Partial Lunar Eclipse 16th July 2019
Taken with my Canon 6D. Using my 75-300mm zoom at 300mm. First time in a long while I got lucky tonight. The forecast was cloudy and I never expected to see anything of this event. However I took a walk over the park and there it was just sitting there. I tweeted this picture put it on facebook. Within a few minutes quite a few locals were out to see it as well. |
Neptune 23rd Sept 2016
Neptune was very difficult to capture. It is so small and dim. Don't get me talking about the focus! Not sure I had it right really. Spent some time cleaning up the large amounts of noise caused by having the gain up to much to get anything at all. This image is a single frame. Because I had gain up so much I was only collecting about 4 frames per minute!! Slow! At least it's one for the collection. 250pds Scope DMK21M camera Pixinsight and Photoshop |
Our Sun early morning 9th August 2016
Lunt LS60T Ha using DMK 21AU618.AS Camera. 2 video streams used. One for the Proms and the other for the disk with different exposure for each. Processed this in Registax and then Photoshop. False colour added. I set up fairly early for this one as I was off work. The air is much more stable earlier so the video wobbles are far less which should give sharper results. |
Mars Sunday 5th June 2016
Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my SW250pds telescope. Avi video processed in PiPP,Registax and Photoshop. Am I pleased with this image? Yes I am! I am perfectly aware that there are far better pictures around at the moment but I think this is the best possible with my current equipment and of course the conditions. The elevation was well under 18 degrees and it's quite murky down there! Not to mention the lights of Gatwick airport. My 10" Newtonian was so close to horizontal that part of the large aperture was obscured by the lip of my observatory. I was surprised to get this much detail with all those issues working against me. I don't know too many names of Mars features but here are a few of the dark area's Middle left Acidalia Colles Bottom right Capri Chasma Middle right Arabia Terra Data from <a href="http://www.calsky.com" rel="nofollow">www.calsky.com</a> Image date 5th June 2016 23:13 BST (UTC = 22:13) Hoping to have another go as soon as possible with a mono camera. |
Mercury Transit 9th May 2016
This image was taken around 2.5 hours into the transit. Using my Lunt Solar scope and DMK21 mono camera. The full story, and its a long one is here http://www.lumacomi-observatory.com/mercury-transit.html |
Mercury Transit Mercury Transit 9th May 2016
Taken with my ED110 and Canon 1100D using white light filter. The full story, and its a long one is here http://www.lumacomi-observatory.com/mercury-transit.html |
Mercury Transit 9th May 2016
This is first Contact of Mercury onto the disk. The full story, and its a long one is here http://www.lumacomi-observatory.com/mercury-transit.html |
Solar Image 2nd April 2016 Lunt LS60T Ha using DMK 21AU618.AS Camera. This was a wonderful prominence. Hoping to be able to produce a time lapse video of one in the near future. The image is made up of two 30 second frame video's, one for the disk and one for the Proms. Around 1400 frames used. Both video's were processed In Registax and put together in PS. I think I like the blue sky effect. Obviously it is false colour but pleasing to view. This picture featured on the BBC Sky at night website for April 2016 |
Jupiter and Europa
You can see the moon Europa on the edge of Jupiter and the moon's shadow just behind it. This was a few days away from opposition which is why the shadow is almost hidden. Taken at 23:20 7th March 2016 Skywatcher 250pds Newtonian using DMK 21AU618.AS Camera. My first Mono Jupiter. Three 30 second frame video's, one for each of R,G and B. Captured using Firecapture. Video's were processed In Registax and put together in PS. I feel the need to get myself a motorised focuser. Jumping between RG and B is a nightmare to keep focus. |
Solar Image Ha 16th Feb 2016
First light (imaging) for my Lunt LS60T Ha using DMK 21AU618.AS Camera. The image is made up of two 2000 frame video's, one for the disk and one for the Proms. Both video's were processed In Registax and put together in PS. Considering the poor conditions and that this is my first Solar image with the Lunt I am very pleased with the result. |
Luna Eclipse 28th September 2015
Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS 65QAPO telescope. Used Focal Reducer x0.8 to obtain whole disk in one image. However in this case with the moon being a super moon it still didn't fit ! Had to use MS ICE to stitch together. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight. Take your pick of what you want to call this. Full Moon, Supermoon, Harvest moon, Blood Moon. All of them accurate :) What I liked so much was that you were able to see the background stars around the moon. That was quite rare and beautiful but none in this picture. Worth getting up for :) |
Luna Eclipse 28th September 2015
Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS 65QAPO telescope. Used Focal Reducer x0.8 to obtain whole disk in one image. However in this case with the moon being a super moon it still didn't fit ! Had to use MS ICE to stitch together. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight. This picture was taken around 02:54am BST 16 minutes before totality |
Early part of Luna Eclipse 28th September 2015
This image was taken at the early stage of the eclipse. The shadow is much less defined than a normal terminator in fact it is the shadow of the Earth. Taken around 35 minutes before totality. Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS 65QAPO telescope. Used Focal Reducer x0.8 to obtain whole disk in one image. However in this case with the moon being a super moon it still didn't fit ! Had to use MS ICE to stitch together. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight. |
The Sun 9th August 2015
