Wide Field

southern_milky_way_1_250212_s.jpg (87208 bytes)

Southern Milky Way from Queenstown, New Zealand

Unmodified Canon 450D with 50mm lens mounted on EQ1 Mount. 30 subs of 30 secs. each, F3.5, unguided,  processed in PS7.

Average seeing,  good transparency

25/02/12 Click here for a larger version

large_magellanic_cloud_210212_s.jpg (83180 bytes)

Large Magellanic Cloud from Queenstown, New Zealand

Unmodified Canon 450D with 50mm lens mounted on EQ1 Mount. 30 subs of 30 secs. each, F3.5, unguided,  processed in PS7.

Average seeing,  good transparency

21/02/12 Click here for a larger version

star_trail_020610_dome_s.jpg (60758 bytes)

Star Trail composite centred on the North Celestial Pole

SXVF-M25C on 90mm Tamron Macro lens mounted on EQ6 SkyScan Mount. 35 subs of 120 secs. each, F4, guided,  processed in PS7.

Average seeing,  average transparency

02/06/10 Click here for a larger version

deneb_sadr_190510_s.jpg (85957 bytes)

The Cygnus Region (Deneb and Sadr)

SXVF-M25C on 90mm Tamron Macro lens mounted on EQ6 SkyScan Mount. 23 subs of 250 secs. each, F4, guided,  processed in PS7.

Average seeing,  average transparency

19/05/10 Click here for a larger version

ngc7000_170510_s.jpg (67928 bytes)

NGC7000 in the Cygnus Region

SXVF-M25C on 135mm Olympus lens mounted on EQ6 SkyScan Mount. 8 subs of 200 secs. each, F4, guided,  processed in PS7.

Average seeing, average transparency

17/05/10 Click here for a larger version

lyra_170510_s.jpg (50862 bytes)

The Constellation of Lyra

SXVF-M25C on 135mm Olympus lens mounted on EQ6 SkyScan Mount. 12 subs of 150 secs. each, F4,   guided,  processed in PS7.

Average seeing,  poor transparency

17/05/10 Click here for a larger version

cygnus_160609_s.jpg (71572 bytes)

The Cygnus Region

SXVF-M25C on 50mm Canon lens mounted on EQ6 SkyScan Mount. 17 subs of 200 secs. each, guided,  processed in PS7.

Average seeing,  poor transparency

16/06/09 Click here for a larger version

veil_nebula_250608_s.jpg (84369 bytes)

The Veil Nebula (part of)

SXVF-M25C on 80mm APO Refractor mounted on EQ6 SkyScan Mount. 18 subs of 400 secs. each, guided,  processed in PS4.

Average seeing,  poor transparency

25/06/08 Click here for a larger version

m27_170608_s.jpg (53189 bytes)

M27 - The Dumbbell Nebula

SXVF-M25C on 80mm APO Refractor mounted on EQ6 SkyScan Mount. 8 subs. of 300 secs. each, guided,  processed in PS4.

Poor seeing, extremely poor transparency!

17/06/08 Click here for a larger version

m13_090608_s.jpg (48842 bytes)

M13 - The Hercules Globular Cluster

SXVF-M25C on 80mm APO Refractor mounted on EQ6 SkyScan Mount. 14 subs of 200 secs. each, guided,  processed in PS4.

Average seeing, average transparency.

09/06/08 Click here for a larger version

markarian_080408_s.jpg (22144 bytes)

The Markarian Chain of Galaxies

SXVF-M25C on 80mm APO Refractor mounted on EQ6 SkyScan Mount. 8 subs of 300 secs. each, guided,  processed in PS4.

Average seeing, very poor transparency.

08/04/08 Click here for a larger version

horsehead_070108_lrgb_s.jpg (26131 bytes)

The Horsehead and Flame Nebulae in HaRGB

SXVF-H9C with 200mm f2.8 lens, piggy back mounted on SkyScan EQ6. 12 images of 200 secs. each binned 2 x 2 Ha, plus 34 x 200 secs. RGB, stacked in MaximDL. Guided.

Average seeing, poor transparency.

07/01/08 Click here for a larger version

horsehead_070108_s.jpg (26040 bytes)

The Horsehead and Flame Nebulae in Hydrogen Alpha

SXVF-H9C with 200mm f2.8 lens, piggy back mounted on SkyScan EQ6. 12 images of 200 secs. each binned 2 x 2, stacked in MaximDL. Guided.

Average seeing, poor transparency.

07/01/08 Click here for a larger version

orion_021207_s.jpg (24834 bytes)

The Constellation of Orion

EOS 300d with 55mm f5.6 lens, piggy back mounted on SkyScan EQ6. ISO 800, 2 images 200 secs. each stacked in Registax with darkframe subtraction. WB set to Auto. Guided.

Average seeing, average transparency.

02/12/07 Click here for a larger version

ngc7000_110807_s.jpg (40712 bytes)

NGC7000 - The North America Nebula and
IC 5070 - The Pelican Nebula

SXVF-H9C with 50mm f2.8 lens stopped down to F5, piggy back mounted on SkyScan EQ6. 8 images of 200 secs. each stacked in MaximDL. Guided.

