Time Lapse

  August 26, 2013    Unknown

---

The weather has been a little unpredictable over the past few nights, so rather than spending ages setting up the scope and camera, I decided to stick to my Nikon J1 compact camera and do some experimenting with capturing star trails and time lapse video. Firstly I mounted...

Read More

Once in a Blue Moon

Once in a Blue Moon

  August 21, 2013    Unknown

---

The summer is great - I love the warm weather and long evenings, but they are no fun for an astrophotographer as it never really gets dark enough. So I am glad that after a break of a couple of months, I am finally able to get out in the garden imaging again. Last night...

Read More

Introduction

Introduction

  August 20, 2013    Unknown

---

Firstly - welcome to my astrophotography journal! Over the past few years my knowledge of astronomy, and in particular astrophotography, has grown and what was once a mere interest has now become more of a passion. I have bought my own telescope, that I use from my back...

Read More