This was taken with Daystar QUARK H-Alpha Eyepiece - Chromosphere Model. Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS65Q APO telescope. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight, Modified version using different settings and to process. Twitter friend Wendy Clark brought her Daystar for me to try. Some wonderful sights to be seen looking at the sun. I took a couple of avi's, this one of the Prom's and a second one of the large sunspot currently on the surface. Not had any previous experience of processing Solar images like these so quite pleased with them. Still unsure if I should look at other solar scopes. The Daystar seems to work brilliantly with my TS65Q and the ZWO camera and the "Wow" factor using it optically was all very pleasing. Thank you Wendy for bringing it down to me to try :) |
Sun surface and Sunspot 12396
This was taken with Daystar QUARK H-Alpha Eyepiece - Chromosphere Model. Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS65Q APO telescope. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight, This is one of the larger sunspots seen for a while now. Twitter friend Wendy Clark brought her Daystar for me to try. Some wonderful sights to be seen looking at the sun. I took a couple of avi's, this one of the Prom's and a second one of the large sunspot currently on the surface. Not had any previous experience of processing Solar images like these so quite pleased with them. Still unsure if I should look at other solar scopes. The Daystar seems to work brilliantly with my TS65Q and the ZWO camera and the "Wow" factor using it optically was all very pleasing. Thank you Wendy for bringing it down to me to try :) |
Full Moon 31st July 2015 (Blue Moon)
This moon was also known as a Blue moon due to it being the second full moon during the calendar month of July. I reverted back to my IMG 132 Camera on my SW250pds telescope. Avi video processed in Registax, PS and Pixinsight. Image was done in two frames and stiched with MS ICE. The Blue moon shot is artificially coloured but a bit of fun. |

Saturn 25th June 2015
Conditions were very poor when I took this. By the time Saturn had cleared an Oak tree everything was blurred by a slight mist.
Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my SW250pds telescope. Avi video processed in PiPP,Registax and Pixinsight.
Conditions were very poor when I took this. By the time Saturn had cleared an Oak tree everything was blurred by a slight mist.
Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my SW250pds telescope. Avi video processed in PiPP,Registax and Pixinsight.

Moon 28th May 2015
Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS 65QAPO telescope. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.
Playing around with colour which I may have overdone !! You judge !
Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS 65QAPO telescope. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.
Playing around with colour which I may have overdone !! You judge !
|
Jupiter May 2015
First light for my ZWO ASI120MC-S on my 250pds Slightly earlier image with Callisto before it is on the planet. Not really very pleased with the quality of this image. Unfortunately Jupiter was sitting right above my roof which was causing massive turbulence. So I am unable to compare with my IMG132e. More testing required. Moon, Apollo 15 landing area 26th May 2015
Taken just as it was getting dark. Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my 250pds telescope. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight. Apollo 15 was the ninth manned mission in the United States' Apollo program, the fourth to land on the Moon, and the eighth successful manned mission. It was the first of what were termed "J missions," long stays on the Moon, with a greater focus on science than had been possible on previous missions. It was also the first mission on which the Lunar Roving Vehicle was used. |
Venus 26th May 2015
Taken just as it was getting dark. Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my 250pds telescope. This was around 4000 frames of avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight. Only the second time I have been able to use this camera. However I am very pleased with this result so I think I will be using it much more. Also used it to capture Jupiter and moon close ups, plus waiting to capture Saturn in the early hours later tonight. Will have to process them another day. Venus is looking very beautiful at the moment just hanging there looking at the sun! |
Mars 12th April 2014
Taken with VC200L not v X2 televue barlow and IMG 132E colour camera. My best Mars to date but I must admit to being a little disappointed with it. I think I would do better with a mono camera. 800 frames of avi video stacked in Registax, Best 80% used. Wavelets adjusted in Registax |
Sinus Iridum 18th July 2013
Image taken with my Skywatcher Explorer 250pds with IMG132e camera. Processed in Registax. 1300 frame video. Conditions very wobbly ! This is one of my favourite moon area's. The crescent shaped bay was considered to be a natural harbour area for ships to take refuge by ancient |
Daylight Moon 29th October 2013
Quick Moon shot. ED110 with Canon 1100D prime Focus 10 exposures 1/1250 sec ISO100 Processed in Registax 7 frames used. Small process in Photoshop. Slight pink tinge to this as my camera has been modded for astro work making it more sensitive to IR Waning Moon 27%. Moon was approx. 243,000 miles from my scope and camera. This pictured featured in Flickr Explore and had nearly 8000 views and over 270 people listed it as a favourite. |
Neptune Sept 2012
It's small, it's not very impressive but I believe it is Neptune. So I posted it. I was also trying to capture Uranus but that was behind a big oak tree. Neptune was just between trees for a half hour or so. I couldn't wait for Uranus to follow the same path or I would have captured that to. Taken with my Vixen VC200L and Canon 1100D prime focus. Single shot photo 20 seconds exposure ISO 3200. No edit except titles added. |