Average seeing, poor transparency.

11/08/07 Click here for a larger version

orion_wide_020107_full_s.jpg (19428 bytes)

The Horsehead, Flame, Running Man & Orion Nebulae

SXVF-H9C and EOS 300d with 200mm f2.8 lens, piggy back mounted on SkyScan EQ6. 26 images of 300 secs. plus 21 images of 60 seconds each, stacked in MaximDL with IDAS LP Filter. Guided. Final composite image in Photoshop.

Average seeing, poor transparency.

02/01/07 Click here for a larger version

horsehead_201206_s.jpg (38677 bytes)

The Horsehead and Flame Nebulae

SXVF-H9C with 200mm f2.8 lens, piggy back mounted on SkyScan EQ6. 26 images of 300 secs. each stacked in MaximDL with IDAS LP Filter. Guided.

Average seeing, poor transparency.

20/12/06 Click here for a larger version

orion_091206_3_s.jpg (20050 bytes)

The Constellation of Orion Nebula and The Running Man Nebula

EOS 300d with 200mm f2.8 lens, piggy back mounted on SkyScan EQ6. ISO 800, 21 images 60 secs. each stacked in Registax with darkframe subtraction. WB set to Auto. Un-guided.

Average seeing, average transparency. Moon glare to East

09/12/06 Click here for a larger version

witches_broom_s.jpg (43469 bytes)

NGC 6960 - The Witches Broom Nebula

SXVF-H9C with 200mm f2.8 lens, piggy back mounted on SkyScan EQ6. 13 images of 180 secs. each stacked in MaximDL with IDAS LP Filter. Guided. This image was taken on Halloween Night purely for the fun of it but I was really disappointed with the poor clarity of the image which was taken through mist and cloud and the glare of the very bright Moon!

Average seeing, very poor transparency

31/10/06 Click here for a larger version

ngc6992_260906_s.jpg (47411 bytes)

NGC 6979 - Pickering's Triangle (part of) The Veil Nebula

SXVF-H9C with 200mm f2.8 lens, piggy back mounted on SkyScan EQ6. 10 images of 180 secs. each stacked in MaximDL with IDAS LP Filter. Guided. This image shows a rather insignificant area of the nebula but that is just my poor aim!

Average seeing, very poor transparency

26/09/06 Click here for a larger version

ngc7000_180806_s.jpg (29426 bytes)

NGC 7000 - North America Nebula & Pelican Nebula

Canon EOS 300d piggy-backed on top of my Skywatcher 80 ED Refractor on EQ6 mount autoguided. ISO 800, 200mm, F2.8, 4 X 300secs. stacked in Registax and processed in PS 4.0

Average seeing, average transparency

20/08/06 Click here for a larger version
               Click here for a very large re-worked version

deneb_180806_s.jpg (22097 bytes)

Milky Way - Centred on Sadir in Cygnus

Canon EOS 300d piggy-backed on top of my Skywatcher 80 ED Refractor on EQ6 mount autoguided. ISO 800, 200mm, F2.8, 3 X 120secs. stacked in Registax and processed in MaximDL and PS 4.0

Average seeing, terrible transparency,other images blocked out by cloud

18/08/06 Click here for a larger version

orion_dome_s.jpg (16347 bytes)

Orion - The Hunter with my dome in the foreground.

A collage of my own shots. Canon EOS 300D on EQ3, ISO 800, 53mm, 155 seconds F6.3 plus 1/60th second electronic flash shot for dome.

Average seeing, poor transparency

10/01/06 Click here for a larger version

orion_091105_1.jpg (10160 bytes)

Orion - The Hunter.

A closeup view of the belt area of Orion. Canon EOS 300D on EQ3, ISO 800, 53mm, 155 seconds F6.3.

Average seeing, poor transparency

09/11/05 Click here for a larger version

orion_091105_s.jpg (9619 bytes)

Orion - The Hunter.

After weeks of poor skies, the view was beautiful tonight although there was a tremendous amount of moisturer in the air. Orion rose majestically as ever and I just had to capture it. Canon EOS 300D on EQ3, ISO 800, 53mm, 155 seconds F6.3.

Average seeing, poor transparency

09/11/05 Click here for a larger version

milky_way6.jpg (15634 bytes)

Milky Way - Cassiopeia.

Pentax Spotmatic F piggy-backed on top of my Skywatcher 80 T Refractor. Kodak Ultra 400 ASA colour film, 28mm, F2.8 60secs.

Reasonable seeing, average transparency.

16/10/04 Click here for a larger version

               Click here for an annoted version

milky_way1.jpg (9963 bytes)

Milky Way - Cygnus.

Pentax Spotmatic F piggy-backed on top of my Skywatcher 80 T Refractor. Kodak Ultra 400 ASA colour film, 28mm, F2.8 60secs.

Reasonable seeing, average transparency.

16/10/04 Click here for a larger version

               Click here for an annoted version