Star Trails
Early Days of Astrophotography
This was taken back in my film days while guiding at the eyepiece all night long. Great memories but so glad for modern cameras and autoguiders.
Imaging Info
Optics: Sigma 28mm at f4 Camera: Nikon F2 Film: PPF400 Exposure: 5 hours Mount: Tripod Processing: Minolta Scan Dual II; Levels/Curves in PS7 Location: Inyokern, CA Date: 11/22/03
The Big Dipper
Object Info
The constellation Ursa Major ("The Great Bear") contains the familiar shaped group of stars in the northern sky called The Big Dipper. This constellation is one of the most common seen and used for orientation towards north.
Imaging Info
Optics: Sigma 28mm at f4 Camera: Nikon F2 Film: PPF400 Exposure: 5 hours Mount: Tripod Processing: Minolta Scan Dual II; Levels/Curves in PS7 Location: Inyokern, CA Date: 11/22/03
Canis Major
Object Info
This is "The Great Dog" or better known as the constellation Canis Major is found southeast of Orion. The brilliant star Sirius to the right is the brightest in the southern sky at a magnitude -1.4. Also found in Canis Major is the pretty open star cluster M41 to the right of center.
Imaging Info
Optics: 105mm f2.8 @ f4 Camera: Nikon F Film: PPF 400 Exposure: 2 x 10 min.,
10 min. with diffusion filter Mount:
G11 piggybacked on 10" SCT; unguided Processing: Minolta Scan Dual II Levels/Curves in PS7; Stacked in Registar; Grain reduction in Neat Image Location: Inyokern, CA Date: 1/24/04
CAssiopeia
Object Info
Cassiopeia has long been one of the best recognized constellations and is easily seen in the northern sky circling the north celestial pole well ahead of the Big Dipper in Ursa Major. The bright and constellation stars were made more prominent with a diffusion filter on a separate image that was stacked with 2 other shots. A small red emission nebula NGC281 is just viewable in this field of view towards the bottom center.
Imaging Info
Optics: 105mm f2.8 @ f4 Camera: Nikon F Film: PPF 400 Exposure: 3 x 10 min., 10 min. with diffusion filter Mount: G11 piggybacked on 10" SCT; unguided Processing: Minolta Scan Dual II Levels/Curves in PS7; Stacked in Registar; Grain reduction in Neat Image Location: Inyokern, CA Date: 1/24/04
Leo
Object Info
The constellation Leo ("the Lion") is one of the more easily recognizable shaped constellations given its name with the tail as the bright star to the left and head and front legs represented by the backwards "question mark" shaped stars to the right. The bright "star" at the bottom is really an overexposed Jupiter. I like to think of this shot as "the lion leaping over the planet".
Imaging Info
Optics: 50mm f1.4 @ f2.8 Camera: Nikon F Film: PPF 400 Exposure: 2 x 25 min., 15 min. with diffusion filter Mount: G11 piggybacked on 10" SCT; unguided Processing: Minolta Scan Dual II Levels/Curves/Linear gradient in PS7; Stacked in Registar; Grain reduction in Neat Image Location: Inyokern, CA Date: 3/20/04
The Hyades & The Pleiades
Object Info
Here are 2 of the largest and most enjoyed open star clusters of the Winter night sky. The Hyades are to the left of this image and identified by the bright group of "V" shaped stars. The brightest star to the upper left is Aldebaran, a member of the "Winter Circle" of stars. The smaller open cluster to the right surrounded by beautiful blue reflection nebula is designated as Messier object number M45.
Imaging Info
Optics: 105mm f2.8 @ f4 Camera: Nikon F Film: PPF 400 Exposure: 2 x 15 min., 10 min with diffusion filter Mount: G11 piggybacked on 10" SCT; unguided Processing: Minolta Scan Dual II Levels/Curves/linear gradient in PS7; Stacked in Registar; Grain reduction in Neat Image Location: Inyokern, CA Date: 1/24/04