December 2007

Triangulum Galaxy

Posted: December 3rd, 2007

Original size: 1282x910

DATE
December 3rd, 2007

PHOTO
Exposure: 3 x 3 minutes
Focal: 600mm, f/7.5

EQUIPMENT
Imaging Scope: Orion 80mm ED Apo
Camera:Canon 400D Stock (unmodified)
Guide camera: None
Guide scope: None
Mount: Sirius EQ-G

SITE & CONDITIONS
Dinosair Point, Gilroy, CA
Seeing:Good
Transparency: Excellent

SOFTWARE
Stacking: None
Processing: Photoshop

AUTHOR
Rogelio Bernal Andreo

COMMENTS
First nigth out ever!! So, as it's the case with the previous image (Andromeda) it probably isn't worth commenting on the image, other than saying that as a first nighter I think it came out beautifully :-)

:: 1 Comments

Messier 31 - Andromeda Galaxy

Posted: December 3rd, 2007

Original size: 1280x853

First nigth out ever!! As a first nighter I think it came out beautifully :-) Of course, Andromeda knows how to smile when you take a picture of her. It was such a remarkable night. I arrived late and blinded all the poor people who had been there for at least 2-3 hours already getting dark adated, I didn't even bring a red flashlight, and my equipment was as simple as it gets: a lightweight mount, a small 80mm OTA, a camera and a small battery to power up the mount. That's it! No laptop, no dew haters, no autofocusers, no guiding scope or guiding camera, no chair, table or any accessories other than the very basic stuff.

And yet, I had a whole lot of fun! :-)

Get a poster, t-shirt, mug, mousepad... with this image!

[Show image details]

:: 1 Comments

M45 - The Pleiades

Posted: December 3rd, 2007

Original size: 934x601

DATE
December 3rd, 2007

PHOTO
Exposure: 3 x 3 minutes
Focal: 600mm, f/7.5

EQUIPMENT
Imaging Scope: Orion 80mm ED Apo
Camera:Canon 400D Stock (unmodified)
Guide camera: None
Guide scope: None
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G

SITE & CONDITIONS
Dinosair Point, Gilroy, CA
Seeing:Good
Transparency: Excellent

SOFTWARE
Stacking: None
Processing: Photoshop

AUTHOR
Rogelio Bernal Andreo

COMMENTS
First nigth out ever!! There are tons of images of the Pleyades out there. If you've already seen a few, this one might not add anything to what you've already seen, but being my second astrophoto ever, I cannot be more proud! :-) The fact that it's only 3 shots, 3 minutes each, also shows how bright this object is - well, at least the reflection nebula surrounding the brightest stars :-)

:: 1 Comments

Messier 42, Orion Nebula

Posted: December 3rd, 2007

Original size: 977x651

DATE
December 3rd, 2007, 10pm to 10:30pm PST

PHOTO
Exposure: 1 x 3 minutes
Focal: 600mmm, f/7.5

EQUIPMENT
Imaging Scope: Orion 80mm ED Apo
Camera:Canon 400D Stock (unmodified)
Guide camera: None
Guide scope: None
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ-G

SITE & CONDITIONS
Dinosair Point, Gilroy, CA
Seeing:Good
Transparency: Excellent

SOFTWARE
Stacking: None
Processing: Photoshop

AUTHOR
Rogelio Bernal Andreo

COMMENTS
What can you do when you're not guiding, with a "cheap" mount and scope, one single shot and on top of that, during your "first night out"? If it's winter and your mount is at least OK, you can get a nice image of the Orion Nebula and amaze yourself. The problem? You might just get hooked on astrophotography :-)

All by itself, this image has nothing special. It's a classic and simple photo of the Orion nebula, and not a very good one depending how you look at it (very little data other than the brightest parts of the nebula, the trapezium is completely burned out, bloated and oversaturated stars, odd colors, etc.). But it was my very first "serious" astrophoto, and for me that makes it special of course :-)

:: 4 Comments